75 years „Battle of Britain“ – a worthy anniversary for a nation on the edge of destruction that withstood the Nazi onslaught with bravery … and with a lot of human sacrifices!
75 years – enough for THE leading British manufacturer to provide us modellers with a whole range of new models celebrating this crucial event in world history.
We would like to start our series of BoB-related articles with one of the less successful aircraft of the RAF in 1940:
The Boulton-Paul Defiant two-seat fighter with it´s 4-gun turret …
(Für die deutsche Version bitte hier klicken)
A confession beforehand: I am a fan of Airfix´ latest offerings – by steadily reworking their models, Airfix is also rejuvenating the brand and with every new kit Airfix is coming closer to being what it was in the 1960s and 1970s: One of the major players in plastic modelling.
The new Boulton Paul Defiant is no exception:
Three sprues in light-grey plastic with a total of 61 individual parts (even two different exhaust-systems!) are inside the very colourful box:
The engraving of the panel lines might seem to be a little on the heavy side:
… but under a coat of paint they will look convincing enough:
The fasteners and rivets on the fuselage halves are well done and will be more than satisfying for most modellers:
Especially after a coat of primer and actual colour coats they will look convincing!
The rest of the details have been reproduced with fidelity – take for example the structural elements of the cockpit:
Both crew members are nice renditions of the actual human being trying to defeat the Nazi onslaught – if they would not feature those prominent belly wounds (e.g. sink marks):
In 2015 I personally would have expected something better!
The wheel well is featurig only basic detail …
… and the u/c legs, although sturdy and fitting perfectly like the proverbial glove, are somewhat basic too:
BUt those guys at EDUARD already had given us modellers the necessary accessories to „liven them up“!
The wheels are flattened „out-of-the-box“:
Some additional detail:
… as well as the Browning machine-guns:
Be careful installing them – they might tend to brake just in the moment you are marryingthe turret glazing with the basic turret-structure!
But even in this case MASTER of Poland do offer 4 Brownings!
The seperately packaged transparent sprue is not only featuring two landing light-covers but also THREE (!) different canopies: 
One with a raised and one with a lowered dorsal part …
… and an open version too:
Again a big „thumbs up“ for AIRFIX!
The featureless instrument panel …
.. is meant to be decorated with the included decal:
More than convincing for closed canopies!
The decals sheet:
… does allow for two different markings:
The instruction manual follows the new „AIRFIX-style“: Nicely drawn and with easy-to-follow step-by-step guide it is perfectly suited for beginners:
Especially the red „in situ“ drawings don´t leave no questions unanswered and make the building of this kit like the proverbial „walk-in-the-park“!
Just like manuals should be nowadays!
And another „thumbs up“ for those fine guys in MArgatze!
The tiny (but perfectly readable!) stencils do get their own placement-sheet:
Very help- and thoughtful!
To sum up my first impression of this kit:
„Airfix please – some more of these“ (Tribute to the Rolling Stones)
Pretty nice details and engraving, perfectly fitting parts, decals in perfect register and a well executed manual will make this kit not only the perfect starting point for a rewarding modelling project – especially with the addition of all the available EDUARD sets.
The new Defiant is also ideally suited for beginners in our hobby too!