Combrig Models
1/350 Heinkel HD.55/Soviet KR-1 Floatplane


Reviewed May 2019
by Martin J Quinn
HISTORY
The Heinkel HD 55 was a biplane flying boat produced in Germany in the early 1930s for use as a reconnaissance aircraft aboard Soviet warships. The design was based on the HD 15 mail plane of 1927.  Originally designed with one open cockpit, a second open cockpit was added on the rear fuselage to provide a position for a tail gunner.

The HD 55 came about as a result of a meeting between Heinkel and Soviet officials in May 1929, leading to a contract for 15 such aircraft, and two pneumatic catapults similar to the type Heinkel had developed to launch the HE 12 mail plane from the Bremen.  In Soviet service, the designation KR-1 was used (KR = "Shipboard Reconnaissance").

The first catapult was installed on the third turret battleship Parizhskaya Kommuna (formerly Sevastopol) in October 1930, and trials commenced immediately, revealing problems with both the catapult and the aircraft. These difficulties were never fully resolved, and the KR-1 was plagued through its career by various structural defects. Nevertheless, the type was deployed into service, with catapults and aircraft installed at various times aboard the cruisers Chervona Ukraina, Komintern, Krasny Kavkaz, and Profintern. The type lingered on in service well into obsolescence in the mid-1930s, mostly due to the failure of its intended replacement, the Beriev Be-2. The final operational use of the KR-1 was around 1938, and by 1941 all had been either scrapped or placed in indefinite storage. 

For more on this aircraft, check out the Wikipedia entry for it here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_HD_55, which is where this history comes from.
The Combrig Heinkel HD.55/Soviet KR-1 Floatplane

The package is a soft white cardboard, which opens on the ends.  Inside are parts to build two aircraft.  There is a resin fuselage, engine and floats (two of each), along with photo-etch for the wings, tail planes, struts and propellers. 
THE RESIN PARTS 
The casting is good, thought there are some faint lines on the aircraft fuselages - perhaps from the 3D masters?  The detail on the engine is good. 
PHOTOETCH
There is a small photo-etch set included in the box, with the wings, tail planes, struts and propellers.   It's bland, but sufficient to do the job. 
INSTRUCTIONS
The instructions are a small piece of paper, with an exploded view of the parts, and a small image of the assembled aircraft.    There are no color instructions.    Nor are there any decals. 
CONCLUSIONS
This is an interesting little modeling accessory, something that can enhance your pre-war Soviet ships, like one of the the Zvezda Soviet battleships.  Recommended. 

This is Combrig’s 1/350 HD.55/KR-1 Floatplane, kit A35310.    The kit lists for $22.95 and is available from many of our fine sponsors. This is an in-box review, your mileage may vary once you commence construction. Thanks to Combrig Models for the review sample.