Caproni Campini N1 (x two) Delta 2 and Valom 1/72

[John R]

Be careful what you wish for...Or if there is one thing worse than not getting what you want it is getting what you want.

I had long wanted a model of the Campini Caproni N1 to add to my collection of early jets as it was quite a significant a/c. The Italians long believed that they had produced the first jet a/c not knowing that the Heinkel 178 had flown nearly a year earlier. Its propulsion system was indeed a jet but not a turbojet. A piston engine in the nose drove a fan which compressed the air which was then burned in the aft section. It was not very efficient and was very much an aeronautical ‘dead end’. I believe that the first flight was made without the ‘afterburner’ meaning that it was at that stage a form of ducted fan.

The only kit ever made seemed to be the one by Delta 2 which, I think, dates back to the seventies. They did appear on Ebay from time to time but fetched silly prices. Last summer I managed to get one at a price I was prepared to pay not knowing that the drop in prices was probably due to the appearance of a kit from Valom.

It was not an easy build as the parts were warped and ill-fitting and, according to a book about the a/c, not terribly accurate. The fuselage was dreadful and I tried to the force parts into shape whilst the glue set but I ended up with it shaped like a banana and twisted as well. Out came the razor saw, the halves were separated and the each was taped to a metal ruler and soaked in hot water for some time. It was then possible to glue the halves together with a satisfactory result. Fitting the fuselage to the one piece wing resulted in a large gap that had to be filled but everything went well until I tried to fit the canopy. It looks as if it was designed to slide open like the real a/c but nothing fitted so it was more or less plonked on after much surgery.

After finishing the Delta 2 version of this kit I discovered that Valom had recently produced a new version. Since the Delta 2 version was old and inaccurate and as I felt that it fell into the ‘toy’ category I decided to get the newer kit.

This produced its own set of problems. The accuracy is somewhat suspect and whilst the main bits fitted together reasonably well the interior bits were a disaster, as nothing fitted without much trimming, and the cockpit components, including photo-etch controls, seemed to scale out at something closer to 1/48 scale. There is a photo of the cockpit on the Internet and a line drawing equivalent of it in the kit instructions so how they came to get the inside so wrong is an interesting question. The photo shows the original control wheel and its replacement made from a piece of tube.

The cockpit cover was a nightmare, being moulded out of ‘thick clingfilm’, and does not fit very well. There is no representation of the mount in which it slides.

The final straw was fitting the mainwheel legs only to find that they are apparently too short. Note the difference in track between the Delta and Valom versions. Neither matches track shown in the 3-view in the book.

There were several variations of the markings. This Valom model represents the N1 around the time of its first flight and the Delta version at a later stage in testing. Keen eyes will note that I managed to get markings on the wings swapped over on the Delta version.

The Valom kit is in the foreground with the rear canopy open, the coloured nose marking and large cross on the fin

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This shows the difference between the original control wheel and my replacement ( which is probably a bit too small)

[Smudge]

Very nice choice of subject, great to see the two kits side by side. How odd that the Valom kit was so disappointing, so much for modern re-tool's.

Googled a few images of the original for comparison, and the old Delta 2 kit looks quite convincing.

Good job on them both, nice work.

[TonyTiger66]

Thanks for writing and sharing this. Nice work on both models .

I also agree that the Delta model looks more like the real thing, so perhaps it's a better basis for super detailing or ironing out the bits you found to be toy like?

The whole forward fuselage doesn't quite look the right shape on the Valom.

Really fascinating subject, may have to buy a Delta and get a ruler and pan of hot water on the go

Best regards

Tony

[JWM]

Nice! I am surprised that new Valom kit is not outstanding the old Delta one by miles... Actually the curve of nose is better in Delta kit.

The whole complete story of inventing the jest engine shows, that each human large discovery or invention is not done from nothing. Always there are some small steps leading to break through. The story of jet engine perhaps starts in 1910 with Henri Coanda works - which was a first step toward the jet. There is a large discussion how big was this step (one can look here for details if you wish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coand%C4%83-1910 ) - but it was for sure... BTW - in 1934 Coanda described the idea of revers in jet engine.

Cheers

Jerzy-Wojtek

[TonyTiger66]

Hi Jerzy-Wojtek

I was researching early jets today and found YouTube film of the Campini-Caproni.

I looked for reviews of kits and this thread is one of the best (thanks John). On an Italian review it also says Valom wing tips are probably the wrong shape, and canopy is too tall. The latter is clear from John's photos above.

Both build into nice models, but this side by side gives surprising results!

I had not seen the Coanda jet, thanks JWM Something to read about this evening.

Best regards

Tony

[JWM]

Tony - thanks for sharing with this movie. Here is another, earlier project by Caproni with also unconvetional driving system:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ0ZQesixms.

Cheers

J-W

[John R]

I knew this one existed and have seen a photo of it but until now did not realise it was a two seater. It must have been quite large.

Regarding the film of the CC2 I suspect that it is stretched laterally (look at the insignia on the forward fuselage) which makes it look longer and thinner than it is and makes the canopy looks lower.

John

Edited August 18, 2016 by John R

[Luis Alfonso]

Hi John!!!

I was interested in getting one of this kits and was looking many chances to get one since the 80's and then watched the Ebay and found as you said a list of people wanted to get rid of this kit but a higher prices, and I was visiting the IPMS Guatemala Convention to cheer old friends, admire their works and look for something interesting, when the guy inthe entrance, also a friend of mine had a something bad shape Delta 2 box of this  kit and as I asked if he had something to sell offered me this one  in sale at Q40.00=  +-US$5.00 and was told this kit has no decals, I think no problem for me. Soon watched what could I found to have an idea what I have bought and got your thread.  

 

I liked the job you have done in both kits but watching the Youtube movie, think like more the Delta than the Valom, seem more real than the other, and after end something in the bench will replace the kits at work with this one. If she gets at least 40% as nice as yours will be very very happy. ALSO: I have found whet important is to have the alive thread pics, as they are highly useful to all around!!! Thank you very much for that too!!

Thank you very much for sharing.

Cheers,

 

Luis Alfonso

[John R]

Hi Luis,

There is this book published by La Bancarella Aeronautica which has a lot of pictures and a 3-view drawing with a note that it is 15cm short. I compared the models with it and neither matches the drawing.

Comparing the models with the drawings the Delta 2 version has too great a wingspan. Overall the Valom is not too bad but I think that the nose starts to taper too early. It is only a very slight difference but to my eyes it spoils the whole look.

Anyway, good luck with the Delta 2 and let me know how you get on.

John

 

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Oh my.

Nice builds, but so much suffering!

Kit-bashing perhaps both kits to get a mutant monster where nothing fits anything else? seems like a way to redemption for sinners.

And yeap. That Valom nose is suspicious.

Still, you have two Caproni-Campinis, so good for you!

Cheers