CAC CA-25 Winjeel Trainer

Red Roo Models, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Revell's 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.II is available online from Squadron.com for only $13.99!

The CAC CA-25 Winjeel is an Australian-designed and manufactured three-seat training aircraft. Entering service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1955 as a basic to advanced trainer, it served in this role until 1975. Later, it was used in the Forward Air Control (FAC) role for target marking until 1994, after which it was retired from RAAF service.

The Winjeel (Aboriginal for "young eagle") was developed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermans Bend in Victoria to satisy RAAF technical requirement No.AC.77 issued in 1948.

Designed to replace both the Tiger Moth and the CAC Wirraway, the first two prototype CA-22 aircraft were flown in February 1951. However, it proved a very stable aircraft making it almost impossible to spin, and with this being a required part of pilot training the tail had to be redesigned as a result.

Sixty two production CA-25 aircraft were subsequently built and given the fleet serials A85-401 to A85-462.

The first aircraft flew in February 1955, and deliveries began that September. The first Winjeel entered service with No. 1 Basic Flight Training School (1 BFTS) at Uranquinty, near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The last aircraft was delivered in August 1957.

For most of its service life, the Winjeel was used as a basic trainer at RAAF Base Point Cook in Victoria, after 1 BFTS was transferred there in 1958. The Winjeel remained in service with the RAAF as a basic trainer until 1968, when the Macchi MB-326 replaced it in this role as part of the RAAF's adoption of an "all through" jet training concept. The failure of this concept ultimately ensured that the Winjeel was retained in the training role until 1975 when it was replaced by the CT/4A Airtrainer.

After this, a few Winjeels were used in the Forward Air Control (FAC) role. Initially operated by No. 4 Flight, they were equipped with smoke bombs for target marking. By 1994 there were 14 in service with No. 76 Squadron based at RAAF Base Williamtown, but later that year they were replaced by the Pilatus PC-9 and subsequently retired.

Examples of the aircraft remain in flying condition in private ownership as well as museum displays around Australia.*

 
Until now, the only 1/48 scale CA-25 Winjeel was the crude resin kit from NKR, dating from the 1980s. This model featured rough basic castings with no surface detail, and much of the detail was left to the modeller to provide.

Fast forward to 2016 and Red Roo Models has released a thoroughly modern 1/48 CA-25 Winjeel.

The kit comprises 51 parts in grey-green coloured resin, six parts in clear resin, four parts in white metal, 64 photo-etched parts on one fret, two vacform canopies (one canopy plus a spare), decals for six marking options and a reference CD.

The resin parts are top quality - beautifully cast and featuring crisp, consistent recessed panel lines. The fuselage halves and wings are ready to use almost straight from the box. You'll just need to clean up the wisps of fine resin waste on the edges of the fuselage.

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Thumbnail panels:

The wings are cast as a single full-span part.

The horizintal tail planes are also cast as a single part with the elevators set at neutral, and the fin is a separate part. The one-piece cowl is cast onto a block via a circular strip. In common with the other parts, removal and cleanup should not present any challenges if you are armed with a razor saw and a sharp hobby knife.

Interior detail is supplied via separate seats, instrument panel, alternative instrument panels (for trainer and FAC versions), rudder pedals, control columns, side consoles, photo-etched throttles and handles, and sidewall detail cast to the inside of the fuselage sides.

The instrument panel features a blank resin panel with a sandwich of printed acetate instruments and a photo-etched panel face, but my sample also includes an alternative resin panel (not mentioned in the instructions) for the trainer version with raised and recessed resin detail.

This looks quite nice and I will probably use this one myself.

The photo-etched fret adds harness straps and other detail parts to the interior.

The large canopy is supplied as a crystal clear vacform part. A spare is offered in case of slip-ups. Sepaate parts for internal framework are also include.

The engine is well detailed with separate cylinders, exhaust collector and photo-etched ignition harness.

The undercarriage legs are cast in white metal. Alternative white metal tail wheel assemblies are offered with either the solid anti-shimmy wheel or the regular pneumatic tyre.

Beacons and leading edge landing lights are supplied in clear resin, although you'll need to cut out the solid cast landing light from the leading edge before installing the clear parts.

The impressive package is rounded out with a reference CD that comprises hundreds of useful photos broken down by function and category.

Marking Options

Red Roo offers six aircraft on the decal sheet, covering four varied schemes:

• A85-401 in olverall aluminium lacquer paint with narrow yellow trainder bands on the fuselage and wings.

• A85-443 in the Fanta Can scheme of bright orange, white and panted aluminium.

• A85-450 in overall aluminium lacquer paint with orange nose, vertical fin and panels on the outer wing and horizontal tail planes.

• A85-405 in overall aluminium lacquer paint with orange nose, vertical fin and panels on he outer wing and horizontal tail planes.

• A85-438 in overall aluminium lacquer paint with orange nose, vertical fin and panels on he outer wing and horizontal tail planes.

• A85-426 in FAC scheme of Olive Drab and Extra Dark Sea Grey upper surfaces over Light Gull Grey lower surfaces.

Decals are excellent quality, glossy and in perfect register. Black wing walkways and yellow trainer stripes are provided as decals.

Complete stencil markings are also included.

The Winjeel holds an important place in Australian aviation history. It is great to see a new model of this long-serving aircraft on the market.

Red Roo's 1/48 scale CA-25 Winjeel is a very high quality offering that makes excellent use of its mutlimedia parts. The parts breakdown is quite straightforward, making it suitable for modellers who have built only a few multimedia kits before. The marking schemes are colourful and varied too.

At AUD$130.00 it is not cheap, but Red Roo supplies everything in the box to deliver a highly detailed and accurate Winjeel model, including reference.

If you want a complete collection of RAAF aircraft in 1/48 scale, you are one step closer with Red Roo Models' CA-25 Winjeel.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Red Roo Models for the sample.

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2012 by Brett Green
Page Created 13 June, 2016
Last updated 15 June, 2016

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