Vickers Vildebeest Mk. III

[Paul A H]

Vickers Vildebeest Mk. III

1:72 Azur Frrom

The Vickers Vildebeest was a large, single engined torpedo bomber first flown in 1928. The three-seat Mark III was the major production version, with over 150 examples built for the RAF and RNZAF. Despite having its technological roots firmly in the era of the biplane, no fewer than 101 Vildebeests were in service with the RAF by the outbreak of World War Two. The Vildebeest’s most famous hour came during the Japanese invasion of Malaysia, when the brave men of the Singapore based 36 and 100 Squadrons used their aircraft to attack the Japanese forces as they progressed through Malaysia, suffering heavy losses in the process.

Although models of the Vildebeest have been available in the past (in vacform from Contrail and in resin from Kiwi Resin Models) this is the first time that the aircraft has been represented in injection moulded plastic. Designed by French outfit Azur and manufactured by Czech limited run specialists MPM, this kit also includes resin and photo etch metal details. Packed into a very sturdy top-opening box, the kit is comprised of three sprues of light grey plastic, one small sprue of clear plastic, eight resin parts and thirty six metal parts. Although the kit is produced using limited run technology, the plastic parts are truly outstanding. The mouldings are clean, crisp and free from flash or sink marks. Moulded details are beautifully rendered, with the texture of the wings standing out as being particularly fine. The resin parts are beautifully cast and appear to have no flaws. The photo etch looks perfect on the fret and is marked with nice clear recesses where it must be folded.

As always, construction begins with the interior. This is a real multi-media affair; larger parts such as the crew seats are moulded in plastic, fine details such as the control column and rudder pedals cast in resin and delicate details such as the seat harnesses rendered in photo etch metal. The overall effect is of a comprehensively detailed cabin. Structural details are crisply moulded into the sidewalls of the fuselage. Once the interior is complete, the fuselage halves can be joined and then the lower wing added. The tail planes are next. Photo etch parts are used for the supporting struts, which will help create a sense of scale thickness. Care will have to be taken when joining the top wing to the fuselage and lower wing as there are no locating holes for the struts. Instead, the builder is instructed to measure out and drill the locating holes for these parts. Thankfully, the instructions are very clear as to exactly where these holes should be made.

The engine and exhausts are next up. The resin cylinder block looks fantastic, as do the plastic parts that go to make up the rest of the engine. The undercarriage comes next, and optional parts are provided for enclosed or unenclosed wheels (although all of the four colour options show enclosed wheels. The final stages of the instructions account for most of the photo etch parts. The carry and release mechanism for the torpedo is made up of just two etch parts, cleverly folded up to form a framework. The torpedo fins and propeller are also photo etch, as are the vanes on the underside of the lower wing. More etch is used for the gunners position, although the Lewis Gun is nicely moulded in plastic. A fairly large diagram is provided for the rigging, which is just as well as it is quite complex.

Happily Azur have provided no fewer than four options for colours and markings:

• Vildebeest Mk. III, 36 Squadron RAF, Singapore 1936 (Aluminium Dope);

• Vildebeest Mk. III, Royal New Zealand Air Force, B Flight, Flying Training Schoolm 1941 (Aluminium Dope);

• Vildebeest Mk. III, 100 Squadron RAF, Seletar Airfield, Singapore 1941-2 (Extra Dark Sea Green/Dark Mediterranean Blue over Sky Blue); and

• Vildebeest Mk. III, 36 Squadron RAF, Seletar Airfield, Singapore 1941-2 (Extra Dark Sea Green/Dark Mediterranean Blue over Sky Blue).

The decals are glossy in appearance and are crisply printed with clean, bold colours.

Conclusion

Those patient modellers who have waited a long time for a Vildebeest in injection moulded plastic are finally rewarded with what looks to be an excellent kit. Azur deserve a lot of credit for choosing to produce this model, particularly so given the high quality of their product. The inclusion of resin and photo etch parts is welcomed, as are the four different marking options. Definitely recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Mike]

That looks stunning Paul - hard to believe that it's 1:72!

[Antoine]

I'll have to get it asap!!!

Nice to have the Azur shop in Paris about 10mn away.

[Paul A H]

Antoine, do you know if they have a website? I did a quick search but couldn't find anything.

Thanks

Paul

[Old VG 33]

Hi Paul

Thank you for this review. I'll get mine next wednesday as I work too near Azur.

There is no website.

Just notice that the kit is AZUR FRROM, because the owner is not the same man.

More Vildebeest/Vincent are in the pipeline.

Patrick

[Ptmvarsityfan]

Looks great and hope it hits the UK soon! Only reservation I have

is that I think the MkIII was a three-seater but the cockpit behind

the pilot is not there in the kit although shown open in the

box artwork? Anyway still an injection Vildebeest and must be

thankful!!

Cheers, Paul

[andy hood]

Looks a very good kit indeed, one for the stash methinks hehehe

[Tempestwulf]

KIWI, KIWI, KIWI, KIWI....Finally a mainstream kit of the Vilderbeast. A restoration company in Ardmore, New Zealand, is restoring one of these they found burried near the perimeter fence of the airstrip. Haven't been there in a long time, wonder how they're getting along.

[mhaselden]

Looks great and hope it hits the UK soon! Only reservation I have

is that I think the MkIII was a three-seater but the cockpit behind

the pilot is not there in the kit although shown open in the

box artwork? Anyway still an injection Vildebeest and must be

thankful!!

Cheers, Paul

Paul,

I think the middle cockpit had a sliding cover which could be closed, and the kit is moulded in that configuration. The bomb aimer's window in the underside of the fuselage just forward of the lower wing also seems to be missing but I doubt that it would be a hard thing to carve out a hole and fill it with some clear plastic stock.

KR

Mark

[Learstang]

Definitely one I need to get. Now we have to wait for the professional kit-bashers, I mean rivet-counters, to come along to tell us how lousy this kit is - the propeller has one too many bolts, the pilot's gun has too many holes in the barrel jacket, etc. To which my reply will be a simple one - you wait for the Tamiya version (and hold your breath whilst you're at it ), I think I'll go ahead and buy this one, now.

Regards,

Learstang

[mhaselden]

Actually, Learstang, I don't think there will be too many kitbashers for the Vildebeest - few people know anything about the original aircraft and hence I think it's unlikely that anyone would be brave enough to count rivets.

Incidentally, my comments were not a bash against the kit - I was simply answering a question about the middle cockpit and pointing out that the bomb aimer's window was missing. In my view, neither of these are major issues. I'm simply delighted to have a kit of the 'Beest...now if they'd just scale it up to 1/48th (Santa, I promise to be good...honest!!!).

[Learstang]

Actually, Learstang, I don't think there will be too many kitbashers for the Vildebeest - few people know anything about the original aircraft and hence I think it's unlikely that anyone would be brave enough to count rivets.

Incidentally, my comments were not a bash against the kit - I was simply answering a question about the middle cockpit and pointing out that the bomb aimer's window was missing. In my view, neither of these are major issues. I'm simply delighted to have a kit of the 'Beest...now if they'd just scale it up to 1/48th (Santa, I promise to be good...honest!!!).

Oh, that wasn't a dig against you, Mark. I'm with you; I'm just happy to have a kit of this interesting aeroplane. There's certainly nothing wrong with pointing out how a kit can be improved. What gets me sometimes is when people seemingly go out of their way to point out every little shortcoming about a kit (and I have no specific people in mind as I've seen this on every forum), without taking into account the most important aspect - does it look like what it's supposed to represent.

Regards,

Learstang

Edited May 18, 2011 by Learstang

[Ptmvarsityfan]

Thanks for that Mark, yes can see the cover to the middle cockpit on

close inspection. Agree with all it is fantastic to have an injection

Vildebeest and does look a very nice kit with great markings options.

Hope not too long before it is available in the UK.

Cheers all

Paul

[mhaselden]

The other snag is that the kit doesn't supply Type B roundels for the upper wing which is an odd oversight but, again, easily surmountable.

[vince14]

I'm waiting for the Vincent, for reasons I'm sure you can guess...

Vince

[Test Graham]

- does it look like what it's supposed to represent.

Learstang

I find it difficult to name a model, in over 55 years, that didn't. Look back to the original Aurora/Airfix Spitfire. It still looks like a Spitfire. I do recall comments about Frog's Bf.109F (or perhaps just the artwork) that it looked like a Macchi C.202, but it didn't really. Modern tooling is much superior in capturing the shapes of these aircraft, but individual kits can still fall short of ideal.

I also find it difficult to understand how to explain errors in a model without explaining matters in some detail. This might be easy enough when there's no alternatives but the one on offer - a Buckingham for example - but there are an immense range of Spitfires on offer. They all differ in various ways from each other and the originals they are attempting to represent. If you are attempting to explain why this particular offering lacks something that others possess - or even that has always been omitted - then it is impossible to avoid detail. Real aircraft variants and individuals differ from each other in detail. Try explaining the difference between a Spitfire Mk.Vb and a Mk.Vc in a way that will cover all wartime examples (not counting warbirds!), and then explain how any one particular representation in plastic does or does not match up. You cannot avoid going into detail of windscreens, cannon bulges, horn-balanced elevators, undercarriage rake angles, propellor blades, etc because these are the things than make such a variant distinct from any other. Aircraft are complicated. And if one model has a wing that is too thick, or too broad, or has ailerons the wrong size, or lacks washout, or has wingtips too pointy, then these are ways of distinguishing between multiple offerings of the same subject, and guides to what to do to make the piece of plastic in your hands closer to the shapes of the real thing. To make it "look more like".

There is a wide spectrum of modellers. Some will accept anything that comes with a specific label on the box, without caring. Bearing in mind some of the kits I've made perfectly happily in the past (and may yet), I have no problems this. Others want to make as accurate a kit as possible, and really do want to be completely picky on the pattern and colour of the underside of the rudder pedals. The majority, perhaps, are willing enough to read a list of modifications/improvements "required" by any given kit whilst (rightly) feeling perfectly entitled to "cherry-pick" those matters that they consider important enough to them.

Most of all, what I don't understand is why some modellers insist on telling others that "Thou shalt not". In this case, if you don't like comments that go into details you find trivial, then don't read them, and please stop making snide comments on the way others choose to approach their hobby.

[Learstang]

Graham, you're entitled to your opinions and I'm entitled to mine and let's just leave it at that.

Regards,

Jason

[Ptmvarsityfan]

Hi, after 40 years of modelling I find it is amazing that we are getting a good

quality injection Vildebeest and for that matter a Valiant. This is a great time to

be modelling. I remember the late 70's after Frog went bust, for British aircraft

modellers it was awful. Forgot to mention the AZ Attacker, Sea Vixens,

Scimitars, Griffon Spitfires etc, now is the golden age!!!!

Cheers

Paul

[Learstang]

Hi, after 40 years of modelling I find it is amazing that we are getting a good

quality injection Vildebeest and for that matter a Valiant. This is a great time to

be modelling. I remember the late 70's after Frog went bust, for British aircraft

modellers it was awful. Forgot to mention the AZ Attacker, Sea Vixens,

Scimitars, Griffon Spitfires etc, now is the golden age!!!!

Cheers

Paul

You forgot the Hart family that are being released - the Demon, the Audax, the Osprey, etc. It is indeed a golden age for British aeroplanes. Now if only someone would come out with a Lincoln in 1/72nd scale (I wouldn't mind one in 1/48th scale either).

Regards,

Jason

[Ptmvarsityfan]

Ordered a Vildebeest today from Hannants, just under 30 quid including postage.

Yes Jason, a Lincoln would be great!!!

Cheers

[Paul A H]

Looks like this kit is now No.1 in the Hannants top selling items list - so perhaps we will see a few more variants in due course

[Learstang]

Looks like this kit is now No.1 in the Hannants top selling items list - so perhaps we will see a few more variants in due course

Good news, indeed! A Mk.IV with the cowling and three-bladed propeller would be nice, for starters. Then, a Vincent. Who knows, with the success of this kit Azur might come out with some more 30's British aeroplanes such as the Wapiti, the Wallace, the Gordon, and the Seal.

Regards,

Jason

[Ptmvarsityfan]

Good news, indeed! A Mk.IV with the cowling and three-bladed propeller would be nice, for starters. Then, a Vincent. Who knows, with the success of this kit Azur might come out with some more 30's British aeroplanes such as the Wapiti, the Wallace, the Gordon, and the Seal.

Regards,

Jason

That would be great! I think some of these 30's aircraft have a

distinctive charm and the types you mention were very

important in their day. The fact that the Vildebeest is Hannants

no1 is very encouraging and shows that there is a market for good

quality injection kits of these once forgotten aircraft. Valom are

bringing out a Saro Cloud, Bristol Bombay and HP Harrow too!

Would love to see a Sidestrand/Overstrand,surely one of the

most distinctive and charismatic 30's types and how about a

Baffin? But can't get over the fact we have a good injection Vildebeest!!!

Cheers, Paul

[Learstang]

That would be great! I think some of these 30's aircraft have a

distinctive charm and the types you mention were very

important in their day. The fact that the Vildebeest is Hannants

no1 is very encouraging and shows that there is a market for good

quality injection kits of these once forgotten aircraft. Valom are

bringing out a Saro Cloud, Bristol Bombay and HP Harrow too!

Would love to see a Sidestrand/Overstrand,surely one of the

most distinctive and charismatic 30's types and how about a

Baffin? But can't get over the fact we have a good injection Vildebeest!!!

Cheers, Paul

I agree completely, Paul. I have an old Esoteric Overstrand I built many years ago, and it is indeed a charismatic aeroplane. I'd also like to see a Baffin, and a Horsely would be great too (hardly an elegant design, but it did have character).

Regards,

Jason

[Ptmvarsityfan]

I agree completely, Paul. I have an old Esoteric Overstrand I built many years ago, and it is indeed a charismatic aeroplane. I'd also like to see a Baffin, and a Horsely would be great too (hardly an elegant design, but it did have character).

Regards,

Jason

Never made an Esoteric Kit but believe they were very good. I did make

a Contrail Horsley though, it was a bit ungainly!

Just thought, a Vickers Victoria would be great!!! Made the Contrail years ago

but although pleased with the outcome gosh it was hard work!!

Cheers, Paul