In Box Review of MPM 1/72nd Scale
Czech Aero C.104 Biplane
(ex-German Bucker Bu-131 "Jungmann")
Kit no. Unknown
OUT OF PRODUCTION
OUT OF PRODUCTION
HISTORY:
In the early thirties, the company Bücker Flugzeugbau in Berlin, Germany, designed a training aeroplane, able to perform aerobatics as well.
The prototype, designated BU-131 Jungmann, took off on 27th April 1933. It was powered by the Hirth HM 608 engine, and the following version by the HM 504A (105 hp/77 kw).
This aircraft was presented to the public on the 14th Aircraft Show in Paris, 1934. Many countries were interested in this type, and some of them bought its license.
The first foreign user was Switzerland, 1936. Since 1938, the type Bu-131B has been produced in Japan by the company of Watanabe as the K9W1 (217 pieces) and by Nippon Kokusai as the Ki-86 (1,037 pieces).
In 1936, the license was bought by Czechoslovakia too, the company of Ringhoffer-Tatra. There were produced 35 licensed aeroplanes, designated Tatra T-131. Other planes operated in Spain, Brazil and Uruguay.
The production of Bücker main works at Rangedorf, Germany, was finished in 1941; a total amount was in excess of 3,500 planes of all versions. During the occupation of Czechoslovakia, the production of BU-131 D-2 was introduced in the Aero Company, in its Prague factory.
After WWII, the production was restarted for the use of the Czech Air Force. The aircraft was designated Aero C-4 (congruent with BU-131D, including the engine). This type was used in the Military Flying Academy as a primary trainer.
In 1946, the engine Walter Mino 4-III (105 hp/77 kw) was built in the fuselage; this type was designated C-104. These planes met with success not only in the military air force, but also in the National Security Units as well as in Svazarm Aeroclubs.
Many of these planes are functioning up to the present times. They belong to the most interesting attractions at various air shows, especially in Western Europe and the United States.
It was a two-seat biplane. Its construction consisted of a steel framework with a shaped body and fabric-covering. The 2-spar wooden wings had fabric coverings and were interchangeable. The tail planes had steel structure and fabric covering.
In the early thirties, the company Bücker Flugzeugbau in Berlin, Germany, designed a training aeroplane, able to perform aerobatics as well.
The prototype, designated BU-131 Jungmann, took off on 27th April 1933. It was powered by the Hirth HM 608 engine, and the following version by the HM 504A (105 hp/77 kw).
This aircraft was presented to the public on the 14th Aircraft Show in Paris, 1934. Many countries were interested in this type, and some of them bought its license.
The first foreign user was Switzerland, 1936. Since 1938, the type Bu-131B has been produced in Japan by the company of Watanabe as the K9W1 (217 pieces) and by Nippon Kokusai as the Ki-86 (1,037 pieces).
In 1936, the license was bought by Czechoslovakia too, the company of Ringhoffer-Tatra. There were produced 35 licensed aeroplanes, designated Tatra T-131. Other planes operated in Spain, Brazil and Uruguay.
The production of Bücker main works at Rangedorf, Germany, was finished in 1941; a total amount was in excess of 3,500 planes of all versions. During the occupation of Czechoslovakia, the production of BU-131 D-2 was introduced in the Aero Company, in its Prague factory.
After WWII, the production was restarted for the use of the Czech Air Force. The aircraft was designated Aero C-4 (congruent with BU-131D, including the engine). This type was used in the Military Flying Academy as a primary trainer.
In 1946, the engine Walter Mino 4-III (105 hp/77 kw) was built in the fuselage; this type was designated C-104. These planes met with success not only in the military air force, but also in the National Security Units as well as in Svazarm Aeroclubs.
Many of these planes are functioning up to the present times. They belong to the most interesting attractions at various air shows, especially in Western Europe and the United States.
It was a two-seat biplane. Its construction consisted of a steel framework with a shaped body and fabric-covering. The 2-spar wooden wings had fabric coverings and were interchangeable. The tail planes had steel structure and fabric covering.
THE KIT:
MPM is based in Prague, Czech Republic. They manufacture limited-run multi-media type aircraft kits.
This kit came in a generic white box. The cover art is a seperate sheet glued to the lid.
The box art shows Aero C.104 flying away from us. It is overall grey-green with a black fuselage number A-17 and Czech 3 color roundel on the rudder.
MPM is based in Prague, Czech Republic. They manufacture limited-run multi-media type aircraft kits.
This kit came in a generic white box. The cover art is a seperate sheet glued to the lid.
The box art shows Aero C.104 flying away from us. It is overall grey-green with a black fuselage number A-17 and Czech 3 color roundel on the rudder.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains a dark-green injection- molded plastic tree and a chalk-white injection-molded plastic tree and a vacuformed clear canopy in 2 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions and decal sheet.
The instructions consists of a un-bound booklet of 6 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white line-drawing of the C.104 in the box art schee, over the history of the aircraft in Czech, English and German.
Page 2 has a 3-view of the Bucker Bu-131 "Jungmann" C-4.
Page 3 is painting and marking instructions for the box art scheme as a 3-view. It further shows the black A-17 below each lower wing.
Page 4 is the parts trees illustrations over the aircraft's specifications.
Page 5 has 2 exploded drawings for assembly purposes.
Page 6 is blank.
The dark green injection-molded plastic tree holds: fuselage halves, wings, cowling,, propeller, elevator, seats, rudder flap, main wheels (14 parts)
This kit contains a dark-green injection- molded plastic tree and a chalk-white injection-molded plastic tree and a vacuformed clear canopy in 2 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions and decal sheet.
The instructions consists of a un-bound booklet of 6 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white line-drawing of the C.104 in the box art schee, over the history of the aircraft in Czech, English and German.
Page 2 has a 3-view of the Bucker Bu-131 "Jungmann" C-4.
Page 3 is painting and marking instructions for the box art scheme as a 3-view. It further shows the black A-17 below each lower wing.
Page 4 is the parts trees illustrations over the aircraft's specifications.
Page 5 has 2 exploded drawings for assembly purposes.
Page 6 is blank.
The dark green injection-molded plastic tree holds: fuselage halves, wings, cowling,, propeller, elevator, seats, rudder flap, main wheels (14 parts)
The chalk-white injection-molded plastic tree holds: landing gear legs, instrument panels, tail wheel, struts etc. (16 parts)
The clear parts consist of 2 windscreens molded on a vacuum formed plastic sheet that need to be cut out.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
There is no pilot figure included. No part numbers on tabs next to the parts on the trees. It has both raised and engraved detail. Flaps are all molded solid.
Recommended.