Aerocraft Martin-Baker MB.4 review

[The Rat]

1/48 Martin-Baker MB.4 bubbletop review

[Charlie_c67]

Just so you know @The Rat  There's an "m" missing from the end of the link, will go to a 404 not found page without it.

[kerick]

Try this.

https://www.hyperscale.com/2025/reviews/kits/aerocraftmb4reviewbg_1.htm

The kit looks impressive. Some bombs or rockets under the wings and you are good to go!

[Charlie_c67]

Just re-read it and I'm slightly confused. I thought the MB.4 had a Griffin instead of the Sabre of the MB.3? Or was it like the Tempest and had multiple engine options?

[PR19_Kit]

You're thinking of the later MB5, which had a Griffon and contra-props.

[jcf]

Just re-read it and I'm slightly confused. I thought the MB.4 had a Griffin instead of the Sabre of the MB.3? Or was it like the Tempest and had multiple engine options?

Originally schemed with the Griffon in place of the Sabre, the kit is of the 18-cylinder Centaurus engine proposal.

[jcf]

Brett's being awfully optimistic if he thinks a Griffon engined MB4
could enter service in 1943. The
single-stage Griffon Spitfire XII
entered limited service in October
1942, the two-stage two-speed
Griffon engined Mk.XIV prototype
first flight was January 1943 but
it didn't go into service until the
end of the year. Griffon Spitfires
were developed from an existing
production type and it took that
long, there's no way an all new
design from a company without
production facilities would be able to design, build, test, produce and
put into service the MB4 in 1943.

[kerick]

I think that was Martin-Bakers biggest problem. Great design but no factory. And good luck talking someone else into building it for you. Plus not much political clout.

[PR19_Kit]

Their 'factory' then is the same place that they make ejection seats now, and it's down a little winding lane that has small houses and bungalows each side to this day! They were one of my customers in the 90-00s and it seemed quite bizarre driving down the lane to one of the most important factories in the aviation world!

[kerick]

I actually looked it up on my navigation app and was amazed. It looked like a time warp.

[PR19_Kit]

It is! You expect a Home Guard type checkpoint when you get to the end of the lane!

Like an episode of 'Foyles War'! 

[NARSES2]

Like an episode of 'Foyles War'! 

One of my favourites 

[PR19_Kit]

Like an episode of 'Foyles War'! 

One of my favourites 

I have the boxed set set of DVDs. 

[zenrat]

Like an episode of 'Foyles War'! 

One of my favourites 

Mmmm, Honeysuckle Weeks... 

[Charlie_c67]

Like an episode of 'Foyles War'! 

One of my favourites 

Mmmm, Honeysuckle Weeks... 

...and her younger sister...