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Northrop Gamma 2E

Azur FRROM, 1/72 scale

S u m m a r y :

Catalogue Number:

Azur FRROM Kit No. FR0034 - Northrop Gamma 2E

Scale:

1/72

Contents & Media

201 grey styrene parts (17 marked not for use); 11 resin parts; one photo-etched fret with 27 parts; six clear styrene parts; decals for four subjects.

Price:

£26.99 EU Price (£22.49 Export Price) plus shipping available online from Hannants

Review Type:

First Look.

Advantages:

You are not likely to see a kit of this aeroplane from anyone else. Nicely moulded with a good range of interesting schemes for such a scarce airframe, not much clean-up required..

Disadvantages:

Only the usual short-run issue of lack of location pins.

Conclusions:

A nicely produced kit of a bit of a rarity with a good set of schemes. Great to see these 1930s oddities get an airing – now we need a few British ones from that era! How about a Dragon, please!

Reviewed by Graham Carter


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Background

 

The Gamma was developed by Northrop from the successful Alpha series and, characterised by the ‘pantaloons’ around the main undercarriage and enclosed cockpit made a name for itself in many record-breaking endeavours piloted by such famous names as Frank Hawks, Howard Hughes, Jacqueline Cochran and the pairing of Ellsworth and Balchen who first flew over the Antarctic continent.

Arctic Decals do a lovely resin fuselage conversion to help you produce Jacqueline Cochran’s Gamma 2G with a Conqueror engine and new propeller, with decals as well.

In the mid 1930s Northrop proposed a military version, the 2C which was then further improved to this , the 2E, which was used quite extensively by the Republic of China AF, some even being built there. One was tested by the RAF. It differed from earlier versions by its capacity to carry a reasonable bomb load between the spats.

 

 

FirstLook

 

This offering by Azur-Frrom is a typical modern short-run kit; well moulded, a pleasing amount of moulded detail, small PE set, good decals, clear instructions but no alignment pins so the modeller does need to take care lining up major components when gluing them together.

 

  • Azur FRROM Kit No. FR0034 - Northrop Gamma 2E: Image
  • Azur FRROM Kit No. FR0034 - Northrop Gamma 2E: Image
  • Azur FRROM Kit No. FR0034 - Northrop Gamma 2E: Image
  • Azur FRROM Kit No. FR0034 - Northrop Gamma 2E: Image
  • Azur FRROM Kit No. FR0034 - Northrop Gamma 2E: Image
  • Azur FRROM Kit No. FR0034 - Northrop Gamma 2E: Image
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It appears to have been developed from their earlier Delta kit with the addition of a new fuselage sprue to replace the passenger cabin of the former kit.

 

 

On the illustrated sprues you can see the new fuselage parts and both versions of the wheel spats and propellers, one of which is not used.

 

Colours & Markings

The decals are printed by Aviprint. and are in good register and colour density.

 

 

Four aircraft are covered.

  • ‘White 901 served with the Chinese Air Force, 9th Chungtui, 2nd Tatui 1937-38.

  • K-5053 tested by the British Aeroplane Experimental Establishment, 1937-38.

  • Black 14 from some unknown Chinese Unit, 1937-38.

  • Black 1412 Handed over by unknown unit to 14th Volunteer Sqn in early 1938.

Examples 1 and 4 are camouflaged dark green all over, while 2 and 3 are natural metal overall.

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

This is a nicely produced kit of a bit of a rarity with a good set of schemes. Great to see these 1930s oddities get an airing – now we need a few British ones from that era! How about a Dragon, please!

Thanks to Azur FRROM for the review sample.

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2018 by Graham Carter
Page Created 20 March, 2018
Last updated 20 March, 2018

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