RWD-8 for a start

For years IBG Models was focused exclusively on releasing miniatures of ground vehicles, both in 1:72 and 1:35 scales. However that just recently changed, with the newest kits released- RWD-8 aeroplanes, PWS and DWL versions, both in 1:72 scale. Is it a successful debut? Well, let's see.

RWD, PWS, DWL?

But first- a bit of history. RWD-8 was a Polish trainer aircraft designed by famous Rogalski-Wigura-Drzewiecki design bureau. Famous? Surely- their constructions won Challenge in 1932 and 1934. You may also heard about a small RWD-5 aeroplane which fly across the Atlantic in 1933, piloted by Stanisław Skarżyński.

But let's not get sidetracked. RWD-8 was a construction developed in response to the contest for new military trainer. And it won. Produced from 1934 to the beginning of the World War 2, also for civilian market, was the most numerous aircraft manufactured in Poland at that time. Military version, built in PWS factory, was slightly different from its civilian counterpart, produced by DWL workshops. However, some aircrafts manufactured by PWS were also used by civilians, aeroclubs etc. There were couple of different modifications along the line of production, but the two main types were as mentioned before: PWS and DWL.

In 1939, when Germans invaded Poland starting the World War II, RWD-8s were still in use. In the harsh war reality, those trainers were used for liaison and reconnaissance flights. Yes, without any armament. Even some civil RWDs were mobilized in the time of need. The sad thing is that not even one of those aircrafts survived to our times.

1:72 So Far

Quite important piece of Polish aviation history, isn't it? Certainly one worth of a fair representation in scale. However, so far we have only one injection-moulded kit available in 1:72, released in the eighties by now non-existent PZW Siedlce. Repacked again and again by different manufacturers over the past years, was for sure ready for retiring.

New kit

One of the newly released kits, catalogue number 72501, gives us an opportunity to build a PWS version of RWD-8. The box, with typical fir IBG graphic layout and fairly nice illustration, is a sturdy, top-opening one. Some may say that it's clearly to big, but hey- it's one of IBG's standard sizes. Also- really, who cares?

Inside- two grey sprues with main elements, one small transparent one, decals sheet and instruction manual.

The first impression is quite positive, you can see the experience of the manufacturer gained in the production of dozens earlier vehicle models. Let's check whether the closer look at the parts doesn't spoil our good mood.

In details

First sprue contains fuselage halves accompanied by some details typical for PWS version. In the second packaging (RWD-8 DWL), the fuselage pieces are replaced with ones typical for civilian version.

Parts are quite nice, clearly moulded with a bunch of surface details. Covering of rudder looks however kind of disappointing- like a nod to the old PZW Siedlce kit.

Inside the hull there are some ejector pin marks (in places that shouldn’t bother us) and section of a little bit heavy truss around the cockpit area.

Details for the military version are on the side. Cutting of the landing gear struts will definitely require some special attention, in order to avoid destruction of the fragile parts. As reward for this we will get less worries while setting the correct geometry of the chassis.

Second sprue contains wings moulded as a single part and an assortment of details required to build RWD-8 PWS. Plus landing gear struts for DWL version, useless in this case.

Wing has nicely highlighted ribs. To heavy? Well, a bit of sandpaper can quickly solve this non-issue. Unfortunately control surfaces doesn't make the same good impression as the rest of the wing- they looks just like the rudder mentioned earlier.

Bottom of the wings has ribs mildly highlighted (which may be not visible on the photo, sorry) and a couple of surface details. Looks like there won't be much fuss with positioning of the struts.

The same complains as for other control surfaces apply to horizontal stabilizers elevators.

Other details looks pretty good. Short wing struts are moulded with cables- clearly a nod to less experienced modellers.

Seats- little thick, but in the standards of 1:72. A bit of sanding should not hurt, especially since those elements are not overly detailed.

The miniature does not provide an engine, but the front part of cowling has a recess with a faint hint of a drive unit.

Only transparent elements left. Not as thick as one would expect, but in terms of transparency could be better. Fortunately, these are not difficult shapes to make by yourself.

Decals. Nicely printed by Techmod, contains markings for one civilian aircraft. Yes, you read it right- civilian. Not the military RWD with white "26" from the boxart. Instead- green, SP-BHX with "Katowice" name. Rather surprising discrepancy, and to be honest- kinda funny too.

Instrument panel for front cockpit is also printed as a decal, as well as other exterior-mounted indicators, and even the ones dedicated to the second cockpit. The latter may be a bit tricky to use, because in the model there is no cross beam to which they were mounted in reality. But it's of course nice that those were added, if someone would like to improve the interior a bit.

Nitpicking

So far, it looks like a "pretty nice little kit". But is it a good miniature? Does it look like reduced RWD-8? Well... sort of. Don't get me wrong- overall it is a pretty good miniature, spoiled however with some unfortunate shortcomings of the wing part. No, the wrong slant of the wings (about 1,5 degree difference), or too few of the ribs visible aren't the real problems in my opinion. Those are pretty minor things, unnoticeable in the finished model. I see however other, rather significant flaws.

First- the ailerons ends between the ribs, which looks oddly even if you don't know a bit about RWD-8, but have seen some airlpanes in your life. Second complaint is a bit worse. One of the characteristics of RWD-8 wing was the difference in wedge angle between wings and centerwing- just look at any photo showing the real aircraft from the front. Sadly, this is not represented in the model. The wing leading age is a straight line, without characteristic breaks around the centerwing. Finally, the wings are to thin. Really. RWD-8s had a really thick profile. Again, check out some photos of the real thing, it looks almost ridiculous.

That's the main problems with plastic parts in terms of accuracy, but there is one thing I would like to mention here. Decals. There is more to complain about them, beside the fact that they are not for the box-art machine.

RWD-8a "SP-BHX" at Cracow aerodrome (The National Digital Archives, 1-S-1271-2)

Well, SP-BHX was a RWD-8a. Which means that this aeroplane had an extra fuel tank in centerwing (which was therefore slightly thicker, check the above photo). So if you want to use the box markings, you need to modify a bit the wing part and find a little white "a" to stick on the rudder, at the end of RWD-8 name.

Conclusion

Is it a nice kit then? In my opinion- yes. Flawless? Certainly not- some flops in the terms of accuracy are really disappointing. Let’s not forget however, that this is IBG's first aircraft model kit. I really hope that next ones will be better and I certainly looking forward to them. So what's next, IBG?

MMXV