Hawker Siddeley
Buccaneer S.Mk.2/2C/2D

in Fleet Air Arm Service

CMR, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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Recently, CMR has raised the bar for the quality of 1/72 scale resin kits. Their Spitfires and Seafires released over the last year represent the Rolls-Royce of British aircraft models in this scale.

CMR has released two beautiful Buccaneer kits during 2006. They have now added the Bucc in Fleet Air Arm Service to the lineup.

CMR's 1/72 scale Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.Mk.2/2C/2D "in Fleet Air Arm Service" comprises a whopping 208 resin parts; a photo-etched sheet from Eduard; two vac-formed clear canopies and markings for 12 aircraft.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The fuselage is split into an upper and a lower half. These also incorporate the inner wing sections. These are both large castings, but they are beautifully detailed. There is a bit of flash and waste to clean up on both parts, but there are no casting blocks to worry about. The nose cone is a separate part which may be posed open to display photo-etched and resin radar equipment.

The outer wing panels are cast as a single piece each. They are pretty much ready to install straight from the box. The delicate vortex generators are cast in place. The wing panels may be installed folded or in flight configuration (but folded looks like it will be easier!)

Alternate parts are supplied for the S.Mk.2 or S.Mk.2C/2D horizontal tail planes.

The air brakes may be posed either open or closed.

Smaller parts are packed securely in separate compartments of several plastic  bag. These are as impressively cast and as well detailed as the wings, tailplanes and fuselage parts. Options are many and varied, covering all three possible variants noted in the kit title.

A staggering array of ordnance is supplied. This may be installed on a variety of pylons, or exposed on the internal rotating weapons bay (sort of like a nuclear bomb on a rotisserie). The huge selection of weapons might have been bewildering, but CMR has supplied a very clearly laid out guide to identifying, painting and installing the weapons for each of the many marking options in the kit.

A nice bonus in this release is the inclusion of colour photo-etched parts. These were not included in CMR's earlier Buccaneer offerings. Full colour details include harness straps, instrument panels, side consoles and pull handles.

The vacform canopies are produced to a high standard. Photo-etched detonating cord may be used to supplement the canopy parts.

Self adhesive masks are also supplied to speed the painting process.

The almost encyclopedic documentation comprises 23 pages of instructions, plus an additional three pages of External Payload diagrams, stencil markings and detail painting guide for each variant, and six pages of reference photos.

Markings are supplied for 12 aircraft in either overall Gloss Extra Dark Sea Grey or Extra Dark Sea Grey and White. The decals, spread over three sheets, are perfectly in register and appear to be very thin.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

CMR's 1/72 scale Buccaneer is quite breathtaking, and perhaps just a tiny bit scary just on the basis of the large number of parts. Modelling experience will be essential, as will patience and a disciplined approach to preparing and organising the resin parts even before assembly.

Your reward, however, will be a truly amazing rendition of this long serving Naval fighter.

This is a simply incredible kit of a very worthwhile subject.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to CMR for the review sample

CMR Models are available online from Hannants in the UK,
NKR Models in Australia and quality specialist model retailers worldwide.