L-33 Solo / G-10D Peregrine

Czech Master Resin, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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The L-33 Solo is a single seat glider incorporating Let’s proven all-metal glider construction (with its significant durability and maintenance advantages over glass or composite-fibre based airframes). It is a natural compliment to the highly successful two-seat Blaník family of gliders. It is also used by the USAF’s various training institutions involved with soaring flight, where it is known as the TG-10 Peregrine.

CMR must be the leading producer of glider kits in 1/72 scale with over 30 military and civilian glider kits currently listed on their website. This latest kit makes a nice addition to the range of modern sporting gliders already covered.

The kit is packaged in a sturdy top-opening box, and all parts are in heat sealed plastic bags. Very clear assembly diagrams are accompanied by A-4 pages featuring a walk-around, along with photos of subjects covered by the decals. The walk-around has good cockpit shots covering both of the types featured in the kit. The painting and decaling diagrams are comprehensive in their coverage, although all colour call-outs are generic. All instructions are in English.

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In keeping with all of CMR’s recent releases, this kit is a true multi-media effort with pre-coloured photo-etch fret and a pre-cut canopy mask made by Eduard. The PE enables a very high level of detail to be achieved inside the cockpit where the pre-coloured instrument panels and seatbelts should be stand out features. There is a choice of two styles of PE instrument panels and what I think may be a compass versus GPS option depending on whether you build an L-33 or TG-10.

The airframe assembly is simplicity itself, as very few parts are involved and one-piece wing fitment. The kit is in fact very small and quite delicate. The resin parts are very crisply moulded, with very fine trailing edges. Some parts have minor flash that can be cleaned up in seconds. I could see no pinholes.

A choice of wingtip wheels or skids is provided, as are PE spoilers if you wish to model these deployed. If you do, then you are directed score a groove where they are moulded closed in the wing’s upper surface. In fact these spoilers do not operate differentially as on some aircraft, but deploy together from the wing’s upper surface. They appear designed purely to kill lift and produce symmetrical drag,

The simplicity of assembly would under other circumstances make this a good choice for a first resin kit. However some very small and fiddly PE and resin parts, plus the need to cut out the vac-from acetate canopy, means that some other skills are needed too. These aspects are not too daunting, but there are simpler options from CMR and other resin kit brands for someone transitioning from mainstream injected kits to resin for the first time.

The seven decal options cover three colour schemes, the USAF ones being the most colourful. The decals have superb registration and good colour density. They should go on very well from my own experience of CMR decals. Be aware however that they are quite thin, and must be floated into position as they can be hard to budge once positioned and tamped down.

Overall this is a superb multi-media kit of a very dainty and attractive subject. Some care will be needed with the detail parts. I highly recommend this kit to fans of sports gliders or anyone wishing to build something a bit different.

Thanks to Czech Master Resin for this review sample.

CMR Models are available online from Hannants in the UK,
Red Roo Models in Australia and quality specialist model retailers worldwide.

Text Copyright © 2009 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 2 September, 2009
Last updated 2 September, 2009

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