Cockpit Corner
G.91 R1/R3 Detail Set

Mondoridotto, 1/48 scale

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Reviewed by "Bondo" Phil Brandt

As far as modeling subjects go, Bondo’s always been more of a “jet” person. That is, he’s a modeler who willingly accepts the thesis that in the six decades since WWII there has actually been measurable progress in propeller-less military aircraft! Accordingly, he’s always been intrigued by the diminutive, F-86D lookalike, the Fiat G.91 “Gina”.

To date four “1/48" kits of this interesting Euro bird have been released: the eminently forgettable, rude, crude one offered in the Seventies by Buzco (1/50), the elderly original ESCI raised detail offering, and the more recent cloned-from-ESCI-but-engraved Ocidental/Heller efforts. Over the years reviewers have not been kind to any 1/48 Gina kit, even criticizing the engraved detail improvements on the Ocidental/Heller releases!

Even so, the latter three kits are definitely buildable, albeit with a moderate amount of scratchbuilding...until Mario Bartoli, honcho of Mondoriotto Models in the City-of-the-Leaning-Tower, released a very nice resin detail set that allows modelers to finish nicely and with ease what ESCI started so many years ago.

Cockpit

The largest single component of this ambitious set is a cockpit tub. This is a significant improvement over the OOB kits, because in said ESCI/Ocidental/Heller offerings, ze tub, she’s’a no there! All the OOB kits furnish is a plain floor slab and a so-so aft bulkhead; no sidewall/console detail at all. The modeler is left with two ledges jutting out from each side of the cockpit, upon which are to be placed some hokey instrument decals. Ditto for the plain instrument panel. Mario solves all this with a decent raised detail tub assembly, separate aft bulkhead, detailed instrument panel and a “busy” seat complete with a rats nest of harnesses.

The only fabrication assigned the modeler is a 2 mm. throttle rod to be cut and glued to the quadrant.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Wells

The one-piece main and nose gear wells have been redone, receiving much more delicately rendered structural members, wiring and piping.

Wheels

Mario saves modelers the effort of gluing injected wheel halves together and then wetsanding the resultant seams; the Mondoriotto resin wheels are one-piece, flattened and bulged. The main wheels also have fine hub detailing missing in the three Gina kits.

Other

Separate flaps and a pointed fighter nose for the Pan version.

Molding and Detail Execution

Sharp, no flash.

Instructions

Includes a four page pamphlet with B&W photos of each component, easily understandable, hand-drawn assembly diagrams, a color guide and bibliography.




 

Approved with pleasure.

Mondoriotto joins the welcome ranks of other niche aftermarket firms that see what needs to be changed and do it!

Recommended.
 

Review and Images Copyright © 2006 by Phil Brandt
Page Created 03 May, 2006
Last updated 02 May, 2006

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