OOB build (except different reg. number) of a short run Czech injection kit with resin, vacuformed and photoetch parts. Not a bad kit for a cottage industry example, it's just that the 1/72 is too fiddly a scale for such a small plane as Fouga CM 170. The old Heller kit with aftermarket decals looks almost the same but is easier to build, too bad that both kits suffer canopy fit problems. The Valom decal sheet is okay, Finnish AF roundel blue is a tad too light in my opinion but nevermind. I'm not a fan of either resin or photoetch but used some of the available parts and saved leftovers for future projects.
Still I'm glad that I have another historic FiAF 1/72 jet ready in my collection, the original unrestored FM-71 is on display at
Päijänne-Tavastia Aviation Museum, Vesivehmaa. Airbrushed
Vallejo Metal Color 77.707 Chrome, smaller details with various Revell and Humbrol enamels. The book Fouga CM 170 Magister in Finnish Air Force by Jyrki Laukkanen (ISBN 978-952-5026-48-1, Apali 2005) was a good reference in addition to the real FM-71.
Finnish Air Force trainer FM-71: built by Valmet, first flight Dec 3rd 1964 (Captain M. Tiiro / S. Valkeiskangas), entered service Jan 27th 1965, major overhaul Jan 4th - Dec 5th 1972, last flight June 30th 1983. Total flight time 3806 hours. Moved to Mini-Suomi at Ähtäri March 24th 1987, on display at Päijänne-Tavastia Aviation museum from 1994 onwards.
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| Valom FiAF Fouga CM 170 FM-71 w. page 76 of Fouga CM 170 Magister in Finnish Air Force book by Jyrki Laukkanen (Apali, 2005) |
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| FiAF Fouga CM 170 FM-71 from the 70's |
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| FiAF natural metal jet traners: MiG-15 UTI MU-2 (top) and Fouga CM 170 Magister FM-71 (bottom). Both original planes can be seen at Vesivehmaa museum hangar |
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