I was excited to learn that Hannants in the UK will soon be selling a resin 1/72 Hughes H1 Racer, by Czechmaster. Never heard of Czechmaster before, anybody know anything about them?
BTW, another firm will also shortly be coming out with a 1:48 Hughes H1. This is a historically significant and incredibly beautiful aircraft, and I am thrilled that I can FINALLY build one. I’m gonna BMF the thing…
I’ve heard a lot of the stuff comming out of the Czech-Republic isnt all that bad. I mean look at eduard… just my[2c], i’m sure someone else knows more!
CM has been in the resin Aftermarket Business for some time & their detail sets are pretty good quality. I haven’t seen any full kits from them, so this may be their first try in that direction.
Regards, Rick
I was reading a review of the Czechmaster 1/72 Westland Wyvern in Scale Aviation Modeler not too long ago. This is a British Publication. The long and short of it was that it’s a great kit but, and I quote:
“Please note though, that while these accolades are well and truly deserved, this remains a limited run kit and don’t go away with the idea that it falls together. Before your medal winner can take it’s place in the display cabinet, there is some serious modeling to be done.”
I imagine the Hughs H-1 will be no different.[:)]
The only one I have experience with is the 1/72 AM-1 Mauler (I have a few others but haven’t tried to build them yet-kinda gunshy after the Mauler expereince).
The big thing I noticed with the Mauler was that, while the castings were quite nice, the whole fuselage was about 10% too small, and a lot of the shapes were poorly replicated when compared to the drawings and photos in the Ginter book on the Mauler. I ended up using some of the detail bits on the older Esoteric vacuform kit, and tossing the main components of the Czech kit. I’m also not comfortable with the resin used for the gear legs.
I have the Czech Models T-34 Mentor kit, and although I have not yet started it, I am impreseed with the overall quality of the kit. I also recently bought a 1/72 detail kit for the PV-1 Ventura Academy kit, and all I can say is WOW! The detail is outstanding! If these two are any indication of what the eastern European model community is doing, Revellogram et al better be looking over their shoulders! IMHO, first rate!
Brian [2c]
OK, the Czechmaster Resin kits are nothing to do with CMK (Czech Master Kits), who are a part of the MPM stable, neither are they anything to do with Czech Models. The guy behind Czechmaster Resins produces these limited run kits of subjects not covered by the mainstream manufactureers as his HOBBY! R&D for the kits is carried out by a multi-national band of volunteer modellers, most of whom have access to the real articles at various Museums (Duxford in my case) or pretty good reference libraries. Where possible, the Archivists of the aircraft manufacturing companies are actively involved (Westland and Boulton Paul to name but two), providing much detail and not “concept drawings” as has happened in the past.
Admittedly, the older kits do not fall together like a Tamigawa kit and there are problems with mould distortion during the hot Prague summers, but I do know that every effort is made to make the kits as good as they can be - considering they’re a “cottage industry”. However, where else will you find kits of such things as an Irbitis I-16 - go look it up! Modelling skills are required, but hey, that’s what this hobby’s all about isn’t it?
As for the 1/72 resin Hughes H-1 Racer, the research has been carried out with the full cooperation and assistance of the NASM. There will be two kits in the bag, for both wing sizes. The 1/48 kit is by one of the mainstream Czech companies and the history notes are just about complete and ready to be translated into Czech!
I hope that answers a few questions!
Cheers,
Chris Hughes
UK
MPM History Note Writer!