Fokker Super Universal J-BBVO - 1/72nd Kora

It was high time for some manufacturer to tackle such significant plane, flown on wheels, skis and floats by many airlines and countries. Kora presents a somewhat rough rendition of the Fokker Super Universal. The kit has average detail and fit, a couple of hurdles and I don’t think this is really suitable for a beginner. Only part of the instructions is translated into English. Some of the graphics are not very clear.

The step-by-step building article is here:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2024/09/fokker-super-universal-kora-172nd.html

Still, if in the hands of an average modeler with some experience, it can be turned into a fair representation of the type. Modelers with a penchant for kit-improving will have a canvas where to exercise those skills. I hope that resin and photo-etched parts manufacturers may come up with additional enhancements (cockpit details, a more accurate engine, control horns, lifting lugs, the oil cooler’s cage, etc.).

As I mentioned in the step-by-step building post, a British modeler recently created two exemplary Super Universals in 1/72nd in the Antarctic expedition and National Parks Airways schemes that are a master class in scratch-building. The manufacturers quickly cashed on that and released those schemes as new boxings (among others).

As a side note, some time ago an arcane modeling manufacturer called Aeroporto Modelos released what I think was a resin kit of this same plane, and a number of decals (as “Aeroporto Decales”) for several liveries, although some of them were looking a bit speculative. Neither the kit nor the decal sheets seem to be available at this time, though.

A decent model as stated can be obtained from the Kora kit with care and patience, and of course there is always room for improvement, and Kora can be praised on this endeavor with great possibilities for the civil modelers, although in general I am not a fan of Kora or LF, finding their products to be on the coarse side. The fact that Kora planned from the start to cover many variants in the sprues and through different boxings is a bonus.

This is far from being a shake and bake kit, but apt for those modelers who don’t mind working to solve some challenges. As no other manufacturer has tackled this iconic plane providing a more refined kit, we have to welcome Kora’s endeavor if we want a Super Universal. 

 

 

(the "-" decal on the registration on the left side slid out of position during drying, and after spotting that in these photos it was re-positioned).