Special Hobby Loire 130CI "Colonial" (48173) - 1:48 Special Hobby

[Julien]

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

[Antoine]

Thanks, Julien!

Ugly, but still there's a little something that'll make me buy one.

 

[Julien]

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

[Josh G]

Very charismatic critter; I'm getting one for sure

[John Masters]

Ach....wrong scale....

[Tzulscha]

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....

[Rob G]

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?

[Tzulscha]

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....

[SilverWings]

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