Martin Maryland

KIT COMMENT
TWO NEW КITS FROM FROG
1:72 scale Maryland and Swordfish

The two most recent releases from Frog are 1:72nd scale models of the Martin Maryland and the Fairey Swordfish. Both are good kits and in the case of the former there is no other model of this type on the market either in injection moulded or vacuform construction. The Swordfish, although echoeing a rather ancient Airfix offering provides floats as well as a land undercarriage plus better detail than its predecessor.

Of the two kits we had for review the Maryland found greatest favour. This was possibly because of its unique character but also because it was a more straightforward model to build and paint. It is, however, not without its faults.

Overall accuracy is good but from the constructional point of view the model has a 'heavy' feeling that is difficult to overcome. Unlike some other Frog models, the wing and tailplane trailing edges have been improved and are now near scale dimensions but the undercarriage seems to have suffered this time. Although the Maryland had but a single strut for the main oleo leg on each wheel we are sure that a little more detail could have been provided here.

The other problems we noted were the engine nacelles. The moulding of these is not precise and results in a gap between the dorsal line air intake on the nacelle and its extension over the wing. The actual intake itself is also far from sharp and had to be drilled out before painting.

At first sight we thought that the moulding of the nose transparency was going to give trouble but by using one of the liquid polystyrene cements a very neat join was made between the two halves which are split along the fuselage joint line. By using the file and some fine wet and dry paper the joint was sufficiently removed so that when the painting stage was reached it was difficult to realise that the section was made up in this way.

Decals provided with the Maryland were not terribly exciting but this is not the fault of the manufacturer. Most of the aircraft were in RAF service in the Middle East and this is reflected in the two sets of markings provided albeit that they represent associated units in the Command.

The most interesting is that of NQ228 flown by the Escadrille 'Nantes' GBII/20 'Bretagne' operating with the Free French forces at Zouer and Tchad, Fezzan campaigns in 1941-42. French roundels and the Cross of Lorraine markings are included. The alternative is an aircraft of No 24Sqdn, No 3 Wing, South African Air Force coded 'X' in the Western desert. The subject is fairly well known as there is one excellent Imperial War Museum picture of it in dark earth and mid stone upper surfaces and azure blue for the rest.

The Frog Maryland model is a satisfactory kit and will fill a needed gap in the collection. The minor problems we found can all be easily adjusted apart from the complications of the undercarriage legs and at 42p Frog have once again satisfied the needs of many.

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 19 15-28 February 1973

NEW AND IN VIEW
FROG MARTIN MARYLAND.

Just to be different this is a simple 'clean' kit which fits quite nicely. As a rather neglected type we are glad to see this issued, and though references are scarce the model appears quite accurate. This one does not even have the usual Frog bugbear of complicated and difficult fitting engine nacelles. . .A GOOD buy.

The IPMS magazine, october 1973

MODEL ENTHUSIAST
The latest spawned by Frog

Issued simultaneously by Frog recently were two new kits to 1/72nd scale of well-known WW II aircraft, the Fairey Swordfish and the Martin Maryland, the former being badly needed and the latter long awaited. The Swordfish has been badly needed for, although good in its time, the old Airfix kit has for long been overtaken by the "state of the art", while the Maryland kit has been long awaited to fill one of the few gaps remaining in available kits of warplanes that played relatively important roles in WW II.

The Martin 167 Maryland has for long stood out like a sore thumb as a potential subject for a kit as, after seeing limited service in

May-June 1940 with the Groupement No 1 of the Armée de l'Air, during which 418 sorties were flown (363 against the Germans and 55 against the Italians) and 18 aircraft were lost, it was to play an important role in the Western Desert. It was employed by No 431 Flight for photographic reconnaissance missions over Italian and Sicilian harbours and airfields around Naples and Brindisi; it served in the light bomber role in the desert with the RAF's No 39 Squadron in concert with the Mary-lands of the South African Air Force's Nos 12 and 24 squadrons; it equipped five Groupes de Bombardement of the Armée de l'Air de VArmistice in French African territories as well as five Escadrilles of the Aeronavale, some of the latter flying bombing missions against Gibraltar, and it was operated by two Free French Escadrilles de Bombardement.

Frog's Martin 167 kit makes up into a model that is basically accurate in outline but rather coarse in so far as detail is concerned, an example of this shortcoming being provided by the engine cowlings, the cooling gills of which are badly formed. There is not a lot of surface detail but what there is is mostly very fine and could be easily lost if more than one thin coat of paint is applied, while what is left, such as the flap outlining, is too deeply scored. The transparencies are a little on the thick side but are very clear and the framing is neatly moulded. The decals are very good, offering the markings of a Maryland I of No 24 Sqdn, SAAF, serving with the Desert Air Force, and a Martin 167-A3 of the "Nantes" Escadrille of GB 11/20 "Bretagne" (the former Detache-ment Permanent des Forces Aeriennes du Tchad) of the 1942 period. In general, this kit is quite acceptable but we suggest that Frog could have done better. The UK price is 42p.
F J Henderson

Air Enthusiast 1974-03 vol.06 no.03