Short Sunderland MkIII 1:72 [2014 issue]

Short Sunderland MkIII 1:72 [2014 issue]

A decent kit & easier to build than the Special Hobby version. Airfix has had a Sunderland in their catalog since 1959 & it has appeared & re-appeared frequently since then. It was last issued in a new Airfix 'Red Box' edition back in 2012, but I do not know if they have done anything to the mold with that release. It should safe to say, that being a newer issue, the Italeri mold should be more accurate than the Airfix, but this is where the specialists begin to squawk. In a nutshell, the experts agree that there is no perfect Sunderland kit, but all are good & are worth working on. There is some good commentary on britmodeller for those who wish to spend a pleasant evening reading some cultured English criticism, particularly concerning the placement of portholes & windows & which hole on the kit represents which ! Some holes sadly, are spurious, but do not detract from the final result. I would say that the Italeri kit should be an easier kit to build than the Airfix, particularly if you have an older Airfix issue from the 1970's to 1990's [ with all their raised lines & rivets !], & definitely easier to build than the Special Hobby issues, even though they are considered more accurate. Any way you shake it, these kits build up to look like, smell like & feel like a Sunderland !

A note to builders of the 'more accurate' Special Hobby kit: britmodeller will inform you which hole is a porthole & which hole is a window. Each porthole had a rim, which is not provided in the kit molding. These will have to be built up by hand, using the plans provided by one of the britmodeller denizens. If this action is not accomplished, you will be denied entry to the UK for all time ! You will also not be able to watch the English Premiere League on DAZN !!! You have been warned !! 

The kit is molded in light gray styrene and presented on five parts trees plus and fret of photo-etched parts. Among the features and options in this kit:

• Fuselage has revised step molded in lower hull
• Nicely detailed flight deck with choice of decal or photo-etched instrument panel
• Pilots' seats have photo-etched seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, and structural framing
• Radio compartment (behind flight deck) has radio operators station visible through doorway
• Detailed nose compartment with plank floor, anchor and winch, and other gear
• Detailed weapons bay
• Weapons bay doors can be positioned open or closed
• New movable dorsal turret
• Starboard rear fuselage door is positionable open or closed
• Detailed nose and tail turrets including revised guns
• Nose turret can be positioned retracted for access to nose compartment
• Optional beaching gear and tail trolley included
• Movable ailerons
• Movable rudder
• Movable elevators
• Weapons racks move in and out of weapons bay
• LOTS of dipole and yagi antennas

The decal sheet provides markings for six different examples:

• Sunderland Mk.III, W4004, Z, 10 Sqn, RAAF, Mount Batten, UK, 1943
• Sunderland Mk.III, ML868, H, 230 Sqn, SEAC, Koggala, Ceylon, 1944
• Sunderland Mk.III, DV960, 2-H, 461 Sqn, RAF, Mount Batten, UK, 1942
• Sunderland Mk.III, W8060, Escadrille 7, Dakar, Senegal, 1943
• Sunderland Mk.III, W3999, RB-Y, 10 Sqn, RAAF, Mount Batten, UK, 1942
• Sunderland Mk.III, A26-6, 40 Sqn, RAAF, Townsville, Australia, 1944

And lastly, for those who scoff at the prospect of building a tiny 1/72 scale kit....the Sunderland is available right now in 1/48 scale from SANGER as a Mk.III & a Mk.V, but these are vacuforms & will task you to the fullest ! Do you want to spend the REST OF YOUR LIFE building a vac 1/48 scale Sunderland ??? Sure you do!- Cough up $130.00 & I will get you one of these. Actually, these are not bad kits at all, but fairly labour intensive. For modelers who like to build, a vac can be very satisfying !