RAAF Lockheed Ventura Conversion Set

for the Academy Minicraft kit (ex-Frog kit)

Red Roo Models, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by David Couche

Eduard's 1/72 Avia B.534 IV serie Weekend Edition is available online from Squadron.com

459 Squadron, RAAF, spent the majority of WWII based in the Mediterranean and flew a variety of aircraft initially including Hudsons and Blenheims.

In early 1944 they were converted to Lockheed Venturas but only operated these until March, with the Squadron converting to a majority of Martin Baltimores in April 1944. The squadron was disbanded in April 1945 after returning to the UK.

This conversion is designed for the for the Academy Minicraft kit (ex-Frog kit), which is still available now.

The RAAF Lockheed Venturas had some modifications carried out by the RAAF. The main external visual difference being the much enlarged air ducts and exhaust ducts for operating in the harsh desert conditions. This set of resin and brass parts gives you the accurate parts to be able to model a 459 Sqn Ventura.

A sturdy top opening cardboard box contains a bag of resin parts, a couple of small brass parts, decals and a comprehensive set of instructions as well as a good deal of notes regarding this aircraft.

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The 14 resin parts do vary a little in the degree of flash around then but to be honest, a quick bit of cleaning up will have a nice pile of well detailed parts ready to use in your builds. The same goes for the two small brass altimeter aerials, a bit of careful fine filing to sharpen up the details will certainly help.

And now onto the problem(s) with this conversion set. Firstly, the gents from Red Roo actually contacted me over a size issues with the air filter ducts. The problem is that the resin representations of the big chunky dust filters on the top of the engine nacelles are undersize. They were estimated from pictures and are wrong! However it is not a difficult fix. I have attached a picture showing one unmodified filter (foreground) and two modified ones at different angles supplied to me by Red Roo. All they did was cut one wall away from the casting, insert a piece of plastic strip and re-join the wall. Two other strips are attached to the bottoms of the walls. Red Roo hope this makes sense.

Anyone making the conversion is welcome to contact Red Roo if there is a problem.

I have been informed that further boxings of this conversion set will have the correct sized ducting, removing this need of a fix. It’s so good to see a model company recognising a mistake and rectifying it. Well done Red Roo.

The other resin parts include a set of the different seats used by the pilot, navigator and radio operator, turret ring and base, instrument panel as well as the exhaust ducting and flame arrestor pipes.

The decal sheet with good register of colours, is printed for them and having used Red Roo decals previously myself, are thin, go down well, respond to Sol and Set and look good.

 There are two schemes supplied, the first with good nose art and these are;

1. Lockheed Ventura, FP653, D “You Beaut”, 459 Squadron, RAAF, Berka Airfield, August 1944

2. Lockheed Ventura, FP544, B “Bertie”, 459 Squadron, RAAF, Berka Airfield, August 1944

Red Roo has produced a nice conversion kit for the RAAF Ventura. Though there is a problem with a couple of the parts, the must be recognised for having addressed and rectifying this. For the RAAF modellers out the, this will bring you Ventura to an accurately detail state with interesting schemes.

Thanks to Red Roo Models for the review samples.

Review Text Copyright © 2019 by David Couche
Page Created 4 July, 2019
Last updated 1 August, 2019

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