KIT #:	RRK 72026
PRICE:	AUD$75.00
DECALS:	Four options
REVIEWER:	Peter Burstow
NOTES:	Resin and vacuformed plastic

The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-28 Ceres, was an agricultural aircraft manufactured between 1959 and 1963. Only small numbers were built 21 or 22. It was a development of the CAC Wirraway, a licensed built version of the North American NA-16 trainer. Though it looks like a Wirraway, only the tail assembly and undercarriage legs were used unchanged.

A new fuselage containing a 41 cubic foot hopper, and a high mounted cockpit was built. The centre section was modified and widened, and the outer wings had slated flaps and leading edge slots added. The undercarriage was fixed, with Mustang wheels used. The P & W R1340 Wasp engine was retained, modified for direct drive, rather than geared. A new three bladed propeller was also used.

Ceres could refer to a small farming community near here, or more likely, the Roman goddess of agriculture.

Another Red-Roo resin kit of an obscure Australian aircraft. About 40 parts in grey resin with two clear vac formed canopies. Some of the parts are very small, and at risk of disappearing amongst the bench clutter. The resin parts look very clean, with a little flash on several parts. A moulding plug is provided for the canopy, useful as a support while masking.

The instructions are a 12 page booklet, but other than the full page colour profiles, are quite unconventional. There is nothing in the way of assembly directions, just a number of photos and sketches showing various details. The builder is left to their own devices on how to, and in what order, assemble the kit. Following a normal assembly sequence would probably be OK.

The decal sheet is well printed with a continuous film, needing trimming of the individual markings. It covers four aircraft, with a variety of colourful schemes. There are extensive instructions on applying the decals.

CONCLUSIONS

Recommend for experienced modellers, due to the small parts and lack of precise instructions. I suppose most of the site's readers would have no trouble with it.

REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAC_Ceres

kit instructions

Peter Burstow