In Box Review of Czech Model 1/48th Scale
German Blohm und Voss Bv-40 Glide Fighter
Kit no. 4802 resin and plastic
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1997
I paid $18.95 for my kit back then at a local shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1997
I paid $18.95 for my kit back then at a local shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The Blohm & Voss Bv-40 was a German glider fighter designed to attack Allied bomber formations. By eliminating the engine and positioning the pilot in a prone position (i.e. lying in the front), the cross-section area of the aircraft was much reduced, making the aircraft much harder for bomber gunners to hit.
Its key features were a very narrow and fairly heavily armored cockpit, and two MK 108 cannons in the wing roots with very limited ammunition.
The fuselage was constructed almost entirely of wood, a non-strategic material at the time. During its short attack time the glider would fire its weapons, then glide back to earth, although for a time the idea of carrying a bomb on a cable behind the glider was entertained.
The first flight was in May of 1944. Several prototypes were completed, but the project was stopped later in the year as the end of the war drew near.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: fighter glider
Manufacturer: Blum und Voss
First flight: 6 May 1944
Crew: 1 pilot
Length: 18 ft. 8 in.
Wingspan: 25 ft. 11 in.
Height: 5 ft. 4 in.
Wing area: 94 ft
Empty weight: 1,840 lb.
Gross weight: 2,090 lb.
Max speed: 560 mph
Armament: two fixed, forward-firing 30 mm Rheinmetall Borsig MK 108 cannon (35 rounds per gun)
The Blohm & Voss Bv-40 was a German glider fighter designed to attack Allied bomber formations. By eliminating the engine and positioning the pilot in a prone position (i.e. lying in the front), the cross-section area of the aircraft was much reduced, making the aircraft much harder for bomber gunners to hit.
Its key features were a very narrow and fairly heavily armored cockpit, and two MK 108 cannons in the wing roots with very limited ammunition.
The fuselage was constructed almost entirely of wood, a non-strategic material at the time. During its short attack time the glider would fire its weapons, then glide back to earth, although for a time the idea of carrying a bomb on a cable behind the glider was entertained.
The first flight was in May of 1944. Several prototypes were completed, but the project was stopped later in the year as the end of the war drew near.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: fighter glider
Manufacturer: Blum und Voss
First flight: 6 May 1944
Crew: 1 pilot
Length: 18 ft. 8 in.
Wingspan: 25 ft. 11 in.
Height: 5 ft. 4 in.
Wing area: 94 ft
Empty weight: 1,840 lb.
Gross weight: 2,090 lb.
Max speed: 560 mph
Armament: two fixed, forward-firing 30 mm Rheinmetall Borsig MK 108 cannon (35 rounds per gun)
THE KIT:
Czech Model is based in the Czech Republic. At the time this kit was released it was being imported and sold by the Squadron Shop in Carrollton, TX.
It came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box are hs a very grainy black and white illustration of the Bv-40, showing a fuselage black fuselage code PN + UA.
The bottom of the box serves as the painting and marking guide. It shows a top and side view of the box art scheme. It is in a splinter pattern of 2 shades of green (RLM B1 & RL B2) over a light blue undercarriage (RLM 76).
The second scheme is of a Bv-40 in the same 2 green splinter pattern over light blue fuselage sides and undercarriage. The sides are mottled with blotches of the 2 greens.
It has a white 4 before the fuselage cross and a black and white fuselage band.
Although the swastikas on the rudders are blacked out in these illustrations, it is okay on the decal sheet.
Czech Model is based in the Czech Republic. At the time this kit was released it was being imported and sold by the Squadron Shop in Carrollton, TX.
It came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box are hs a very grainy black and white illustration of the Bv-40, showing a fuselage black fuselage code PN + UA.
The bottom of the box serves as the painting and marking guide. It shows a top and side view of the box art scheme. It is in a splinter pattern of 2 shades of green (RLM B1 & RL B2) over a light blue undercarriage (RLM 76).
The second scheme is of a Bv-40 in the same 2 green splinter pattern over light blue fuselage sides and undercarriage. The sides are mottled with blotches of the 2 greens.
It has a white 4 before the fuselage cross and a black and white fuselage band.
Although the swastikas on the rudders are blacked out in these illustrations, it is okay on the decal sheet.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains an off-white tree and 2 vacuformed canopies in a sealed cello bag with another cello bag holding tan resin parts, the decal sheet and the instructions.
I also added a copy of the history of the Bv-40 off of the Wikipedia website.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of an actual Bv-40 sitting on a grassy field. It is in the box art scheme.
Below it is information about Czech Model kits in general. Over parts trees illustrations. The illustration of the off white tree has some of the parts X'd out as being excess and not needed to complete the kit.
This tree holds: the fuselage, wings, wing tip bumpers, wing flap actuating arms, elevators, tail plane braces, antenna, main wheels etc. (33 parts) 9 parts are excess.
This kit contains an off-white tree and 2 vacuformed canopies in a sealed cello bag with another cello bag holding tan resin parts, the decal sheet and the instructions.
I also added a copy of the history of the Bv-40 off of the Wikipedia website.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of an actual Bv-40 sitting on a grassy field. It is in the box art scheme.
Below it is information about Czech Model kits in general. Over parts trees illustrations. The illustration of the off white tree has some of the parts X'd out as being excess and not needed to complete the kit.
This tree holds: the fuselage, wings, wing tip bumpers, wing flap actuating arms, elevators, tail plane braces, antenna, main wheels etc. (33 parts) 9 parts are excess.
There are 2 vacuformed cockpit canopies. This is in case you mess one up, you have a spare.
The tan resin parts hold: the main wheels, cockpit floor, pilot's prone position cushion, chin rest, joystick, gun trays, battery compartment, wheels axle (10 parts) The parts have heavy pour lugs to remove with a razor saw.
The decal sheet completes the kit.
There is no pilot figure included. Detail is engraved and flaps are all molded solid.
This is a neat obscure German aircraft.
Recommended.
This is a neat obscure German aircraft.
Recommended.