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MD-3 USN Fire Tractor

Brengun, 1/144 scale

S u m m a r y :  

Catalogue Number:

BRS144029 – MD-3 USN Fire Tractor

Scale:

1/144

Contents & Media:

Sixteen resin parts, one PE fret of twenty-two parts, and decals, sufficient to build two MD-3 models.

Price:

Available from these on-line stockists:

Click here for currency conversion

Review Type:

First Look.

Advantages:

An appealing compliment to modern USN carrier aircraft.

Disadvantages:

None apparent.

Conclusions:

This is a generally simple but quite highly detailed kit enabling two complete MD-3 Fire Tractor models to be built. They are fine as models in their own right, but probably best used as part of a modern US carrier deck diorama.

I am happy to recommend them.


Reviewed by Mark Davies


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

 

FirstLook

 

Carrier deck scenes can make for very appealing dioramas, in part because naval aviation subjects are themselves interesting to many, but also because they permit a lot to be included in a small area without compromising realism. Brengun’s MD-3 Fire Tractor kit lends itself perfectly to this type of use.

The kit comes in a small end-opening box with pasted-on artwork featuring a photo of the finished model. The instructions lack a parts map and use a diagrammatic format that is easy enough to follow.

 

  • Brengun 1/144 MD-3 USN Fire Tractor Review by Mark Davies: Image
  • Brengun 1/144 MD-3 USN Fire Tractor Review by Mark Davies: Image
  • Brengun 1/144 MD-3 USN Fire Tractor Review by Mark Davies: Image
  • Brengun 1/144 MD-3 USN Fire Tractor Review by Mark Davies: Image
  • Brengun 1/144 MD-3 USN Fire Tractor Review by Mark Davies: Image
  • Brengun 1/144 MD-3 USN Fire Tractor Review by Mark Davies: Image
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The few written instructions are in English, as are the colour call-outs (some generic and some with FS-595 numbers).

 

 

The resin parts come enclosed in a stapled cellophane bag, with the PE fret and photo-foil further enclosed in a bag of their own.

 

 

There is no protective card stiffener for the PE packaging, and the fret in my sample was slightly bent, but not enough to have an adverse effect. The resin components are cleanly cast and easily removed from their blocks. The PE fret is of equally good quality, and the small decal sheet is well printed with some very small markings.

 

 

Although not stated on the box or Brengun’s website, there are in fact two complete kits included.

 

 

Assembly appears to be quite straightforward, but care is obviously necessary, as there are several small resin and PE parts. The result should be a nicely detailed model. I have included three images from Brengun’s website of the assembled but unpainted spotting dolly, and a scan of the kit’s instructions.

For those interested, Brengun also offer an MD-3 Tow Tractor variant in the same small scale, with some obvious similarities to the kit described here (reviewed on here on HyperScale). It seems a missed opportunity not to have offered this boxing as a Fire Tractor and Tow Tractor instead of two identical kits.

 

 

Conclusion

 

This is a generally simple but quite highly detailed kit enabling two complete MD-3 Fire Tractor models to be built. They are fine as models in their own right, but probably best used as part of a modern US carrier deck diorama.

I am happy to recommend it.

Thanks to Brengun for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2016 by Mark Davies
Page Created 5 February, 2016
Last updated 5 February, 2016

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