RHVP 1:72 BENES-MRAZ BE-51C

 

Reviewer: Johan De Wolf (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted:  27 March 2008

Kit Details:

Aircraft History:

Benes-Mraz was a pre-war producer of a popular line of sports and travel aircraft. The successful series started with the Be-50. It was a low wing mono plane with fixed under carriage and open cockpits. Powered by a Walter Minor engine, it had its first flight in 1935. The type was developed into the Be 150 and 250 with progressively more powerful engines. The machines were trainers and acrobatic sports aircraft. In order to provide some more comfort for the occupants a new type was designed in 1937. 

This type, the Be-51, was basically a Be-50 with enclosed cockpit. It was produced in several versions which differed mainly in undercarriage. This aircraft proved to be a popular travel aircraft and it went into service with many flying clubs. It was an elegant looking machine that was simple to maintain, and it had pleasant flying characteristics. After the annexation/occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Germans all civil machines were interned. Production continued for a while until it was replaced on the production lines by the Fieseler Storch. The Luftwaffe wasn’t the only user of the Be series though. Twenty Be-51’s went to the newly formed Croat air force.  Of these two were captured by the Yugoslav partisans and used for reconnaissance.

The Kit:

In a sturdy end opening box you’ll find one bag of cream coloured resin parts, a vacuform canopy, an A-4 size instruction leaflet and a small decal sheet. The resin parts are well cast with only a few bubbles. The few panel lines are finely engraved. The canopy is also of good quality with clearly defined frame lines. The instruction leaflet contains a short history, in Czech language only, A single but adequate exploded construction diagram and a 3-view colour scheme. The sharply printed decal sheet by MPD looks to be of good quality.

Accuracy:

All dimensions are within one mm of what they should be. The kit captures the simple but elegant lines of the real machine quite well.

Construction:

With only 18 parts, construction is simplicity itself. The seats, pedal bars and control columns are glued to the one piece wing. I added seat belts to the chairs. A small instrument panel and the piece of decking that separates the front and rear cockpit are then glued into the fuselage. The wing is then attached to the fuselage. I needed some filler here to smooth out the joins. Next the tail and elevators can be fitted. Before installing the cowling, I hollowed out its rear end a bit more and trimmed the edges to a more scale thickness. I also drilled the holes for the three exhaust pipes (not included in the kit). I then attached the canopy. The aircraft I wanted to model had its spads removed, so I adapted Miles Magister legs from the spares box. I also replaced the tail skid with an outrigger wheel from a 1/144 Harrier. The final parts to be added were the prop and the exhaust pipes.


© Johan De Wolf 2008
© Johan De Wolf 2008

Painting & Decals:

There are no detailed painting instructions given. For the interior I used a light blue grey colour. The seats were painted RML 02 with dark green upholstery. The kit provides decals for a machine belonging to A/B 119 that was stationed at Kassel-Rothwesten just before disbanding in 1943. 

I found a picture of a machine with the visible part of the registration being the same as with the kits decals. However this machine seems to have it’s spads removed, or might be a Be-51B with half spads. This machine has the swastika on the rudder instead of on the fin, which is somewhat unusual. The aircraft was painted in a RLM 70/71 over 65 splinter camouflage. The cowling and rudder were RLM 04. I used the equivalent Model Master paints except for the RLM 65, for which I used Tamiya XF-23. 


© Johan De Wolf 2008

As I have used MPD decals without problems before I assumed these where no different. Big mistake! I started with the registration/ balkenkreuze for the lower wing. It seemed to take forever for them to release from the backing paper. When I tried to move them from the paper they disintegrated, making them useless. I guess there was no carrier film on them. I saved the rest of the decals by applying two layers of Micro decal film. I replaced the lost crosses by items taken from a Techmod Me 109 sheet. I also used the smaller swastikas from that sheet. I couldn’t save the under wing codes and I had no replacements so my model had to go without them. 

The panel lines on the cowling and around the rudders were retraced with a 5B (very soft) pencil. Everything was then sealed in with satin varnish. I then painted the matt mid grey walk way on the left wing. It is unlikely there was also a walkway on the right side as the canopies hinge right to open, making access to the cockpit from that side impossible. Finally I added a fine exhaust streak with pastel chalk.


© Johan De Wolf 2008

Conclusion:

This is a nice kit of a popular pre war travel aircraft. The kit is simplicity itself, and as such would be a great introduction for a novice to resin. Watch out with the decals though.


© Johan De Wolf 2008

References:

 


© Johan De Wolf 2008

 

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