Azur 1/72 Arsenal VG.33/39

AZUR 1:72 ARSENAL VG.33/39

Reviewer: Carlos Giani (carlos_giani2002@yahoo.de)
Kit Review submitted: 23 October 2009

Kit Details:

Preamble:

For a long time I was irresolute about writing this review or not, due to my big disappointment with the completed model. Trying some new ways intending to get a camouflage like the one shown in the instructions, but what finally came out was an absurd representation of what could be called a “WW2 French lozenge”. Further, there were lots of micro-blurs of masking tape glue left, which I couldn't clean off without destroying the surface. Awful! Nevertheless, a review is there primarily to share experiences (although I've seen reviews on other sites which, without a doubt, are pure self-praise!), so here it is! Also, this kit from Azur is rather good, it could be an adequate first try into short run, and it has no fault with regard to my errors. So please, have mercy with this poor modeller and don't be too critical! I've punished myself enough J.

Aircraft History:

The VG-33 and the VG-39 were designed at the “Arsenal de l´Aeronautique” in order to replace the Morane Saulnier Ms-406. This two promising fighters had a wooden construction, with the VG-33 flown for the first time in the spring of 1939. It was driven by a 3-blade propeller and powered by an Hispano-Suiza HS12Y-1 engine, which delivered 860HP. During the tests a maximum speed of 555 Km/h was achieved (to compare: Bf-109E 1050HP and about 570 Km/h , Hurricane IIB 1260HP and about 540 Km/h ). The armament consisted of one 20mm cannon and four 7.5mm wing-mounted MAC 34 guns. Before the fall of France some 160 machines were nearly finished and, apart from 10 planes which escaped to the south, all others were destroyed or seized by the Luftwaffe. The VG-39, which was powered by an 1280HP HS89ter engine and could achieve 620 Km/h , was test flown just before the surrender.

The Kit:

Inside the usual end-opening box you get a bag with one sprue containing 46 styrene parts, the instructions and a smaller bag with PE-sheet, film, vacformed canopy and decals. The styrene parts look rather early short run, i.e. flash to be cleaned and thick attachment points. Nevertheless, the surface quality is good, free of blurs or another imperfections, and the (few) panel lines are engraved and rather consistent. Some extra parts (nose halves, propeller plate and cone) are alternative for the VG-39. The small PE-sheet contains harness, instruments panel, pedals, landing gear legs scissors and radiator grills. Only one canopy is supplied, so that great care must be taken when cutting it out.

Instructions:

Two A4-sheets folded into an A3 leaflet. Side one brings history/data in English, Czech, German and French. Side two shows the sprue layout, while sides three to five show the construction in 11 steps, being as usual rather erratic regarding positioning of some smaller parts (e.g. instruments panel). Finally, sides six to eight show the coloring/decaling 2-view diagrams for 3 versions. The (minimal) detail painting hints and the main coloring are only given generic names, related to no specific brand.

Construction:

I started gluing the rear bulkhead to the floor, using the right fuselage half as a guide (is has a positioning rail) and left it aside to dry. The instrument panels can be made either with a PE plate plus film or a plastic part which has engraved dials. I decided to use all of them, painting the plastic part white, the PE front black and gluing them to a sandwich with the film as filling. I painted the office light grey and then added the PE pedals and the styrene control column to the floor. Later, when this also got the seat (with PE harness), it was trapped in between the fuselage halves which closed perfectly, without any trimming to do. At this early stage you must decide which version to build, since the VG-39 would require you to cut off the whole front section (including the very front of the wing roots) and add the extra parts supplied. Of course I wanted a VG-33 (which means I was too lazy to make a VG-39!).

Each wing consists of upper and lower half, with the wheel wells not being boxed in. The inner section of the wells are half-round, blanked recesses on the fuselage, avoiding a see-through effect. The wings were butt-joined to the fuselage and as were the tailplanes. Of course there were some gaps to fill and sand, and the inner edge of the wings had to be trimmed a bit to get the right dihedral. Next I tackled the ventral radiator, which gets a small plastic block onto the inside, the later receiving a PE grill on each side (looks great!). Also a central, longitudinal trunking is placed into the front section of the radiator's cowling, and this was the only part of the kit which required heavy trimming and many dry fit tests. The front ventral oil radiator went on without troubles, and also got a PE grill.

The main landing gear consists of legs, supporting arms, retraction arms, scissors (PE or plastic) and one-piece wheels. Fortunately this parts were all rather well molded (I mean, for short run). The legs are glued onto spheric recesses on the inner side of the upper wing halves, and become the right side angle automatically by passing through the wheel well opening. With the addition of the support and retraction arms, the whole thing is really sturdy. A partial well cover is glued onto each leg. The canopy was easy to cut out and went on rather good. Nevertheless, there was some filling to do. For these cases, and because the clear wax canopies don't glue that strong, I always try to place some “rail” on the inner border of the cockpit, onto which the canopy later can “lean on” (see photo). The last bits to add were the propeller (with rear plate and cone), tail skid, machine guns (for which I used pieces of an old Contacta cannula) and some antennas.

And now the disaster! Inspired by the instructions and the box art, I wanted to try some new proceedings here, trying to get a similar result as the one suggested. I sprayed the undersides with Revell R57 (a good match for Humbrol HF4 “gris bleu clair”) and masked it next day. A first coat of Humbrol HF5 “gris bleu foncee” went on without trouble. Next day I masked it with “blotches” of Tamiya tape, and applied a coat of Humbrol H118 (not exactly HF3 “terre foncee”).

Finally, more Tamiya tape went on and I sprayed Revell R46 (similar to HF1 “Khaki”). Removing the hundreds of tiny tape pieces produced lots of micro-scratches and revealed many, many very small particles of tape glue (not the Tamiya tape's fault; it is just not thought for such an use). Worse, the plane didn´t resemble the box art, looking rather like a WW2 plane with German camouflage of WW1! Ughhhhhhh! Well, it´s my baby and I have to love it as it is. Johnson's Klear, the decals and Model Master dullcote finished the job.

Colour Schemes:

1) French VG-33

2) German-captured VG-33

3) French VG-39, no further information.

All upper surfaces khaki and earth amoeba-like dabs over dark blue-grey, lower surfaces light blue-grey.

Decals:

Printed by Propagteam and containing only basics (which sure is realistic), they performed very well onto Klear, without curling or disintegrating. Thin, shiny and dense in color. Unfortunately, one of the roundels had a bit of a white border.

Conclusions:

A really nice kit from an interesting and underrated airplane. With no major trimmings to do, easy-to-cut-out canopy, sturdy landing gear, excellent decals and lacking of resin parts, it could be an appropriate first try into short run. Warmly recommended!

References:

Some 3-view drawings found in the Web.

The Lesson:

There are some WW1 unbuilt kits from Eastern Express, Toko and Roden in my stash (including the Gotha Go-V), so that I have to search for another technique if I want to avoid the use of that lozenge decals which really scare me.

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