Beechcraft C18S
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Kit Review
Having already done the C-45F (#48181), RAF Expeditor Mk II (#48182) and AT-7/SNB-2, ICM has now added the civil Twin Beech C18S version to their catalogue.
Inside the box you will find one clear and five grey-coloured plastic sprues. Surface detail is via engraved lines but there are no rivets and the fabric effect is via raised lines. All colour call-outs in the instructions are via Revell and Tamiya paint ranges, along with generic names but no FS or other codes. Assembly remains almost exactly the same as the previous kits, there are just a few pieces less in this civil version. Construction starts with the fuselage halves first along with the access door and glazings, then the cabin and crew seats, which will later be added to the inside of the lower wing half before it is mated with the completed fuselage. The one-piece lower wing takes the bulkhead/undercarriage units and the engines, which are very effective. The ailerons are separate, but the flaps are not, and these fit into the one-piece upper wing, which also contains the fuselage floor. The tips of the domes on each propeller have to be clipped off, as do the backs of the spinners, so that they represent the version necessary for this civil version. The wheels are single pieces, so no seam line to deal with and once you have added the tailwheel and undercarriage doors, that is it.
Colour Options
The kit offers two decal options:
• G-APBX of Falcon Airways based at Biggin Hill in 1959
• N20D of the United States Forest Service, based at Oakland in 1954
The decals are excellent, being beautifully printed, with perfect register and colour and they are very glossy. The sheet includes all national markings, the instrument panel dials and propeller manufacturer logos, but no airframe stencils. The only problem we can foresee is the matching of the orange (the instructions state Revell 130 or Tamiya X6 and these two can't be identical?) on the USFS aircraft because only the stripes themselves are offered as decals, the rudders, elevators, cowl fronts and nose cone all have to be painted in an identical orange as well. At least the black borders for these areas are supplied as decals though.
Conclusion
All of their Beech 18 derivatives are excellent and this new on is no different. The parts are well moulded, detail is good from the box and even those decals look nice now, so it is highly recommended to all civil aviation fans.
Our thanks to ICM for the review sample. UK modellers can obtain this kit from Hannants, visit here for more details.
Having already done the C-45F (#48181), RAF Expeditor Mk II (#48182) and AT-7/SNB-2, ICM has now added the civil Twin Beech C18S version to their catalogue.
Inside the box you will find one clear and five grey-coloured plastic sprues. Surface detail is via engraved lines but there are no rivets and the fabric effect is via raised lines. All colour call-outs in the instructions are via Revell and Tamiya paint ranges, along with generic names but no FS or other codes. Assembly remains almost exactly the same as the previous kits, there are just a few pieces less in this civil version. Construction starts with the fuselage halves first along with the access door and glazings, then the cabin and crew seats, which will later be added to the inside of the lower wing half before it is mated with the completed fuselage. The one-piece lower wing takes the bulkhead/undercarriage units and the engines, which are very effective. The ailerons are separate, but the flaps are not, and these fit into the one-piece upper wing, which also contains the fuselage floor. The tips of the domes on each propeller have to be clipped off, as do the backs of the spinners, so that they represent the version necessary for this civil version. The wheels are single pieces, so no seam line to deal with and once you have added the tailwheel and undercarriage doors, that is it.
Colour Options
The kit offers two decal options:
• G-APBX of Falcon Airways based at Biggin Hill in 1959
• N20D of the United States Forest Service, based at Oakland in 1954
The decals are excellent, being beautifully printed, with perfect register and colour and they are very glossy. The sheet includes all national markings, the instrument panel dials and propeller manufacturer logos, but no airframe stencils. The only problem we can foresee is the matching of the orange (the instructions state Revell 130 or Tamiya X6 and these two can't be identical?) on the USFS aircraft because only the stripes themselves are offered as decals, the rudders, elevators, cowl fronts and nose cone all have to be painted in an identical orange as well. At least the black borders for these areas are supplied as decals though.
Conclusion
All of their Beech 18 derivatives are excellent and this new on is no different. The parts are well moulded, detail is good from the box and even those decals look nice now, so it is highly recommended to all civil aviation fans.
Our thanks to ICM for the review sample. UK modellers can obtain this kit from Hannants, visit here for more details.
