MPM

1/72 U.S. Attack Bomber A-33 / Norwegian DB8A-5/Iraqi DB8A-4

Kit Number 72536

Reviewed By Howie Belkin, #16

MSRP: $17.50 USD

Approx 50 injection molded, resin and clear parts; plus instrument panel film and photo etch fret; decals for 3 aircraft.  From MPM (www.mpm.cz).

Never heard of this airplane?  MPM, that prolific Czech Republic company, has!  It derived from Northrop’s A-17 and A-17A which were developed from the Gamma.  In 1934 Northrop secured the largest contract (to that time) in history: over $2 million to build 110 A-17s!  How times change!  MPM has a kit of the U.S. Army Northrop A-17 with blue fuselage and yellow wings, and another kit as the A17-A that is all natural metal.  If this version of the A-17 (a.k.a. A-33, a.k.a. DB8) looks a lot like the SBD Dauntless complete with perforated lower dive flaps, it’s because they were designed in the same Northrop shop before Douglas took over the patents in 1939. Though the A-17 with four wing-mounted 0.30 machine guns, plus two under-wing mounted 0.50s, plus two paired flexible 0.30 machine guns operated by the rear cockpit gunner and capable of carrying up to 1800 pounds of bombs was far superior to aircraft like the spatted, under-armed, under-powered Stuka, the U.S.A.A.C. decided to proceed with twin engine attack aircraft like the A-20 (the US Navy didn’t have that option due to lack of space on carriers).  Douglas then developed the A-17 for export with a more powerful engine and retractable tail wheel, identifying it as the Model 8A.  In 1942, the U.S. Army commandeered 31 Model 8As intended for Peru, re-designated them A-33 and used them for training.  Before Model 8A-5s could be delivered to the Norwegian Heerens Flyvevaben (Army Flying Service), Norway was occupied by Germany. Thirty-six were delivered to the government-in-exile operating "Little Norway," a training facility at Island Airport in Ontario, Canada.  Peru eventually got their aircraft by way of Norway, remaining in service until 1958.  One aircraft stands as a gate guard at Las Palmas.  The final DB8A-4 version were shipped to Iraq between April and June 1940 and destroyed by the RAF during uprisings that began May 2, 1941.  How times change!

The kit goes together fairly well but requires dry fitting and some putty and is not for beginners.  The horizontal tail just butts the fuselage so I used cyanoacrylate cement, zip kick accelerated for a strong bond and puttied the seam.  If you have a problem with photo etch parts you can use the injection molded ones, but the P.E. instrument panel with film instruments, bucket seats, machine gun sight and the gunner’s machine gun ring etc. really stand out under the thin, crystal clear canopy.  I contacted the National Museum of the United States Air Force and Brett Stolle confirmed that their “A-17A is natural metal and inside the dive brakes is not painted red.”  Their OD A-24B on exhibit does have its underside flaps marked in red…” so take care which version you’re building.  With the similarity to the Dauntless you’ll be tempted to reach for the red paint. I painted mine over all natural metal with a black wash in the flap perforations and black anti-glare panel.  I used Super Scale silver decal stripes for canopy framing.  I built one of the Norwegian trainers, in homage to my ex-wife’s part Norwegian heritage (and so my kids won’t have to ask why haven’t I built a Norwegian airplane?)  The kit decals were thin and opaque and went on easily with Future floor wax.  I liked how MPM broke the lightning bolt for the cowling and before and after the aircraft number making it easier to apply.  MPM has produced a number of U.S. between the wars a/c.  I hope they’ll scale down their 1/48 Curtiss A-8 and A-12 Shrikes down to 1/72, maybe a Bell Airacuda to top that off!  Thanks to MPM for the review sample.  You can get yours at better hobby shops or contact them at MPM, s.r.o., Mezilesi 718, 193 00 Prague 9 - Horni Pocernice, Czech Republic, phone +420 2 8192 3907 or their web site.

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