Model Airplane International – September 2019

36 MODEL AIRPLANE INTERNATIONAL - September 2019

FORCES OF VALOR AIRCRAFT KITS

E

asy-build kits are nothing new in fact they go back to the very early
days of plastic modelling, though mostly from necessity through
the limitations of the technology of the time. Over the decades the
concept has been refined to things like snap together kits and the
results have become more detailed and sophisticated, culminating
perhaps in the Hobby Boss range of ‘Easy Assembly’ kits that once painted
and decalled, often belie their more simplistic parts breakdown.
Forces of Valor have pitched in with four 1:72 kits that follow a similar theme

of simpliied construction thus offering something more accessible to those who

either lack the skills or experience to tackle full-on mainstream kits – or indeed

enthusiasts who just want a more rapid route to painting and decalling.

While the superb CGI rendered artwork may be all-new the kits themselves

have been around for a few years and offer a mixed-bag of results, perhaps falling

short of the relative accuracy and inesse of, say, Hobby Boss – but that’s not to

say the kits are without merit (more anon). So let’s dive in and see what they have

to offer.

Forces of Valor may be a new name to many aircraft modellers but they’ve been in the model business for a decade now with their large range of

ready-to-go armour and ship models. Jonathan Mock takes a look at four of their recent 1:72 aircraft releases.

GERMAN FW 190 D-9 (873012A)

KIT PREVIEW

Moulded in an “RLM 65” shade
of plastic, FoV’s Dora 9 has
recessed surface detail that is
a touch heavy in places, rather
ine in others. The breakdown of
parts is more conventional left/
right fuselage halves rather than
the one-piece slide moulding of
Hobby Boss.
Like the other kits in the range
this one offers an engine, in this
instance a basic but recognisable
Junkers Jumo 213, and fuselage
is broken at the nose to enable
this to be displayed. The cockpit
has a rather basic but serviceable
tub with separate seat and
instrument panel – but no stick.
The pilot igure is an amorphous
blob that looks like a melted
waxwork. Breakdown of the main

parts is mostly conventional save

for the wings where, for some

odd reason, FoV mould the insert

for the wing panel on the upper

surface. Given the it here isn’t

panel tight, it took some swipes of

a sanding stick and a few coats

of Mr. Surfacer to try and disguise

the join. The detail on the cowl

is actually very neat but the prop

blade looks like an inlatable

beach toy.

The wheel wells are detailed if

a touch shallow – not uncommon

with Fw190 kits. The undercarriage

legs are robust and the inner faces

of the main doors have some

basic detail. The wheels have a

pronounced tread pattern that

can be sanded back. The canopy

comes not only separately bagged

put also packed in a strip of foam

rubber – a nice touch. The canopy

is a bit thick but the shape doesn’t

look too bad on a dry run. As for

the rest of the kit’s accuracy the

fuselage is perhaps a little bit

banana-shaped but this may be a

trick of the light that will disappear

once it is painted and decalled.

Options for the latter are for a

single JG06 machine in RLM 76

with 74/75 upper surfaces. The

decals are actually rather good

and even include a modicum of

stencilling as well as the fuselage

band and a spiral for the spinner.

Save for the odd wing inserts

the it is exemplary and this would

certainly be a good project for

the less experienced or inicky

modeller.