Siebel Si 202 Hummel

AML

AML's 1/72 scale Si 202 is available online from Squadron.com

Reviewed by Brett Green

AML's most recent release in 1/72 scale is their Siebel Si 202 Hummel.

This is a relatively obscure aircraft that first flew in 1938. A total of 66 Hummels (Bumblebee) were manufactured. They were used in training, general transport and communications roles.

AML's Hummel comprises 30 parts in injection moulded styrene, one photo etched fret with harnesses and parts for the instrument panel, a small acetate sheet with printed instruments, two vacform parts (a canopy and a spare) plus markings for three aircraft. These contents are packed neatly into a satisfyingly solid cardboard box. 

The package presents the impression of a high quality product. The plastic parts are limited-run in origin, but the sprue connection points are quite fine and surface detail is very crisp. Fine flash is present in places, and a few large ejector pics will have to be removed from the mating surfaces of the fuselage, but these tasks will only take a few minutes. It should also be noted that surface detail is quite scarce, as is appropriate for this wooden aeroplane. Where applicable, panel lines are engraved. The fin seems to feature a raised pressed metal finish.

Cockpit detail is sparse, but represents the main features of this simple aircraft. Bench seats are a relative rarity in the cockpit of a military aircraft, but at least it looks comfortable!

Construction should be straightforward with careful preparation. The absence of locating pins makes it essential to dry-fit parts prior to committing to adhesive. This will be especially important when securing the undercarriage legs. There is no indication of where the struts meet the fuselage, so care will be required. The tailplanes are cleverly designed with full-span horizontal surfaces and a separate fin. This should ensure a fairly solid join, although some wire reinforcement for the fin may be a wise precaution. The wings are supplied as one piece each. The trailing edges are quite thin. The wings form a simple butt-join (ie, no slots, tabs or other locating points) with the fuselage. I strongly recommend drilling the fuselage and fitting rod reinforcement for these large joins, and taking extra time to ensure the correct dihedral is set.

Two of the options are for early Si 202s. An alternate cowl is also provided for the later Si 202C. This variant featured a more powerful engine (grinding out a mighty 60 horsepower) and a 10cm increase in wingspan. AML have made no attempt to depict this variation in wingspan. The difference scales out to 2mm, so it will be up to the modeller to determine if the extra effort is worthwhile.

The canopy is supplied as a thin vacform part. This will probably be the trickiest part of construction, as the vacform part must be "blended" with the upper fuselage for a flat join.

Instructions are supplied on two folded A-4 sheets. A brief history and parts list is followed by six steps of assembly illustrations. Four-view diagrams are supplied for each of the three marking options.

AML's Si 202 Hummel looks like a high-quality model. Anyone with limited-run modelling experience (especially with vacform canopies) should be able to produce a nice replica of the Hummel straight from the box.

Recommended.

Thanks to Squadron for the review sample.