Pro Resin

1/72 Curtiss P-1B "Hawk" model kit

Product # R72-021

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Sept 18 2006

 

 

 

This model kit is a improved Curtiss P-1B "Hawk" fitted with skis and an inline radiator cooled engine as well as improved flight controls.  This bi-plane dates from the 1926 time period.  Sadly the 'improvements' cost the plane in performance.

You also get the option to fit this plane with wheels.

I've always been attracted to planes with skis, so the release of this kit caught my eye.  This new resin kit from Olimp Models is part of their new Pro Resin line of resin kits.  This little 1/72 kit comes packed in a VERY sturdy little box.  Upon opening the box, I was treated to a beautiful sight of a delicate little multi-media kit which includes mostly resin parts, photo etch and clear parts, a clear acetate instrument panel and a decal sheet.  This is "the full meal deal".....no need to add anything to this kit except for some rigging lines. 

Now....this is a resin kit, so it will require the use of CA glue (Crazy Glue) to assemble it and the parts are going to need a tiny bit of cleaning up, but this is very minimal and will not in any way detract from the joy of building this kit.  If you've ever done any work with resin parts before you will have no problem tackling this kit......go slow....be patient and enjoy the build.  I did a dry fit of the fuselage halves and they lined up perfectly.....this kit should go together well if the rest of the kit has the same excellent level of fit.  

Click on images below to see larger images

Skis wheels
The attachment points for the resin parts is wonderfully thin making the removal of the parts from the resin casting blocks a quick and easy job.  Most parts are already removed from their resin casting blocks.  Detail is very crisp on most parts and the finished products will be a treat to behold. 

The inclusion of Photo Etched parts and an Acetate instrument panel tells me that Pro Resin is going to be a product line well worth watching for new releases.  The PE parts are tiny and very well formed.  They include items that will be well visible to the viewer of the finished model and these PE parts will enhance the delicate look of the finished model.  

The kit parts are pretty straight forward and the 4 pages of instructions cover the assembly process in a clear and easy to follow way.  The instructions include paint codes in Humbrol, Model Master and Revell colours.

The one decal option is for a Curtiss P-1B Hawk with the 27th Pursuit Squadron in the Winter of 1927.  This aircraft is overall Olive Drab with the nose and bright Insignia Red with the tail and wings in bright Insignia yellow.  The U.S. national markings are bright Red/White/Blue.  The skis and strut supports for the wings were Olive Drab in colour.

The decals are very clearly printed....not too thick...not too thin and of good colour coverage.  

As you can see from the sample of photos of the resin parts below, the panel line detail is recessed and well done.  The wings have realistic wing ribbing detail and will look quite convincing of the finished kit.  The seat is well done in resin and once you add the seatbelts and paint it up it will look very good.

Click on images below to see larger images

This is a sweet looking little kit and if you want to try a multi-media WW1 kit then you will do well to check out these new multi-media kits from Pro Resin at Olimp Models.

I would like to thanks Oleg at Olimp Models for sending me this review sample.

Steve Bamford

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford