Julien Posted December 10, 2018 Share Posted December 10, 2018 Loire 130CI "Colonial" (48173) 1:48 Special Hobby In 1933, the French Navy requested a new reconnaissance/light bomber seaplane able to serve aboard warships and be launched from their catapults. The Loire was a shoulder-mounted wing monoplane with a pusher engine above the wing and was produced in two versions. The Loire 130M (for Métropole) saw service in home waters while the Loire 130 Cl (Colonial) machines were sent to the tropical areas. The latter air frame was built to withstand more demanding climate, with a larger radiator and better crew protection. It was deployed on all catapult-equipped warships even before the outbreak of the war and also at shore bases in France, Africa and Indochina. The machines took part in the defence of France in 1940 and then with the Vichy forces. Several air frames were used by the Free French forces, too. Vichy France even ordered further production. Some captured machines were evaluated by the German Luftwaffe. The Loire 130s which operated from African bases struggled with the shortage of spare parts and in 1943, when French colonies in Africa were liberated as many as fifteen air frames were still airworthy and took part in war operations. Machines of the Loire 130 Cl version did their part in the French Indochina War and a handful of the machines flew till the end of the war, one was seen flying in Saigon as late as 1949. The Kit This is a re-box from Special Hobby of the Azur kit from 2006. This boxing has additional parts for the units operating overseas. The kit is a mixture of injected plastic, resin detail parts, and both injected & Vac Formed clear parts. Construction starts in the cockpit. Here plastic parts are embellished with resin ones. The basic structure is plastic with the seats, rudder pedals, side consoles, radios etc in resin. Once the cockpit sections (left and right) are built up these can be added into their respective fuselage halves along the mid & rear bulkheads, and walkway to the rear position. The side cabin windows are also added at this time. As well as the general instructions there are two detailed side views for positioning of all the cabin equipment. Once all of this is inside the fuselage can be closed up, Construction then moves up to the tail. The tail planes are added on and the small vertical parts towards the ends. A scrap view shows the positioning of these and the stays. Once these are on the engine can be built up. The radiator and exhausts as well as the propeller are resin parts fitting it to plastic ones. Once this is built up the small open cockpit area behind the main cockpit can be built up. Next up the main wings are added along with the cockpit glazing and the small open cockpit just built up. There is a single part upper wing with left/right lowers. There is a main strut to add to each side and some flap actuators. For the main strut there are two parts of rigging to be added. One each wing there is a stabilising float to add, this has two braces each side and again a small amount of rigging. There are also 2 main stays which attach to the main fuselage. Once the wing is on the engine can be attached. On the rear of the fuselage there is an open or closed in area depending on the decal option being modelled, this is where the vac form clear part can be used. Markings There are printed by Cartograf so should pose no problems. 4 marking option are provided; SHM2 Navy Hydrographic section Saigon late 1940. CNo6 Sqn 1/CBS operated from Vatchay, French Indochina 1944. 19S-1 19 Sqn Vichy Naval Service, Tripoli 1941 17S-2 17 Sqn Vichy Naval Service, Fort-de-France, Martinique 1942. Conclusion It is great to see this kit being re-issued. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted December 10, 2018 Share Posted December 10, 2018 Thanks, Julien! Ugly, but still there's a little something that'll make me buy one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted December 11, 2018 Author Share Posted December 11, 2018 13 hours ago, Antoine said: Thanks, Julien! Ugly, but still there's a little something that'll make me buy one. Alernative beauty my friend but it should make a good looking model. Julien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh G Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Very charismatic critter; I'm getting one for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Ach....wrong scale.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzulscha Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 It's weird, it's ugly, it's french. I have the Azur boxing. I love it! Now to get some time to work on it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 6 hours ago, Tzulscha said: It's weird, it's ugly, it's french. "nuff said. Actually, it looks somewhat like a monoplane version of the Walrus. Proof that form follows function? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzulscha Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 3 hours ago, Rob G said: "nuff said. Actually, it looks somewhat like a monoplane version of the Walrus. Proof that form follows function? I was thinking that. It'd look nice sitting next to a Walrus. I think there is a Beriev out there too. But then you are stuck finding a decent Goose kit and where can you find a Do XII in that scale? Sorry, I was overcome by plastic fumes just for a minute there.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverWings Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 Eduard makes two French seat harness sets. Any advise on which would be applicable to the Loire 130? Very different in color and form. https://www.eduard.com/eduard/seatbelts-france-wwii-1-48.html?cur=2&listtype=search&searchparam=seatbelt france https://www.eduard.com/eduard/seatbelts-france-wwii-steel-1-48-1.html?cur=2&listtype=search&searchparam=seatbelt france Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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