FROG 323P English Electric Canberra PR.7

Model Aircraft, January 1956
Over the counter

International Model Aircraft will be introducing to the market in the very near future a whole range of new 1/72 scale detailed moulded plastic solid kits probably the most completely detailed of any in the world. The name "Penguin" is not to be revived for this series and further unlike the pre-war models the new Frog scale series are moulded in polystyrene. Kits will be complete with moulded stand, polystyrene cement, etc.. and will include such attractive prototype as like Hunter, Sabre, Canberra, Javelin, Meteor, Venom, Sikorsky helicopter, etc. Many thousands of pounds have been invested in dies for these models and the pre-production work involving the preparation of drawings, patterns and finally the dies (much intricate detail on these having to be hand tooled) has taken over two years.

Model Aircraft, 1956 January

Model Aircraft, April 1956
Over the counter

Photo below shows a corner of the model aircraft section at the Triang Trade Fair held last month. Completly new were the attractive 1/72 scale plastik kits, of which the Hunter and Whirlwind are nuw in the shops. Appearing soon will be the Canberra, Javelin, and F-86 E Sabre, in that order. Prices range from 5s. 3d. to 8s. 6d.

Model Aircraft, 1956 April

Model Aircraft, May 1956
Over the counter

At the Tri-ang Trade Fair (see last month's "Over the Counter") sevaral notable additions to the Frog range of kits were on show. Firstly the new polystyrene plastic scale kits: five are currently in production - the Hunter and Sabre at 5s.3d., the Sikorsky S.55 at 5s. 9d., the Javelin at 7s. 6d., and the Canberra at 8s. 6d. These will be followed by the D.H.110, Meteor 8, Venom and Sea Hawk. The kits are complete and ready to assemble. They include polystyrene cement, transferes, and a stand for mounting the finished model.

Model Aircraft, 1956 May

AeroModeller 1956-09
Trade Notes

Also from the Merton factory are the plastic scale solids for the Sabre, Westland Whirlwind Helicopter and Hawker Hunter. The Canberra has also been assembled by us. One cannot deny that these are nice models, and very reasonably priced from 5s. 9d. up to 8s. 6d.

For the real enthusiast however, there is plenty of scope for individual improvement on these plastics, and removal of the Clyde-side size rivets on the Canberra is a number one recommendation. Colouring in correct camouflage can be most effectively applied in oil paints not cellulose dopes.

AeroModeller 1956-09

Model aircraft, february 1957
Solid Scale Models

In Figs. 10-14, we show the construction of a typical moulded polystyrene model, in this case the 1/72 scale Frog Canberra PR.7. The excellent surface of the parts, which even includes rivet lines, is noteworthy, as, also, is the manner in which all parts fit accurately together.

Model aircraft february 1957

Model Aircraft, June 1956
Over the counter

An instance of a full size aircraft manufacturer (indirectly) helping the modeller is evident in the new Jetex plastic kits of the Vickers Viscount. These were originally ordered by Vickers for publicity purposes, but kits are now available " over the counter" at 6s. 11d. each. A choice of transfers is available so that a model can be finished in a variety of air line colours. Latest of the Wimco solids are the Valiant, Canberra and Victor, all of which should now be in your model shop.

Model Aircraft, 1956 june

Over the counter

Additions to the Lincoln range, coming along shortly, are the Bristol Britannia (ready some time March), Handley Page Victor, Vickers Valiant and Boeing 707—same price again.

Starting in May, Guiterman's will also be getting in the first of the Lincoln-Hawk plastics (the American Hawk designs manufactured in Hong Kong by Lincoln).

LINCOLN PLASTIC KITS

THE Lincoln series of plastics are Empire made—actually produced in Hong Kong where labour and tooling costs are very much lower than in this country or America. Thus these kits can be manufactured and imported at a highly competitive price. British distributors are Guiterman and Co., of Soho Square, London, W.I.

The first model to appear in this series was the Lockheed Starfire, 8½ in. span and fully detailed in the American manner. The original price was 3s. 11d., subsequently increased to 4s. 11d., re-boxed and including a plastic stand, this price being maintained for the four additional models in the range. These others are the Canberra (8 in. span) and three airliners—the D.C.7 (9¼ in. span); the Constellation (10½ in. span); and the Vickers Viscount (9¼ in. span).

All these models are extremely easy to build. The Starfire is probably the easiest, and makes a most impressive first model. The airliners have a sparsity of detail, but this is in keeping with their reduced scale, and they still look most attractive when finished.

The detail lines are somewhat coarser than some of the contemporary plastic models, and the fits perhaps a little less accurate in one or two places. On the Viscount, for instance, one side of the tailplane has an exaggerated dihedral angle, but this can be taken up. But for the price, they represent extremely good value. All the airliners have nicely moulded airscrews, mounted on pins in the engine cowlings (trim off the ends of the pins before fitting the cowlings in place). The decals are printed on cellophane and must be cut out and stuck on with a rubber solution, which is perhaps a little more tedious than transfers. But again, the results are generally good, with care.

These models will undoubtedly have most appeal to the younger enthusiast and their price makes it possible for him to build up a collection, rather than having to invest his " capital" in a limited number of more elaborate kits. For the youngster, too, the smaller number of parts in the kit will be a further advantage.

Model aircraft, april 1957 года, No.190, Vol.16

AeroModeller 1958-01
Heard at the Hangar Doors

Surprisingly, no-one wrote to us complaining of a few errors in scale which crept through in the Lincoln listing, and which we amend as follows;—

Vickers Vicount 1/121 English Electric Canberra 1/98

AeroModeller 1958-01

AeroModeller MARCH 1959 VOLUME XXIV No. 278
TRADE NOTES

REVELL'S B.57b Canberra makes up into a fine model (at left), the U.S.A.F. black being set off handsomely with Red warning stripes—and here's a tip, get a Chinagraph red crayon from the art shop and rub it down the red strip recesses. Wipe off excess and the result is neat as the man moulded it!

AeroModeller 1959-03

RAF Flying Review MAY, 1959 VOL.XIV, No.9
Model Talks
WHAT'S NEW IN THE SHOPS

• A fine-looking new-comer to the Revell line is the Martin B-57B jet bomber developed from the British Canberra. This model has a 9⅜-inch wingspan and carries eight guns, eight machine guns and four bombs.

(Revell. 8s. 11d.)

RAF Flying Review MAY 1959 Vol. XIV, No, 9

Airfix magazine March 1961 Vol.1 No.10
NEW KITS and MODELS
A SURVEY OF LATEST KITS, FROM THE PLASTIC MODEL MARKET
Revell

This company is increasing its range by about 50 new kits in the coming year.

New aircraft to be produced include a Fairey Rotodyne, Lockheed F-104 Star-fighter, Bell X-5 and English Electric Canberra.

Airfix magazine March 1961 Vol.1 No.10

RAF Flying Review November, 1962, Vol. XVIII, No. 3
MODEL TALK
GIFT SETS:

From Revell, and obviously intended for the Christmas market, are two gift sets of models. A Douglas X-3 high speed research aircraft, SAAB Draken, Moonship, and Northrop F-89D Scorpion make up the Space Age set (price 19s. 8d.), while the Bomber pack comprises of a Boeing B-29, B-52, and English Electric Canberra (price 25s. 6d.).

While the models are not new issues they should make attractive gift sets for plastic fanatics.

RAF Flying Review November, 1962, Vol. XVIII, No. 3

Scale Models vol1 no1 1969 OCTOBER
Martin B-57 Intruder 1/85th Scale Price 9/-.

A re-issue of an earlier kit which is now moulded in dark green plastic and features the miniscule decals as currently used on camouflaged U.S. aircraft based in Vietnam. Note however, that the four position stars and bars should appear one on each side of the fuselage and one ABOVE the PORT wing and BELOW the starboard wing and NOT as instruction sheet Assembly is very simple, the kit comprising only twenty-six parts but it is a good representation of this American version of the British Canberra and makes up into a pleasing model.

Scale Models No.1 1969 OCTOBER Vol.1 No.1

Airfix magazine January 1962 Vol.2 No.8
NEW KITS and MODELS
LATEST PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET OF INTEREST TO MODELLERS
Check your facts

Whereas the first model received from Revell this month is worthy of the highest praise, we can't be so enthusiastic about their other release. This is labelled "British Canberra Bomber" on the box lid, and is one of those kits that never really seems to make up its mind about what it intends to represent. For example, the serial number is, we believe, from a Canberra B.Mk.6, but who ever heard of this version carrying napalm tanks and rockets?

In the broadest terms, Revell's Canberra seems just that little better than the two other Canberra kits on the market, if you disregard the accessories. There are, it is true, inaccuracies in the shape of the tail-plane and the dihedral of the outer wing panels seems to be too great, but if these can be adjusted by the individual then the various models of Canberra can be easily constructed from the basic kit.

The forty-seven parts of the kit are easy to assemble and we particularly like the sturdy way that the undercarriage is attached. A certain amount of extra weight is needed in the nose if the aircraft is to be free-standing.

The kit itself is, like most American models, to no standard scale. In actual fact this works out to aboul 1/80th, and the finished model is really too small to include in a 1/72 scale collection. It seems that the Americans did not go far enough in their researches before making the moulds for this aircraft, and have tended to rely too much on their previously successful Martin B-57 version of the Canberra for their information. At 8s. 9d. the Revell "British Canberra Bomber" is not quite up to the standard that we have come to expect from this company.

Airfix magazine January 1962 Vol.2 No.8

RAF Flying Review March, 1962, Vol. XVII, No. 7
ANOTHER CANBERRA:

Revell's Martin B-57 introduced some years ago has now become the "British Canberra Bomber" on model shop shelves. By modifying the cockpit canopy and adding a nose transparency, Revell have made a new model. The model appears to be a B.6 version, but the underwing stores supplied are somewhat strange for this variant.

The scale is 1/80th and detailing has been emboldened, and is reminiscent of Japanese Marusan models. Box-lid artwork is by a Japanese artist, so the kit may well have been converted in Japan by Marusan, who supply and manufacture all Revell kits in their country. The price of the Canberra, now being manufactured in Britain, is 8s. 9d.

RAF Flying Review March, 1962, Vol. XVII, No. 7