Special Hobby 1/72 Aero A-11HS "Finnish Export Version"
Reviewed by Zac Yates
Scale: 1/72
Item #: SH72464
Price: ?21.90 direct from Special Hobby. https://www.specialhobby.eu/aero-a-11hs-finnish-export-version-1-72Also available through quality hobby retailers worldwide.
Contents: 4 sprues; 3D parts, four decal options.
Background: In early 1923, the Aero company started working on a two seat observation and reconnaissance biplane which could also operate as two seater fighter plane. The Czechoslovak Ministry of Defence received Aero's proposition and placed a number of orders for a total of 129 aircraft. The type was designated Aero A-12 and was of mixed construction, the fuselage was made of welded thin-walled tubes covered with wood and fabric. The all-wood wings also had fabric covering. The plane was powered with a German Maybach Mb IVa engine, originally built to be used on airships. This powerplant was required by the Ministry as they had large stocks from war reparations.
Though built later, the Aero A-11 was derived from the A-12, powered by the Walter W-IV engine. The Ministry ordered serial production which at first gave a batch of the standard A-11 airframes, later followed by an improved Aero Ab-11 version equipped with a Perun II engine, a different style of the nose radiator and also a larger centre-wing section fuel tank. As these Ab-11 s were mainly intended for the bombing role, they also had bomb racks under the lower wings. The Aero A-11 also became the basis for the first indigenous designed and built seaplane, the Aero A-29, which was fitted with a pair of floats. The development line based on the A-11 also gave the much improved Aero 32 and 211 series with radial engines.
An Aero A.11 from a Walter engine catalogue published in 1933. [Photo from Wikipedia] The A-11 became the main piece of armament of observations squadrons, and their service was long and trouble free. In combat service, the A-11 were replaced by the new Letov ?.328 biplane and the last ones of them fell into the hands of the Luftwaffe during World War Two. The three last examples of the A-11 trainer continue to fly with the Slovak State military until 1944. (Lifted from our own Brad Cancian?s review of the Blue Bird boxing of this kit, here -
https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13805.0)
A Hispano-Suiza 8Fb-powered version, the A.11HS was built for the Finnish Air Force, the only foreign operator of the type. The Finns had eight aircraft of this type and used them between 1927 and 1939. (From Wikipedia)
Special Hobby?s modelThis is the second Aero A.11 kit from SH, the first being a 2022 release focused on the famous Blue Bird which made a 15,070km flight around Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor in mid-1926. Both Brad Cancian (linked above) and our late friend Dave Wilson have reviewed the Blue Bird kit (here -
https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13460.0) and I encourage the reader to refer to these reviews as the bare bones of this kit are the same and I will only address here what?s different.
A key difference with this 2024 kit is that a different pair of fuselage halves (with integral cockpit openings and gorgeous raised internal detail) are supplied on a new sprue.
We get another new and larger sprue with common elements that indicate further boxings to come. A remarkable 48 grey styrene parts are called out as not being for use with any of the marking options supplied. The new sprue includes three alternate top wing centre-section pieces (for a total of FIVE!), new undercarriage (wheeled and skis), another instrument panel, and other parts I can?t identify.
Unlike the Blue Bird kit this model has no photoetch, but does have two 3D-printed exhaust stack plates moulded in a tangerine orange. These are finely detailed and look to require very little cleanup.
This kit includes a second clear sprue, both being packaged in their own zip-lock bag, although of the total eight very small clear parts only three are required for use in any of the markings options.
Instructions: The instruction booklet is in colour and counts 21 very clear and easy-to-follow steps, including a rigging diagram with all cables labelled (flying and landing wires are called out as being doubles with leather covering). Paint colours are called out with Gunze Colour numbers.
Markings: The kit features four marking options, all in overall Aluminium lacquer with Aluminium engine cowlings. The instructions detail each option as follows:
1. AE-45, c/n A. 11HS.5, Finnish Air Force. This machine was based at Utti, Finland, during the winter of 1928/29.
2. AE-46, c/n A. 11HS.6, Finnish Air Force, late 1920s. At least three styles of the fuse codes were worn and the period photos show that AE-46 was flown with wheels as well as skis.
3. AE-41, c/n A. 11HS.1, Finnish Air Force, late 1920s. Again, photos show this machine being fitted with wheels as well as with the ski-type landing gear.
4. AE-47, c/n A. 11HS.7, Finnish Air Force, late 1920s. At least two styles of the fuselage codes were used on this airframe and here is illustrated the latter one.
Decals: I hope Brad will forgive me from quoting his Blue Bird review as I feel his remarks about those decals say all I could say about these: ?The decals, like all recent Special Hobby releases, are crisply printed with solid colour and excellent register. Interestingly, though not marked as such, these appear to have been printed by Eduard in their recent style, which allows the modeler to peel off the backing film after application. Colour density, fine detail and register is excellent, so I envision no problems with these decals whatsoever.?
All I can add is that, as the kit replicates Finnish aircraft from the inter-war era, all four options wear the Finnish swastika and this is replicated with separate crosses to be added to the roundels. It will be interesting to see how these layered decals perform given the new technology at play.
Summary: I was wholly unaware of this type until reading Dave and Brad?s reviews of Special Hobby?s Blue Bird kit and it immediately appealed to me ? one of those designs that Just Looks Right ? so I was delighted to receive this kit for review. I am not disappointed. It is beautifully detailed and I?m curious to see what?s next for this mould.
Verdict: Highly recommended.
(Review sample kindly supplied by Special Hobby. Please support the businesses that support your Forum.)
