In Box Review of MPM 1/72nd Scale
Soviet KOR.1 Floatplane Fighter
Kit no. 7207
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
HISTORY
The Soviet Naval Air Force, including the battleships and cruisers carrying catapults with reconnaissance aeroplanes, had been modernized in 1930-35.
In 1934-36, T.M. Beriev designing team was working on the KOR-1 plane that should have replaced the type KR-1, having been used up to that time (license Heinkel - HD.55).
The prototype of this light reconnaissance float biplane took off in 1937. It was powered by M-25, a radial nine-cylinder engine (750 hp/547 kw), and a three-bladed metal propeller.
The plane had a central duralumin float and two balance-ones under the bottom-wing ends. Compared with other foreign planes of the same class, this type was armed more powerfully. It had 2 fixed 7.62 cm machine guns ShKAS were situated in the upper wing canopy and fired out of the propeller radius. One mobile machine gun PV-1 of the same calibre defended the rear hemisphere of the other crew-member.
It was possible to suspend either 2 bombs of 50 kg each or four ones of 25 kg each under the wings.
The KOR-1's came into service in 1938. They kept guard on the coast and cooperated above all with the coastal artillery. Till 1941, in the time of Germany's invasion, these aeroplanes were obsolete and should have been replaced with new boat-types, designated KOR-2 (Be-4).
In the beginning of the war, the remaining KOR-1'S were provisionally attached to wheel under carriages and used as fighters on the Black Sea front. In 1941, its name KOR-1 was changed into Be-2, according to its design engineer's name.
The aeroplane was an all-metal construction welded of steel tubes. The nose was covered with duralumin sheets. The rear had a fabric covering. The wings with fabric coverings could be folded to the back. Both central and auxiliary floats were all-metal, duralumin structures.
The Soviet Naval Air Force, including the battleships and cruisers carrying catapults with reconnaissance aeroplanes, had been modernized in 1930-35.
In 1934-36, T.M. Beriev designing team was working on the KOR-1 plane that should have replaced the type KR-1, having been used up to that time (license Heinkel - HD.55).
The prototype of this light reconnaissance float biplane took off in 1937. It was powered by M-25, a radial nine-cylinder engine (750 hp/547 kw), and a three-bladed metal propeller.
The plane had a central duralumin float and two balance-ones under the bottom-wing ends. Compared with other foreign planes of the same class, this type was armed more powerfully. It had 2 fixed 7.62 cm machine guns ShKAS were situated in the upper wing canopy and fired out of the propeller radius. One mobile machine gun PV-1 of the same calibre defended the rear hemisphere of the other crew-member.
It was possible to suspend either 2 bombs of 50 kg each or four ones of 25 kg each under the wings.
The KOR-1's came into service in 1938. They kept guard on the coast and cooperated above all with the coastal artillery. Till 1941, in the time of Germany's invasion, these aeroplanes were obsolete and should have been replaced with new boat-types, designated KOR-2 (Be-4).
In the beginning of the war, the remaining KOR-1'S were provisionally attached to wheel under carriages and used as fighters on the Black Sea front. In 1941, its name KOR-1 was changed into Be-2, according to its design engineer's name.
The aeroplane was an all-metal construction welded of steel tubes. The nose was covered with duralumin sheets. The rear had a fabric covering. The wings with fabric coverings could be folded to the back. Both central and auxiliary floats were all-metal, duralumin structures.
THE KIT
MPM is a model company based in Prague Czech Republic.
They manufacture limited-run multi-medial kits of aircraft models.
This kit came in a unwrapped generic white box. The box art is on a separate sheet that is glued to the lid.
The box art shows a KOR-1 flying over a shore line. It is overall grey-green and has a yellow 4 on the rudder.
MPM is a model company based in Prague Czech Republic.
They manufacture limited-run multi-medial kits of aircraft models.
This kit came in a unwrapped generic white box. The box art is on a separate sheet that is glued to the lid.
The box art shows a KOR-1 flying over a shore line. It is overall grey-green and has a yellow 4 on the rudder.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
This kit contains 2 chalk-white vacu-formed sheets, and green injection molded plastic trees in a sealed clear cello bag, the decal sheet and the 2 instruction sheets.
The decal sheet includes a tissue to protect its face from scratching.
The first instruction sheet consists of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 1/2" x 12" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white line-drawing profile of the KOR-1, over its history in Czech, English and German.
Page 2 has a 3-view line-drawing of the KOR-1.
Page 3 has an exploded drawing for assembly purpose, over specifications of the KOR-1.
Page 4 is the painting and marking guide. Two profiles are shown.
Both are of the Marine Fleet of the Red Army 1937.
The first one is the box art scheme (already described above).
The second one is in the same color with a yellow 2 on the rudder.
The second instructions sheet is a single-sheet, printed on one side and the same page sized as the first instructions. It has 8 illustrations down the left side showing how to work with vacuformed parts and a lot of Czech text down the right side.
The reverse side of the sheet is blank.
The 1st chalk-white vacu-formed sheet holds: the fuselage halves, main float halves, vented cowling, elevators, cockpit floor, seats etc. (12 parts)
This kit contains 2 chalk-white vacu-formed sheets, and green injection molded plastic trees in a sealed clear cello bag, the decal sheet and the 2 instruction sheets.
The decal sheet includes a tissue to protect its face from scratching.
The first instruction sheet consists of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 1/2" x 12" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white line-drawing profile of the KOR-1, over its history in Czech, English and German.
Page 2 has a 3-view line-drawing of the KOR-1.
Page 3 has an exploded drawing for assembly purpose, over specifications of the KOR-1.
Page 4 is the painting and marking guide. Two profiles are shown.
Both are of the Marine Fleet of the Red Army 1937.
The first one is the box art scheme (already described above).
The second one is in the same color with a yellow 2 on the rudder.
The second instructions sheet is a single-sheet, printed on one side and the same page sized as the first instructions. It has 8 illustrations down the left side showing how to work with vacuformed parts and a lot of Czech text down the right side.
The reverse side of the sheet is blank.
The 1st chalk-white vacu-formed sheet holds: the fuselage halves, main float halves, vented cowling, elevators, cockpit floor, seats etc. (12 parts)
The 2nd chalk-white vacu-formed sheet holds: wing halves and small wing float halves etc. (9 parts)
The first green injection molded plastic tree holds: the propeller, seat, dashboard, struts (6 parts)
The second green tree holds: more struts and spinner (9 parts)
The third and fourth green trees holds more struts (2 parts each)
The second green tree holds: more struts and spinner (9 parts)
The third and fourth green trees holds more struts (2 parts each)
Next is the clear vacuum-formed canopy (1 part)
The decal sheet completes the kits contents. There is no pilot figure included. Kit has minimal raised and engraved detail. Flaps are all molded solid.
Recommended.