UC-78 / JRC-1 / T-50
Bamboo Bomber

Czech Model, 1/48scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Czech Model's 1/48 scale T-50 Bamboo Bomber is available online from Squadron.com
 

The Cessna T-50 Bobcat was a twin-engine, low wing, fabric covered light transport aircraft that first flew in 1939. More than 5,400 were built, serving with various armed forces during the Second World War and in civil roles for many years thereafter.

I believe that this is the first time that we have seen a Cessna T-50 as an injection moulded kit in this scale.

Czech Models' 1/48 scale T-50 Bamboo Bomber comprises jus 40 parts in grey coloured plastic, 11 parts in clear, 25 cream-coloured resin parts, one colour photo-etched and one nickel plated photo-etched fret plus a large decal sheet with three varied marking options.

The plastic is smooth and mainly features fabric details - raised stringers on the flying surfaces and subtle fabric sag on the fuselage. This is entirely appropriate. The overall effect is restrained and impressive.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

There are a few raised ejector pins inside the wing halves that may interfere with fit. These should be cut off prior to assembly. Flash is minimal.

Control surfaces are moulded in neutral positions.

The clear parts are thin and free from distortion. In addition to the windscreen and cabin windows, the cabin door is also supplied as an entirely clear part. This is a nice touch - just mask the window in the door and paint the part for blemish-free demarcation.

The cabin is nicely fitted out with a beautiful coloured photo-etched "sandwich" for the instrument panel (two styles are provided) and throttle quadrant, with plastic front and rear seats featuring colour photo-etched harness straps (decal harnesses are optional).

If you prefer plastic parts to photo-etch, an injection moulded instrument panel is offered as an alternative, with decal dials. This is nicely detailed but personally I think it would be hard to achieve a result as convincing as the colour photo-etched parts. Just gorgeous - especially across this wide dual conrol vista. Optional radios are provided in photo-etch for the military versions. Czech Model has supplied decals to add stitching texture to the seats too, plus colour photo-etched map cases and other containers for the sidewalls.

Two different sets of resin engines are supplied, along with different propeller assemblies. The engines are cast in one piece each and are impressively detailed. They should look great after careful painting. The remaining resin parts include main wheels and tail wheel plus some smaller details.

Instructions are called out over 16 steps in a 16 page booklet. The construction illustrations are presented as conventional illustrations.

Markings are provided for three colourful options:

• Sky King's T-50 "Singbird" from 1951, finished in Satin White, Gloss Grey and Red trim

• USAAF UC-78 during 1943 in Olive Drab and Neutral Gray

• US Navy JRC-1 during 1943 finished in three-tone navy camouflage.

The decals have been printed by Cartograf, and they look fabulous - glossy, well saturated and with a minimum of carrier film.

Czech Models has delivered an impressive and well detailed kit of this versatile and widely used aircraft.

The small number of parts, relatively straightforward breakdown and the unique nature of the subject should make Czech Models' 1/48 scale Bamboo Bomber a good prospect for modellers looking for a greater challenge with a twin-engine limited run kit.

Thanks to Squadron for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2009 by Brett Green
Page Created 18 September, 2009
Last updated 20 September, 2009

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page