Airfix 1/72 Canberra B(I)8
By Jacob Russell
The Plane
The English Electric Canberra B (I) 8 was a two-seat night interdictor/tactical bomber with an offset fighter-type canopy for improved visibility in the ground attack role. It was designed in response to Air Staff requirement 1B/22D&P, which called for a "specialized interdictor" for low-level operation in visual ground contact able to carry a wide range of bombs, rockets and guns. The B (I) 8 was a popular plane with its crews, despite the fact that only the pilot had an ejection seat! It was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Avon RA.7 Mk109 jet engines, and was also fitted to carry a nuclear weapon. The Canberra was produced in many different variants and served in air forces all over the globe for more than 50 years. Approximately 1, 352 aircraft were produced and the Canberra has only recently been withdrawn from service.
The Kit
The new Canberra kit comes in a very stout cardboard box with colorful computer-generated artwork on the lid. The injection-molded parts are contained within a large plastic bag. The separately bagged clear sprue is in the same bag. The kit consists of 160 parts, 7 of which are clear, on 7 sprues. My overall impressions of this kit are very positive. The panel lines are recessed, and although the Matchbox "trench maker" is still out of work, the panel lines ARE somewhat wide, and the depth and width of these are uniform throughout the model. The sprue attachment points for most parts are easy to reach with your cutting tool and they are fairly small as well. Ejector pin marks are very minor, and are found in hard to see (and FIX) places, such as the wheel wells and inner faces of the landing gear doors. The wheel wells are separately molded, as are the fenders for the front landing gear wheels. The wheels themselves are molded in halves and are subtly flattened. The cockpit is a multi-piece assembly. Detail in the cockpit is somewhat simplified. The B (I) 8 canopy did not open so this important area will look appropriately busy with the careful use of washes and dry brushing. The cockpit entry door is an individual piece and can be posed open, and there are 2 figures included. The rudder, flaps and horizontal control surfaces are separately molded, and the model can be depicted either "in flight" or on the tarmac. The flaps can be posed open or closed. The fronts of the jet engines have convincing detail. The B (I) 8 had a bomb bay and the kit allows this area to be depicted open or closed. If the closed bay option is selected a Boulton Paul gun pack (which contains 4 20mm Hispano cannon) is included, which attaches to the bomb bay doors. The open bomb bay option includes 4 750-pound bombs and bomb rack. The bay is composed of 5 pieces: front and rear bulkheads, the bay itself, and the doors. Underwing stores include wingtip mounted drop tanks, 1,000-pound bombs, a pair of Matra SNEB rocket launchers and a pair of Nord AS-30 air-to-ground missiles. I am not 100% certain about the identity of the last 2 items. The clear parts are very well molded. They include the forward nose, canopy and windscreen, lower port window, and wingtip navigation lights.There are 3 decal options in the kit:
1) Canberra B(I)8, No. 16 Squadron, Laarbruch, Royal Air Force, Germany, 1972. This aircraft had a distinctive sharkmouth on its nose, and was in the familiar grey and green camouflage with natural metal undersurfaces.
2) Canberra B(I)12, No.14 Squadron, Ohakea, Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1968. This plane was also painted grey and green with natural metal undersurfaces.
3) Canberra B(I)12, No. 12 Squadron, Waterkloof, South African Air Force, 1969-1975. This plane was overall natural metal, and carried the Boulton Paul gun pack.
The decal sheet is very well printed and in register, with common and unique stencils for each option. The instructions are well done, with good drawings, a logical build sequence, and color callouts for Humbrol enamels-what else?Accuracy
According to Mike Whye, who reviewed Airfix's 1 /48th scale B (I) 8 kit the 12 engraved horizontal on each rudder half are incorrect, and should be filled. I did not have access to a set of 1/72nd scale plans, but the kit certainly looks like a Canberra to me!Conclusions
I think this is a good kit, with few vices. I feel it will build up into a superb replica of a historically important aircraft. I recommend that you pick one of these up. If you take your time you will be happy with the finished model.I would like to thank Mike Whye, who shared the information he gathered for his 1/48th scale review. Mike also provided useful links to some interesting Canberra websites. I would also like to thank Hornby America for providing the review sample.
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