A painful pun - but it''s a WW2 original, so it''s good enough for me! Here''s a look at Classic Airframes'' Avro Anson, appearing for the first time as a 1/48 scale injected kit.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Merlin:

Nice review.

I have both the MKI.I Early & the Mk.I Export & am reviewing both for IPMS. I, too, think the wing & stab relief is a bit too much. The kit should have defaulted to the long aileron for the earlies, but I understand the decision. The wing landing light option goes with the clear nose only, not the solid nose. Have you figured out what part R30 is ? I didn't think the gun, if stowed, had a cover, so maybe only use with the decking ?

Regardless, it is a beauty -- I wasn't going to get it until I popped the box open at the IPMS/USA Nats ...

You noted they have released a Mk.II already ? I would hope they come out with the later MK.I, with the "upright" windscreen, first -- there were about 6700 MK.I and the two early kits represent about 380 of 'em.

I'll post some build progress over here as I go ... Right now I plan to build only one of the two, since the plastic is identical, but may go ahead & do the aileron conversion separately to see how it goes ...

John

Hi John

Yes - as you suggest, part #R30 is for blanking-off the gun stowage-slot if you build an aircraft without a turret:



Some of my refs talk of Mk 1s modified for training uses with the addition of landing lamps (one photo shows lamps and a nose like part #CP8 - but it has the later-style windscreen).

I wonder if they'll bring out the later versions with moulded plywood fuselages?

I''m really looking forward to seeing your build, as it'll be a long time before I can tackle my kit.

All the best

Rowan

Merlin,

Yes, I do not think the landing lights, clear nose combo came until later in the Mk.I run, after the upright windscreen came in. I peg the latter event at the end of the K- & L- serials, or after the first 380-some aircraft.

One of my problems has been references.
I started from absolute zero and so far have gotten the Warpaint #53, Hall & Taylors Avro Anson (Almark), and the Anson I Pilot Notes. I have another by Harry Holmes inbound. But even the net is pretty dry ...

Any suggestions ?

I don't think I've got too many Ansons in me -- I'd love to trade an early windscreen for an upright and call it quits at two ... I'll have to go begging ...

John

Hi John

There don't seem to be many books specifically about the Anson. I've found useful photos in a number of generic books about RAF aircraft. There a fuselage and tail of a Mk1 at RAF Hendon, but that area of the museum was closed to the public during my last visit (while a new display is prepared). I'll be going again soon, so I'll try to get some pics for a Walkaround.

All the best

Rowan

A great review Rowan.
I must admit to looking at this kit and pondering over buying it, but then went and bought something completely different :-) .
Andy

Merlin:

Not to create dueling reviews, but here is the First Look I posted over on the IPMS site, where I review a few things & am also the guy who posts all the reviews.

jRatz' Anson Review

Ol' Annie's not getting much discussion here ....

John

Hi John

Nice review! It looks like you had better luck than me with the clear parts - no speckles in the styrene. It happened to me with Hasegawa's Fw 190A-3 too - I must be a speckle-magnet! LOL!

It's odd that, having been on their "wanted list" for so long, the Anson has finally arrived and not caused much of a ripple among most of the modellers I know.

All the best

Rowan

Just posted Part 2 of my Review/Build on the IPMS site,

jRatz' Anson Review

John