Scale Plastic & Rail

1/72 Bleriot XI-2

1/72 Bleriot XI-2
Choroszy Modelbud
Catalogue # A194
Available from Lonewulf Models & White Ensign Models

Choroszy Modelbud have a reputation for making high quality, exquisite resin kits, so I always expect a lot when I see a new release. The Bleriot XI-2 was a very small aircraft (25ft wingspan), so as you’ll imagine, a 1/72 kit will be quite small. Don’t be lulled into a sense that this model will be simplistic, because it really isn’t!

This simply has to be one of the most detailed (for this scale)and complicated resin kits I think I have seen. When I say ‘complicated’, I really do mean that. You will need to be an experienced modeller with a lot of patience to tackle this one. Let’s see why, and what you get inside the unassuming box.

The Bleriot XI-2 was a two seat version of the original Bleriot monoplane with uprated features, and this kit can be built in several permutations of that aircraft. There is an armed version, as well as a bomb-carrying machine too. This really is a smashing little kit. If you want a parts count, then here it is:

All resin parts are provided in 3 re-sealable zip-lock bags, and due to the extremely small size of some parts, some flash does occur, although it is very sparse, thin and simply brushes off in the whole. Some very fine sponge sanding or a sharp blade will see it extinct.

 

Detail really has to be seen to be believed. The small Gnome engine is extremely delicate with the finest of cooling fins you are likely to ever see. The machine gun is beautifully mastered and cast also. The forward fuselage is cast with the sides and the floor as one piece, with an open top where you can add the interior parts. The interior is actually neatly moulded with frame detail, and the exterior is nicely rendered with a fabric/frame finish which is very subtle. Even the stitching is neatly replicated. The flying surfaces have their ribs and fabric very nicely rendered also.

The rear fuselage is constructed from wood. Yes, as per the real plane! A small bag of wooden parts are included which you will need to assemble while laid over one of the side elevation drawings. This is the only way to get the dimensions and shape correct, and before you assemble the wooden framing sides, now would be a good time to add the brace wires. This isn’t supplied in the kit, and I would perhaps use monofilament or very thin lycra thread.

The undercarriage of this plane is extremely complex and you will need to study the drawings very carefully and perhaps make a jig to ensure that everything is equally constructed from both sides and suitable for assembly to the fuselage.

As you know though, there are limitations to resin, and this is where the etch fret comes into play. You wanted spoked wheels? Well, you got ‘em! Each wheel has 2 etch parts to represent the spokes, with one part for each side of the wheel, as the spokes would naturally be. I would look at a way of making these slightly convex too. Other parts included on the etch fret are windshield frames, engine framing, ammunition feed, and rigging points, to name a few. The etching is absolutely first class and very, very intricate. Remember to use a new blade and remove whilst the fret is sat on a tile or similar.

As with other Choroszy kits, the instructions, whilst very good, only show the construction in an ‘exploded diagram’ style, and you could do worse than Google some images of this aircraft for reference. Just to compound the complexity, there is also no parts break-down either. You will need to count the parts against the exploded drawings, and measure them against the elevations to make sure you use the correct part for the right area.

The drawings show a standard exploded diagram, with the bomb option, plus several smaller diagrams to depict the variations in different machines. A history of the aircraft is given, as are black and white references for the colour schemes for all versions.

The decals are spread across 3 small sheets and are all printed in good colour and register with the exception of the Serbian decals where the roundels are slightly off-true with the centre not being, er, on centre. Otherwise, no worries at all. Decals look thin and like they should work well with setting solutions.

 

 

So what do we think?

I really want to build this little model. It cries out to be built, and I don’t think it will be long before I bite the bullet. As I have said, this is a very complicated little model and you really do need experience to try it. I would say that price-wise, it is run of the mill for a kit like this, but the sheer work involved will prove that it really is excellent value for money. Detail is superb and this really will be a show stopper when complete. Highly recommended.

 

Overall: 10/10

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