Czech Master Resin
|
 |
History
DFS is the abbreviation of Deutsches fur Segelflug. I just wanted to get that out of the way right up front. Hans Jacob designed the Kranich (crane) in early 1935 and the prototype was built and flown in the autumn of the same year. Hans developed it from his successful Rhonsperber single seater; the two planes are generally similar in appearance. This high performance sailplane broke almost every world record. It was in production from 1935 until the late 1950s and went through three varieties; Kranich I, II and III. Many are still flying today. I cite no references below as all the research for this review was via Google.
The Kit
|
The Kit appears to represent either a late Kranich I or an early Kranich II. Modifications were incorporated in the type right from the beginning and it is very hard to distinguish a I from a II without reading the builder’s plate on the plane. The very stout, top-opening box contains 21 parts cast in pale cream resin, two cast in clear resin, two vac canopies, a decal sheet, a page of assembly instructions and a page of colors and markings instructions.
The fuselage is cast in one piece with a cavity for the cockpit details. This technique, unfortunately, leaves no room for the pilot’s feet or the rudder pedals in the front cockpit. Cockpit details comprise seats, instrument panels, control sticks and the structural deck, which divides the cockpits. This last part also incorporates the “roll-bar”. On my sample kit the left wing has the correct sweep but the root of the left wing is at, very slightly, too shallow an angle. This is easily corrected.
The kit includes two wheels for the launching dolly but not the axle/cradle between them and the instructions do not show the launching dolly at all. My last nit pick has already been corrected by CMR. My kit’s decal sheet does not include the NFSK (Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps) Gruppe badge for the plane’s nose but it is shown on both the box art and on the colors and markings instructions. It is now included on new kits.
Conclusion
Czech Master Resin’s simple kit of this very pretty little sailplane should be a quick, easy build for any modeler.
Our thanks to Czech Master Resin for providing the sample kit for this
review.
