Manufacturer: Special Hobby
Kit: Fiat BR 20 Cicogna
Supplier: Hannants
Price £45.40 (March 2010)
Reviewed by Les Venus
Our thanks to Hannants for the review sample www.hannants.co.uk 
History
Take a look at the extract from the Special Hobby instructions and the fabulous video of BR20s over Greece………………enough said!
Overview
Italian aircraft have always been a fascination as they invariable are unique in style, have fantastic markings and are undeniably stylish……damn those Italians! My favourite is the Savoia Marchetti SM 79 so I was a little taken aback when our illustrious editor lobbed this BR 20 at me and said, “let me know what you think”. By which he meant let you all know what I think…….doh another review then!
I have to confess I didn’t know much about the BR 20 which looks a bit like a Blenheim/Whitley cross!
As regular readers will know I’ve been knocking out “floaty-sinky things” as our aircraft editor Dave Coward says but U Boats to everyone else. Two of these have been Special Navy, Special Hobby’s sister company so I’m familiar with the style of their models and I have to say I’m a fan. The BR 20 is no exception. So what’s on offer?
The Box
All the Special series always have eye catching substantial lid/tray boxes and this is no exception. Even modellers not normally into Italian bombers can’t help but be drawn to this one, just look at that wonderfully evocative box art!
What do you get?
On opening the box you find that it’s full with separately bagged medium grey plastic which I know from experience paints well after a coat of Halfords Primer or your preferred alternative. Also supplied are two lovely little resin engines with separate cylinders and resin exhausts too. A small etch fret is included which covers the actuating rods for the elevators and rudders. The glazing is crystal clear and nicely to scale and will show up what’s missing inside but more of that later. The decals are simply breathtaking and whatever of the schemes on offer, you will be assured of a spectacular and accurate looking model.
Instructions
The instructions are in A4 booklet style and include a great little history of the type, a very helpful sprue diagram and a clear set of instructions logically laid out. The painting diagram is clear complete with FS numbers which is always helpful. All in all first class and keep it up Special Hobby, I for one am liking what you’re doing.
Sprues
There are six medium grey sprues with fine scale perfect engraved panel lines and some of the best representations of the fabric areas that vie seen in an aircraft model for some time. Compare this to a Trumpeter Wellington and you’ll know what I mean! The wings in particular are beautiful so nice tin paint is essential to bring this model to life. The glazing is very nice and very clear and will take careful painting. No doubt Eduard will come to the rescue soon?
Detail
The plastic is beautifully engraved but there is some flash in places but for goodness sake I do get irritated when you get so much ‘angry from Andover’ comments on the modelling forums about bits of flash. It’s comes off with ease and so long as the part is accurate who cares! This said I think Special Hobby have missed a trick here as they could have used some more resin and to better effect with the cockpit and turrets and bomb aimers positions as the detail here is only adequate in this scale as is the engraved instrument panel which is poor. The engines are fabulous but are mostly hidden in the big cowlings so plastic would have been fine. Anyway no doubt Eduard or Aires will go to town; let’s hope so. The finely made etched actuation rods for the elevators etc are ok, but I’d rather use thin wire and have had etched seat belts and instruments instead.
Fit
As with all Special Hobby kits there are no alignment pins but there’s plenty of plastic to glue so take care when lining up and you will be fine. Make sure you wash the kit first though as the glue won’t take…………trust me I know so be warned! The wing fit looks odd to me but wait and see but as you can see from the instructions its unconventional? All-in-all I think it’ll be fine just take care and you’ll get a good fit I’m sure.
Colour Options and decals
There are four really great schemes two in that evocative Italian sand and green and brown blotched scheme that will need some fine airbrush skills. One three-tone splinter camouflage and a wonderful silver scheme with full colour tricolors on fins and elevators; beautiful!
The decals are by Aviprint and are glorious really just glorious for whatever scheme that you choose. All that’s missing are stencils but I have no idea if these were extensive or not?
Summary
I love this kit. It is finely moulded is an unusual subject and is not too big for the shelf being about the size of a Boston/Havoc to which it might be compared. The poor internal detail is a shame but with some scratch building you could do a nice job and it would be worth the effort as the canopies are wonderful. The instructions are good and the painting details helpful. On this the schemes chosen are fantastic and the decals sublime. It’s a kit that deserves to be made as you can see on the Hannants page where you can buy this kit at what I think is a sensible price.
All in all I love this kit and it deserves success. Well done Special Hobby you’re getting better and better
Strongly recommended for all WW2 Bomber fans
Les V.