Fairey Battle Mk.I "AASF"

Azur FRROM, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The Fairey Battle was a breakthrough when it entered service in 1937 as the first stressed-skin, low wing monoplane bomber for the RAF. By the time of the outbreak of World War Two, the aircraft was hopelessly obsolete.

Nevertheless, the Battle formed the spearhead of the RAF's tactical bombing operations in France during 1940. The light bomber suffered terribly at the hands of the vastly superior Messerschmitt Bf 109 E and ground defences.

Battles were withdrawn from front line service as quickly as possible to take up trainer and target-tug duties.

Total production of the Fairey Battle was 2,185 including 364 in service with the RAAF in Australia.

Modellers have been poorly servied in terms of Fairey Battle kits in all scales.

Battle in Braille Scale

Airfix was first to market with a 1/72 scale Fairey Battle Mk. I in 1968. This kit has been re-boxed and re-released a number of times over the subsequent half century. Sadly, the kit has a well-deserved reputation for inaccuracy and poor fit.

Next was MPM's 1/72 scale Fairey Battle family from the early 2000s. MPM released a Mk.I bomber, a T. Mk.I trainer and a TT. Mk.X target tug. These kits were typical short run kits of their time and are no long out of production.

Now Azur FRROM now throws their hat in the ring with three 1/72 scale Fairey Battle kits. The one under review here includes markings for RAF, RAAF and SAAF machines.

Let's see how it looks.

Azur FRROM's 1/72 scale Fairey Battle comprises 116 parts in grey plastic (11 marked for use); nine parts in clear plastic; decals for three marking options.

This kit is entirely new with nothing in common with MPM's earlier Battle family.

Moulding quality looks very good, with narrow sprue attachments and hardly a hint of flash.

Is this a limited run kit? Surface textures are fine and consistent, the kit features locating pins for the fuselage and other alignment aids throughout the model. Even so, it's not Tamiya so take a little extra time and attention for parts preparation, planning, alignment of parts and assembly.

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Thumbnail panels:

Surface textures are really well done on the fuselage and wings, featuring recessed panel lines, fasteners, vents and more.

Cockpit detail is good with framework moulded onto the inside of the fuselage halves.

The kit is an all-plastic affair - no photo-etch or 3d Printing here..

The small clear sprue is well moulded.

The separate gunner's hatch may be posed hinged open.

I am not sure if the separate sliding section will sit down fully over the main canopy. Test fit first!

Colours & Markings

Three marking options are offered - RAF, RAAF and SAAF..

The decal sheet is well printed, glossy and in register.

It is great to finally have a worthy 1/72 scale Fairey Battle. This is a nicely detailed kit of a sadly neglected aircraft type that saw service in the desperate first year of the Second World War.

Recommended

Thanks to Azur FRROM for the review sample.

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2020 by Brett Green
Page Created 17 December, 2024
Last updated 17 December, 2024

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