Trumpeter

1/32 Nanchang CJ6 Chinese Fighter Plane

Kit Number: 02240

Reviewed by  Steve Dottavio, IPMS# 39681

MSRP: $39.95 The Nanchang CJ-6 is a Chinese designed and built basic and advanced trainer for use by the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Common belief is that the CJ-6 is just a Chinese copy of the Russian Yak-18A trainer, but that is not true. While the PLAAF's CJ-5 was copied from the Yak-18, with the advent of jet flight, the PLAAF found they needed a new aircraft with improved performance and a tricycle landing gear. By the same time the Soviet Union had developed the Yak-18A, China had already decided to build the CJ-6 on their own. An example of this appeared at the Maps Air Museum, Aero 2006 Expo, Defenders of Freedom. The build of the Nanchang was a very enjoyable experience. Trumpeter did their homework on the kit. The detail is outstanding and the fit of the parts was most excellent! The break down of the build was pretty standard for an aircraft, starting with the cockpit assembly. The engine was next, followed by the landing gear, fuselage, wings, and the tail area, all straight forward without issue. About the only trouble I encountered was with the engine-to-firewall assembly. If I only had two more hands!! What a bear it was trying to line up the engine supports to the firewall. What I finally did was put drops of glue on each point and hurriedly stuck everything together, gingerly holding it in place until the glue set. Don't ya just love modeling!? The color scheme the kit offers is a standard military issue look that is rather boring. In my search for information on the internet for the Nanchang I found some sites that had some private owned aircraft that were quite colorful. I choose to paint my bird gloss black with a red and black checkered board cowl. I used the kit decals for all the numbers and stenciling. The Russian red stars came from my spare box. Oh wait! There was another problem! The dreaded tricycle landing gear. There wasn't a whole lot of room to add weights to the nose area. About the only space available to put some weight was between the rear of the firewall and the instrument panel. I was going to use some brass weights that I had laying around but Master Sen Sae (a.k.a. Ed Kinney) suggested bird shot instead. The bird shot has more weight per volume than the brass. We poured some shot in the cavity and then proceeded to add some super glue. Unbeknown to us there was a gap between the firewall and the fuselage! What a mess! I had glue all over my hands! YIKES! Some glue got on the paint and engine struts but I was able to salvage it with some sanding pads. Don't ya just really love modeling!?! Oh I already said that! Hahahaha! Even with the shot the plane was still tail heavy, so I mounted it to a display base. I would like to thank Linda Carney from Stevens International for the review kit and, oh yes, I need MORE GLUE!!!!!!!!

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