While the scale modelling market has been flooded with multiple versions of different kits of popular aircraft types by a multitude of different manufacturers, it goes without saying that most of the less well known subjects are hard to find and the most manufacturers see little to no profit in producing a model aircraft that will not do well as a mainstream offering.
Of course the P-166 is one of these subjects. Although there are several versions of the P-166 available to modellers they quality of the molds/kits has been mediocre, placing these models only in reach of those with advanced modelling skills.
Broplan
Broplan is a Polish company specializing in vacuum model kits. They model a range of interesting and in some cases otherwise unavailable subjects, one of those being the P-166 S “Albatross”, the version used by the SAAF.
The Broplan kit contains two white sheets of polystyrene ans a small transparent sheet of polystyrene containing the canopy and side window transparencies. The box also contains two small sprues which hold the parts for the tip-tanks, seats, instrument panel and several other bits. Building instructions and painting instructions are printed on a single A4 sheet. This kit generally has a bad fit and it requires a lot of patience, putty and perseverance from the modeller to reach a satisfactory result.
The model is a 1/72 scale kit and the dimensions are pretty bang on the exact measurements when compared to scale drawings.
Here is a build of the Broplan P-166 S converted to an A model.
Cunar Model
Cunar model was an Italian manufacturer of short run resit kits, mostly of Italian subjects. Cunar Model stopped producing model kits and the molds were taken over by Italian Kits Mail Order. Italian Kits has also ceased operations and a lot of the molds, including that of the P-166DL-3/M, have been taken over by Fabrizio Marini. While he has made a few of the Italian Kits subjects available on his website, it is uncertain whether, or when, the P-166DL-3M will be released.
The kit is a little rough. It is cast in grey resin with minimal panel lines and no transparencies. The kit comes with a small sprue (I have two of these kits, one had the sprue, one did not) containing doors, propellor blades and the baggage door. There are three nose options, the ’rounded’ nose, a ‘pointy’nose as found on the DL-3 and the latter version including the radar mount.
Here is a great build of the Cunar Model Kit on Britmodeller.
Another excellent build of the Cunar Model P166 as a DL-3 of the Guardia Costiera
BaxMod
BaxMod is a South African based producer of endemic military, marine and aviation subjects. Although I do not own a version of the BaxMod P-166 is seems that it is a copy of the Cunar model with slight modifications to resemble a P-166 S as used by the SAAF.
Spring Air
Spring Air Resins has announced a P-166 range of aircraft to be launched in 2025. The first aircraft in the series will be the P-166 S Albatross available in 1/144, 1/72 and 1/48th scale. The kits will be printed in a tough resin and contain a full interior. There are plans to launch the P-166 DL-3/SEM, the P-166 A and rumour has it that there might even be a P-166 C in the works.
Here are some images of the pre-production models in 1/144 and 1/148th scale. Spring Air is working together with the P-166 Website and a South African designer to produce this range of resin printed kits.
The above images show the 1/48th (pre-production) version of the P-166 S.
The above image shows the 1/144 P-166 S. Both Modelled by ‘BeeJay’.
Scratch Building?
If you are into scratch building then the P-166 is a great subject to scratch build. Here is a great build thread of a 1/48 P-166A
This P-166 S has been scratch built in 1/32 scale. It really looks stunning.
Mav Decals
Mav Decals, a one man South African company, produces a set of decals for the P-166 in SAAF colours. Unfortunately the decals are not accurate as the large registration number for under the wing should comprise of three digits. The registration number on both sides of the vertical stabilizer as well as the registration number directly above the windscreen comprises of the last two digits of the registration. So in the sheet pictured below, the reg for under the wing should read 888. This was the case on all of the 20 SAAF aircraft except the final aircraft which carried the entire registration ‘900’. The MAV sheet also includes the later version of the squadron badge, while in the 70’s the Albatross aircraft carried the old 27 squadron badge.
