French bomber design between the World Wars was … different. One of the more conventional, even handsome designs was the Bloch 210. Kitted long ago by Heller, the new Azur-Frrom 1/72 scale Bloch MB 210 ‘Early’ plastic model kit completely eclipses that offering.
Crisply molded in gray, the Bloch 210 contains top, bottom, and sides that fit perfectly together to recreate the slab-sided fuselage. A detailed interior is provided, including structures and floors in the rear compartment, and the kit handles engine detail well. There are three overall green marking options, one version sets itself apart with a slightly different exhaust arrangement provided by 3D-printed resin ends. Photo-etched (PE) parts provide numerous external control connections and a handful of other details.
Thanks to the four-sided fuselage construction, I was able to assemble the entire interior and mate the fuselage bottom and sides before painting the interior. I did leave out the seats and some other tiny details to finish separately. Once all the painting and details were completed, I added the windows and closed the top of the fuselage.
I attempted to leave off the top turret until last, but beware, the fit is so tight I snapped a small portion of the ring pushing it into place. Speaking of the turrets, a mask set would be most appreciated for completing this kit, given all the framework. I made a mistake in masking and painting the cockpit side windows, mixing them right to left. Pay close attention to the chamfers on the top edge to avoid my mistake, and you will get a perfectly fitting canopy. The two-piece “bay window” nose fits well, which was a relief.
Azur-Frrom helpfully includes a wing spar (easy to miss on the wing sprue), and the fit of the wings to the fuselage couldn’t be better. The same goes for the tail surfaces. I painted the interior of the nacelles and the portion of the wing that forms the top of the gear bay before trapping the painted landing gear legs in their mounting holes, allowing the gear to be retracted for painting. I finished the nicely molded wheels separately.
One engine nacelle shifted to the side while the glue was drying—my fault. Otherwise, they fit well after a bit of trimming to match the wing profile. The engines, cowlings, and props were finished and installed separately.
I used Tamiya Khaki (No. XF-51) to try to get the elusive “French Green” shade. The decals went on without fuss and are nicely opaque over the dark green. I spent 22 hours on the crisp Azur-Frrom 1/72 scale Bloch MB 210 ‘Early’ plastic model kit, and except for some of my own mistakes, it was a simple, enjoyable build. Hopefully, we will see some more eclectic French bombers in the future.