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Built Review
148
Sombold So 334
  • So_334_Boxtop

by: Daniel Candal [ DCANDAL ]

Background
This aircraft was designed by engineer Heinz G. Sombold of the firm Bley based in Naumburg/Saale in January 1944. Originally conceived as a parasite escort plane, the design was altered to obtain a weapon able to break Allied bomber formations over Germany.

A specially converted bomber carried the device to the enemy lines and launched it at a height of 400 m. Then, it began a parabolic approach flight propelled by the Walter rocket to avoid the enemy fighters. The pilot dived in at a 45 degree angle, following a collision path with the center of the enemy “box”, then released the explosive nose and maneuvered to avoid collision.

Unlike the “Komet” and “Natter”, the So-344 kept propellant enough to escape after the attack and was fitted with machine guns for its self-defence. It had landing skids were very similar to the ones used by Heinkel in the “Julia” project. The works about the So-344 were abandoned at the beginning of 1945 when a 1/5 scale model for aerodynamic tests already existed.

The kit
The kit arrives in a simple box with a photo of a finished kit glued on its top. The kit pieces come in a close cellophane pouches. The kit consist of:

26 x beige resin parts
2 x vacuformed canopies
1 x vacuformed landing skid
photoetched seat belts
A sheet of decals for two different schemes
Instructions

When you open the box you first find the instructions sheet. The instructions are printed in 4 legal size sheets. Looking in detail you notice that they are very clear to understand with differents drawings and explanations that guide you in assembling the model.

The resin has a very good surface finish with no bubbles in it. The fuselage comes in 3 pieces. You have the option to assemble the nose bomb on or off the fuselage. If you want you can leave it separate from it. The cockpit is nicely detailed with a very clear vacuformed canopy and a very good frame marking. This helps a lot when you have to mask it for painting. The different parts go together very well. I practically didn´t need to use putty.

The kit has recessed panel lines that give a nice view when you paint it. The construction itself isn´t very difficult, but you need some experience with resin.

In the instruccions you have the suggestions for the painting scheme. I used a different one, in this case RLM65, 70 and 71. The decals that come with the kit are of a very good quality.

Conclusion
This is a very nice kit of a strange Luft 46 plane. It´s an easy kit to make if you have experience in resin, with very detail instructions
It´s a nice option, sometimes not very common in this type of kit, to have two scheme with the decals.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.
SUMMARY
Highs: It has an exceptional surface finish
Lows: Some experience on resin is nedded
Verdict: This is a very nice kit of a strange Luft 46 plane. It´s an easy kit to make if you have experience in resin.
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: 1:48
  Mfg. ID: ANT-13
  Suggested Retail: $40
  PUBLISHED: Sep 13, 2008
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 90.75%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 91.67%

About Daniel Candal (dcandal)
FROM: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Copyright ©2021 text by Daniel Candal [ DCANDAL ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



   
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Photos
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  • So_334_Parts
  • So_334_3
  • So_334_2
  • So_334_1
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