1/144 Curtiss-Wright C-46 "Commando" by Miniwing

This has to be the largest kit produced by Miniwing todate, it pretty much fills the box and has a certain 'heft' that other smaller kits do not have!

Whilst the C-47 "Skytrian" aka "Dakota" gets all press, there were other transport aircraft out there and this C-46 "Commando" is one of the significant others.

In the sameway that the C-47 was derived from the passenger DC-3 the C-47 was also derived from an airliner project (it may also have been a competitor produced to the Boeing B-307?)

Anyway, back to the kit...

The kit is as usual has high production values and is a nicely produce kit, cleanly cast and nicely detailed.

The casting captures the shape well and has the signature crease along the length of the fueslage, the fuselage is in three parts, two halves and the tail section. Everything looks straight and some minor trimming on the tail plug maybe requied, but this is a strong kit with thick walls on the fuselage so there should be no problems. It might be worth considering some careful drilling and inserting of pins to help the stabilisation and join of the wings to the fuselage, again this is obviosuly a matter of taste?

There is a large amount of detail in this kit with regard to panel lines and the like.
It is possible to build this in a "Wheels up" or "Wheels down" setting, the undercarriage should be strong enought to carry the weight of this beast, but you will certianly want to keep it out hte way of any little people!

The decals are basic but produced to the usaul YKRAFT standard and providedes variation for two USA schemes.

Whilst the C-46 did not serve with many airforces it did go one to provide service to many airlines, so there could be some scope for the adoption of other schemes and colours?

Available: January 2010
Price: 35.10 EURO
Contact: http://www.miniwing.cz/

Also available unedited Large pics in Super HD (3027 x 2304)
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1/144 WACO CG-4A "Hadrian" by Miniwing

Well, as is often the case.... you wait for ages and then two buses come along at the same time!

It appears to be the same here too, following me showing the Waco by GRA last week - there is a new version arrived and unlike last weeks wargaming piece this is indeed a true model kit!

Miniwing (Fe-Resin) have in the past produced a number of Larger Luftwaffe gliders, but they have not tackled the range of glider topics available for the Allied forces.

Let us hope that this first foray will the first of many to come?

This WACO CG-4A is a nice little kit the main body is fairly simple, although the detial options do lead to anumber of smaller pieces, those that are here are nicely detailed and cleanly moulded. There are number of fine pieces with have a degree of controlled flash, in so much it is actually intentional to help preserve the fine cast pieces during production and shipping.

There are x4 Decal Options 2x US WWII, a RAF 1946 and a Czech Airforce 1950! (now there is something i did not know!) - I think you could also squeeze a RAF WWII by following the D-Day scheme shown for the US version and adding RAF decals (from your stash) or researching an appropriate RAF or RCAF scheme.?

This kit can be produce "with wheels" or "Without Wheels" so, a diorama could be build featuring a "tug" or "towing" plane on a airfield (2x CG-4A were towed by a C-46, or 1x (?) by C-47/DC-3), or perhaps just the glider itself after landing.

The kit is hollow, so with care it would be feasible to drill or cut out the doors (at your own risk!).

There is also a very interesting cockpit section including folding(jump) seats and yokes, but rather than a typical reassuring aircraft cockpit "tub" these guys where hooked up to some scaffolding!? this has been finely produced by Miniwing

I dont know what the survival rate of glider pilots where, but judging by the number of them with smashed up noses afterlanding it cant be a sought after job! The cockpit seems to provide as much protection and comfort as shopping cart dropped from the sky

If your a modeling Ninja then you would certianly impress if you made this with the "nose up" configuration!

There is a nice 3 plan view > Here <
Available: January 2010
Price: 23.40 EURO
Contact: http://www.miniwing.cz/

Also available unedited Large pics in Super HD (3027 x 2304)
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I will be looking to do this where feasible in future to allow you to see more detail over more pictures than is sensible for a blog post!