Slingsby T.43 Skylark 3B & 3F,
and T.53B Phoenix

Scale Resin, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

Revell's 1/72 Buccaneer is available online from Squadron.com

Background

Slingsby Aviation was formed in the early 1930’s and became well-known for producing training gliders. It was taken over by Vickers in late-1969 after liquidation following a disastrous fire the previous year.

The first of Slingsby's Skylark series to go into production was the Skylark 2, a single seat competition sailplane with a span of just under 15 metres. Its successor was the Skylark 3, which had much in common with the 2, although its wingspan was increased to over 18 metres; with a consequent increase in aspect ratio. The Skylark 3 flew for the first time in July 1955. 70 were built, with several subtypes; the 3A, 3B and 3F being the most numerous of these.

In the early 1960s the RAF issued a requirement to replace the gliders used by the Air Training Corps with a new tandem two-seat design. Slingsby took the opportunity to design a glider that would meet both the needs of the ATC and civil gliding clubs. The construction of the prototype was started in June 1966 with the first flight in March 1967. The RAF order was cancelled following evaluation and the disruption caused when the Slingsby factory was destroyed by fire. Following the fire, Slingsby built a small batch of modified T.53B aircraft for the civil market, which it appropriately named the Phoenix.

Source: Wikepedia

Scale Resin

Scale Resin also has some Phoenix-like qualities, as CMR Moulding & Casting has resurrected the Resin Art product range under this new brand name. As with Resin Art, the mastering is by pattern maker Jan Pavlovsky, who also does third party work for many other leading kit and accessory brands.

CMR Models of course split in two a couple of years ago, whereby Mark I Models took over the CMR kit range as well as realising new releases under  the brand of “CMR by Mark I”, whilst “CMR Moulding & Casting” focussed on resin production for third parties (both modelling and other industries). Now it too will realise its own kit and accessory releases under the Scale Resin brand. I understand that there will be new additions to the previous Resin Art range in due course.

Scale Resin kits are available direct from CMR Moulding & Casting several leading model mail-order companies.

The Contents

The contents in all three cases come packed in sturdy top-opening box with pasted-on artwork The resin parts are divided amongst heat-sealed polythene pouches, whilst a single heat-sealed bag encloses the canopies, PE fret, decal sheet, and instructions.

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Thumbnail panels:

The instructions are of the same style for all three kits. They include a parts map and use clear assembly diagrams, general detail colour call-outs are given for the Skylark kits, but not for the Phoenix. However, the painting and markings section for the Phoenix does state the cockpit colour. The colours and markings diagrams use monochrome four-view diagrams that clearly indicate where the decals provided go, and cross-reference paint colours to FS-595.

The Kits

The quality of the resin parts is excellent, with nice detail and very clean casting. The parts should all be easy to remove from their casting blocks. The PE frets provide seat harnesses, spoilers, control actuators, and various other small details. These include the instrument panels, which interestingly combine with decal instrument faces. The Phoenix kit includes a choice of canopy styles. Two copies of the vac-formed canopies are provided with the Skylark kits, and one of each style with the Phoenix. The canopies look to be of good quality like the other kit components.

The two Skylark kits are essentially the same, the difference aside from markings being the size and style of the horizontal stabiliser.

These are simple resin kits to build, but include numerous small PE details that will demand care to position. Admittedly fiddly, these tiny parts will nonetheless add considerable scale finesse to the finished models.

Aside from having plain PE versus coloured, these kits are essentially identical in quality and format to CMR’s best glider kits (now produced by Mark I).  I can think of no higher praise than this. 

Colours & Markings

The Phoenix has five colour scheme options (two being variations of the same aircraft); the Skylark 3B has four choices, and the 3F three.

The decals in all cases appear to be very well printed and to be of very good quality.

The “resurrection” of the Resin Art accessory range under Scale Resin is most welcome, as is the re-release of the three Slingsby glider kits.

The quality and detail of the kits is superb, and they represent outstandingly good value; I cannot recall seeing a resin multi-media kit being available for such a low price!

I highly recommend all three kits, and look forward to future Scale Resin releases.

Thanks to Scale Resin for the sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2014 by Mark Davies
Page Created 16 December, 2014
Last updated 16 December, 2014

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