Fairey Tactical Strike Aircraft GOR.339 Project Type 75

Aerocraft Model, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Spencer Pollard

Over the last few years, nobody could have overlooked how much 3D printing has impacted our hobby. From small acorns great oaks can grow and so from the release of tiny, printed details, we are now witnessing the release of full-blown kits using this fast improving technology.

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Although I have used 3D printed parts throughout the last few years (most notably inside my build of the Eduard Wildcat) I have yet to build a complete kit. That is until now. Now, I have the chance to see what all of the fuss is about with the delivery of Aerocraft’s latest release, the Fairey Tactical Strike Aircraft GOR.339 Project Type 75 (phew!).

Aerocraft’s new release is a complete kit of this 1950s paper project. Designed as a potential replacement for the role carried out by the Canberra, the GOR.339 Project would spawn the much-vaunted, but ultimately unsuccessful TSR.2. As such, the Type 75 is a large, imposing design that would have looked as impressive as it would have been implausible, had it ever worked its way from drawing board to factory floor.

All of this kit, save for the canopy is 3D printed in dark grey resin. The kit though large looks to be sensibly broken down, easy to build and nicely detailed. A complete cockpit is included complete with ejector seats furnish with delicate straps and ring-pull handles in situ. Instrument details are well-rendered, as are such things as delicate control columns, the latter once again printed in place. Under the clearly-cast resin canopy, the cockpit detail should be easily seen, so the inclusion of the high levels of detail found upon first inspection, is more than welcome.

All of the airframe parts are printed hollow, which keeps weight down without compromising structural strength. Clever design keeps structural integrity to the fore. For instance, the pylons for the nacelles drop into troughs under the wings rather than being simple peg and socket joints. This is definitely an important consideration with kits such as this, where not only weight comes into play, but also your choice of adhesives. Unlike a plastic kit where solvents can be used, here you will have to rely on superglues, adhesives that are notoriously weak when it comes to tensile strength. Having large joints such as those seen here, will go some way to helped keeping everything together both during assembly and once complete and on display.

In terms of additional features, the kit includes some delightful undercarriage legs and wheels. I was particularly take by the wheels. Undoubtedly designed thus to ensure stretch under the model, the hubs are moulded as part of the legs, the tyres being very delicate, separate parts. I really like this idea because it not only ensures that the wheels are perfectly square and true, it makes painting so much easier! Once again, strength is guaranteed betwixt legs and bays, Large tab and socket joints (likely to be all-but hidden within each bay) keeping everything in place. I appreciate that this is a repeated point, but this is a heavy model so anything that helps to keep it all together is not only welcome, but I’d argue, essential.

Away from the kit parts, Aerocraft offer this aircraft in four different boxes, two in 1:72, two in 1:144, with each scale being in “Hi Viz” colours, as well as overall Anti Flash White. My sample came complete with both decal sheets which will allow me to build either version, though camouflage seems most likely.

The decals are superb, being very nicely printed, with nice opaque colours and in my case, perfect register.

We have a full build planned for this kit which we hope to publish in Model Airplane International magazine shortly. In the meantime, please check out the Aerocraft website for more information on both this kit and its 1:144 counterpart. It's an unusual subject for sure, but one that we think you will enjoy seeing and hopefully putting together.

Thanks to Alastair at Aerocraft for the review sample looked at this month www.aerocraftmodels.com

Text and Images Copyright © 2024 by Spencer Pollard
Page Created 27 March, 2023
Last updated 27 March, 2024

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