Valom 1/72 Bristol Buckmaster T.1

By 1945, there was a serious gap in performance between the so-called advanced trainers in use – such as the Avro Anson, Airspeed Oxford, dual-control Bristol Blenheim and Lockheed Hudson – and the combat aircraft which the pilots would be expected to fly on graduation.

The Bristol response to Air Ministry Specification T.13/43 was to make further use of the Buckingham wing, with another new fuselage, in an aircraft developed as the Type 166. The trainee and instructor were seated side-by-side with a wireless operator seated behind.

The Buckmaster was a propeller-driven, twin-engine mid-wing aircraft. The retractable undercarriage was of conventional (tailwheel) configuration. The radial engines were equipped with four-blade propellers.

These planes were essentially the last of the Buckinghams that were converted on the assembly line. First flying in October of 1944, the first 100 were completed by the end of 1945 with some others following later. First issued to 238 OCU, they were used to train Bristol Brigand pilots. Some were also used by 8 Squadron in Aden as transports. The aircraft were in service until 1958 when the last airframe was scrapped.

No model company can really afford to produce just one kit of a certain plane type and Valom has certainly picked an excellent airframe on which to base a series. This may well complete the kit line based on the Brigand, which now has more than six different boxings of different variants. This is probably the longest lasting of the group, existing until nearly 1960. As a trainer, it did not require the heavy armament and specialized equipment needed for the bomber and strike versions.

You'll find quite a few 'spares' on the sprues as Valom has, naturally, used common sprues for many versions. Despite the number of times some of these sprues have been used, the detailing is still excellent and flash is non-existent. The kit includes an injected canopy that is quite well done and uses resin for the Centaurus radial engines. A nicely done etched fret is included and is rather minimal as these things go, basically being cockpit bits like instrument panel, belts and rudder pedals. An acetate instrument face sheet is also provided.

The cockpit is nicely detailed with the aforementioned etched bits fitting on the plastic seats and two control wheels are part of it. Side consoles are provided and the etched brass throttles are attached. A fully boxed in tail wheel well is included and for the main wheels, there is an upper attachment section that fits into the nacelles. The somewhat complex looking main gear legs are nicely molded. The modeler will need to etch in a few additional flap panel lines in the back area prior to attaching the nacelles.

Engine cowlings are a right and left side with a backing plate on which to attach the very nicely cast resin engines. Prop blades are separate items and one will need to drill holes in the spinner to attach them. The kit includes clear wing tip light lenses while the majority of probes are photo etch.

Instructions are well done consisting of three folded pages. The outer page is full color and includes the color reference chart and the color and markings guide. Two options are provided. One is the box art plane in silver with a white fuselage roof. The other, listed as being with 45 Squadron, is overall silver with yellow training bands around the inner wings and rear fuselage. These yellow bands will need to be painted. Both options have black anti-glare panels, again, needing to be painted on. Decals are superbly printed by Boaagency and should work just fine, appearing to be very thin and in register.

Another interesting though somewhat obscure RAF training type that was used by no one else. It will very much make for an interesting addition to your display shelf as it is a rather handsome though somewhat portly looking twin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Buckmaster

July 2011

Thanks to www.valom.net for the preview kit. Get yours at your local retailer or have them order it in for you.

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