Meng 1/72 G.91R Gina Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

In 1953, NATO released a requirement for a light strike fighter which could be deployed to smaller airfields and provide a low-cost tactical aircraft for NATO members. The design selected was submitted by Fiat and designated the G.91 and resembles a miniaturized F-86D. Unlike the F-86D, the G.91's nose housed reconnaissance cameras and its four pylons could carry combinations of external fuel, bombs, and rocket pods. The aircraft was also armed with either 4 x .50 caliber machine guns or 2 x 20mm DEFA cannons.

The aircraft served with the Air Forces of Germany, Greece, Italy, and Portugal. Two aircraft were test flown in the United States by the US Army and the US Air Force. The aircraft entered service in 1958 and the type was finally retired by 1995. According to the records, Fiat ceased production of the type by 1977 with 756 examples built.

Meng is a model company based in Hong Kong and has already released an interesting range of kits for subjects that have never been produced in plastic before. Here is their latest aircraft installment and like its predecessors, this one is a beauty.

The kit is molded in light gray styrene and presented on four parts trees plus a small clear tree. Given that this is a 1/72 scale kit of a small aircraft, the model isn't going to be very large after assembly, but there are some nice details and options in this kit. Let's take a look.

Among the features and options in this kit:

• Scribed surface details
• Choice of G.91R/1 (4 x .50 cal) or G.91R/3 (2x20mm) gun bay doors
• Nice cockpit and ejection seat
• Positionable canopy
• Detailed wheel wells
• Detailed speed brake wells
• Positionable speed brakes
• Positionable landing gear
• 2 x External fuel tanks
• 2 x Smoke tanks
• 2 x M64 bombs
• 2 x LAU-3 rocket pods
• 2 x LAU-32 rocket pods
• 2 x LAU-51 rocket pods

As an added bonus, the kit also comes with a Frecce Tricolore team patch of really nice quality that also has Velco stitched to the back so you can wear it on your flightsuit or flight jacket (should you have one).

The nicely done decal sheet offers three subjects:

• G.91R/1, 5, Frecce Tricolore, Italian Air Force
• G.91R/3, 31+43, LeKG 41, Luftwaffe, 1979
• G.91R/1, 0042 (MM6276), US Army, 1961

This kit really looks great and if it builds as good as it looks, Meng will have a winner here. Now if only we can convince them to release this kit in 1/48 scale and perhaps consider the G.91Y as well!

My sincere thanks to Stevens International for this review sample!