Bronco Models 1/72 Blohm and Voss BV P.178 Dive Bomber Jet Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The Blohm and Voss aircraft company was one of the most innovative design groups in the world during the 1940s. Their understanding of aerodynamics allowed for some of the most unique assymetrical designs that look like they shouldn't fly but operated quite well. One of their assymetric designs was designated P.178 which was a single-place dive-bomber powered by a single Jumo 004 turbojet engine (which powered the Me 262) and could carry a single SC 500 bomb internally or a single SC-1000 under the fuselage. The aircraft could also accommodate two solid rocket motors in the tailcone which provided RATO power for takeoff.

Bronco Models has released the P.178 in 1/72 scale and offers some nice details. Molded in light gray styrene, this kit is presented on two parts trees plus a single tree of clear parts. Some key features of this kit include:

• Detailed cockpit
• Positionable canopy
• Positionable landing gear
• Huge bomb on the centerline

Markings are provided for notional German, Finnish, Italian, Hungarian, and Romanian examples. The decal sheet provides a nice selection of airframe stenciling (also notional).

The kit includes a clear tail stand as this model will be tail-heavy. The instructions indicate that you can stuff 10 grams of ballast in the nose to avoid the stand, so you have options. The kit also provides different sets of landing gear doors so you won't have to cut the closed doors to display the landing gear down nor will you have to try to get the open doors to close properly. Nice.

One mystery is that bomb. If the SC 500 can fit inside the fuselage weapons bay and the SC 1000 will portrude slightly out of the weapons bay, what the heck is that bomb hanging on the centerline? You can skip the bomb and still have a distinctive model with this assymetric subject.

Thanks to DML for the review sample.