Douglas A-20G Havoc
South West Pacific Warrior

MPM, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

MPM's 1/72 scale A-20G Havoc is available online from Squadron.com

The A-20G was developed as a gunship, having a solid nose with six 12.7mm machine guns that were fitted to the A-20G-20 onwards.  The A-20G was flown by the USAAF, RAAF, and the USSR.  According to my reference material the last 1/72 scale A-20G kit was produced by Matchbox over 25 years ago and having built this kit back then, my memories are of sparse detail and heavy trench-like panel lines.

On opening the box we are presented with a very detailed injection moulded plastic kit.  MPM’s 1/72 scale A-20G Havoc comprises 108 finely engraved injection moulded plastic parts, parts and 9 clear injection moulded parts.

The detail in this kit is nothing short of superb.  Every panel line is crisply replicated and every piece of surface detail is present.

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Thumbnail panels:

Excellent cockpit detail is provided by the way of 10 parts and most of this detail will be visible if the canopy is left in the open position. There is a cockpit floor, side consoles, rudder pedals, seat, instrument panel, control column, front and rear bulkheads and the dingy stowage area behind the cockpit are provided.  Unfortunately the prominent inflatable dingy that is very visible when the canopy is open is not provided.  The detailed lightening holes on either side in the dingy stowage area have been faithfully replicated.  I have no doubts that some of the resin after market companies will come to the rescue shortly and provide the missing detail.
The engines are reasonably detailed as are the main wheel wells.  A good representation of the nose landing gear bay is provided along with a finely detailed main and nose landing gear struts and these require very little clean up and refinement.  It is obvious from the breakdown of the kit that different nose versions will be manufactured in the future.

The transparencies are crystal clear.  Importantly the upper hatch is mould separately making it easy to model the kit with the canopy open.  The hatch has the solid area behind the canopy moulded including the inner skin along with its prominent lightening holes.

The kit is very detailed with a high number of parts and a trial fit of the major parts shows no real issues with fit.  I think that this will make into a very nice and accurate little kit and fills an important gap in twin engined WWII aircraft.

Markings

Marking are provided for three aircraft finished in Olive Drab upper surface and Neutral Grey under surfaces as follows:

• A-20G, 43-0021904 “Miss Pam” of the 388th BS, 213th  BG USAAF based in New in Guinea 1944.

• A-20G, 43-9407 “Green Hornet” of the 675th BS, 417th BG USAAF based in New in Guinea 1944.

• A-20G, A28-60 DU-P “Hilda Shane” of No 22 Sqn RAAF based in New Guinea in 1944.

The decals are crisp, accurate in colour and in register.

Highly recommended for modellers with a little experience.
 

Thanks to MPM / Special Hobby for the review sample

Review Text Copyright © 2008 by Mick Evans
Images Copyright © 2008 by Brett Green
Page Created 15 June, 2008
Last updated 16 June, 2008

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