Grumman G21B Portuguese Naval Aviation Conversion

Signifer, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by David Harmer

Eduard's 1/48 scale Roland C.II Weekend Edition
is available online from Squadron.com for only $17.96!

Grumman’s Goose performed a range of combat and training roles, and was used by a number of air forces and civilian operators.

While Portugal officially remained neutral during World War II, 12 Grumman G-21Bs were delivered to Portugal to assist its “neutrality patrols”. During Portuguese service, G-21Bs established regular transport between continental Portugal to the Azores and performed search and rescue missions. G-21Bs remained in service for a short-while post war but had been retired from service by 1952.

This simple conversion kit will allow you to build the G-21B in Portuguese Service, and a beaching trolley. Unlike other Goose variants, which are amphibious, the retractable landing-gear were omitted from the G-21B in favour of additional fuel tanks.

This set is designed to be used with Signifer’s multi-media JRF 5 Goose kit http://www.hyperscale.com/2016/reviews/kits/signifer48001reviewdh_1.htm

It also seems to be offered as a package with the Goose kit as a "transkit".

The conversion set comprises 17 resin parts, some photo-etch parts, and the brass rod and wire needed to manufacture a few simple parts. The resin is cast to the same high standard as in the JRF 5 kit.

For those of us who find cutting plastic to fit resin parts intimidating, the good news is this conversion requires comparatively little surgery. A few cuts are needed to the plastic fuselage to remove the wheel wells. Resin blanking plates are then fitted to convert the amphibious JRF into the aquatic G-21B.

The rest of the build really only requires integrating the resin parts with the JRF 5 kit. The brass rod is used to make the axles and tow handle for the beaching trolley. The wire is included to make a convincing DF Loop aerial. The Signifer website includes useful build photographs that will help with assembly. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear possible to link directly to the relevant page, follow this link http://signifer.chez-alice.fr/uk_corps_g21b_histo.htm, then click cataglogue, then G21B Portuguese Naval Aviation

Marking Options

Three marking options are offered. However, as all of the Portuguese aircraft were finished in an overall silver finish, there are few difference between the aircraft. You may need to do some research here, a least one period photographs suggests not all aircraft featured the red and green rudder depicted in the instructions.
Colour call-outs for the red and green rudder are provided for Tamiya and Humbrol Paints.

The decals feature perfect registration and rich colour.

You don’t often see a finished Grumman Goose, let alone the G21B. As the box top art illustrates, this will build to an attractive model and one you can guarantee few others will have in their collection.

Thanks to Signifer for the sample

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2016 by David Harmer
Page Created 12 April, 2016
Last updated 12 April, 2016

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