This is a short-run
plastic kit with resin details that also include a tiny decal sheet,
simplified instruction sheet with marking details and history of the Northrop's
N-9 family. According to the historical details and photographs, the
kit represents the MA version of the N-9 flying wing. Other versions like N-9
M and N-9 M2 had a little different shape of motor gondolas, propellers,
air inlets etc. They can be also built from the kit, but only with scratchbuilt
details on your own.
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images below to see larger images
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Overall, the parts
are of a good quality with recessed panel lines. The lines are nice, but in my
opinion too smooth. The cockpit interior is cast from resin with nice
details on the sidewalls, but it's missing a console part for the control
stick and rudder pedals. On the underside of the cockpit floor there is a front
undercarriage bay molded, too. The kit has no main undercarriage bays, only legs
with wheels, so I added a few details, like ribs etc. According to the
instruction sheet, the kit should contain two sets of wheels: one from plastic
with slicks and one set from resin with rough sample on them. But no such resin
wheel were found in my box! So I used the plastic ones. The canopy is molded
from a not very clean plastic and has thick walls. So I made new canopy from
acetate foil and I made it open (scratchbuilding some details of the
opening mechanism is needed, as seen on the photos). The antenna goes from a
stretched sprue.
My N-9MA has an
"inverted" camouflage scheme - other prototypes M and M2 were
painted dark blue on the upperside and yellow on the bottom. The N-9MA has it
vice-versa. I sprayed it with Humrol Enamels. Weathering is made using
Agama acrylic paints and grated Koh-I-Noor dry pastels.
The kit is quite good, although
it could be even better. But with its wing span length of nearly 25
centimeters and very eye-catching look....it does attract nearly anyone, who
comes along your display case.
I hope you enjoy looking at my
N-9, as much, as I enjoy it myself...
Pavel
MK APOLO Koprivnice,
Czech Republic
http://apolo.koprivnice.org
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