1/32 Caudron CR.714 recommended for Azur

The Caudron CR.714 was a light fighter aircraft of French design that entered service in the late 1930s and actively participated in combat in 1940. It was of wooden construction with a plywood covering, which was somewhat unusual in an era dominated by all-metal fightersbut it allowed faster and cheaper production in factories that did not have the capacity to work with duralumin. The CR.714 was derived from the successful Caudron C.460 racing aircraft and was intended to be an affordable alternative to modern types such as the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 In practice, however, it proved to be underpowered and insufficiently robust for intense aerial combat against German Messerschmitt Bf 109s. Nevertheless, it was deployed with several units, including Polish pilots serving in France as part of the Groupe de Chasse polonais I/145, who fought with it during the German invasion.

For modellers, it represents the CR.714 an interesting opportunity to build a lesser-known type from the beginning of World War II, which illustrates well the technical and tactical problems of France in the pre-war period. The wooden construction and the characteristic shape of the fuselage with its rigid undercarriage give the model a distinctive look different from the conventional metal fighters of the time.

The instrument panel by Yahu Models is an addition to the 1:32 scale Azur kit. It is a laser-cut part made of thin material (usually plywood or photo-etched) that replaces the plastic panel included in theThe plastic panel replaces the plastic panel of the basic kit and adds finer relief to the instruments, more accurate shape and more realistic depth of detail. Installation requires carefully removing the part from the support frame, trimming the edges if necessary, and gluing it into the cockpit according to the kit manufacturer's instructions. The panel can be completed with painting, instrument decals or clear dial covers for added realism. Package does not include paint or adhesives needed for assembly.