Silenoz Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 (edited) My Contribution will be the SIAI Marchetti SF-260M, a military trainer as it is used in the Belgian airforce (air component). We have 32 planes, that were stationed in Goestenhoven (1969), and were relocated to Beauvechain/Bevekom after that base closed. The Belgian red devils (the aerobatic stuntteam, not the soccer players) perform with 4 of these. To find a replacement for the Stampe-Vertongen SV4B which offered unsurpassed flying characteristics a study was launched in 1968. When the Siai-Marchetti SF.260 was found to be the ideal replacement trainer declared the winner a first order for 36 SF260M's was placed on January 24th, 1969 which were delivered between late 1969 and 1971. Initially the aircraft were taken on charge by the Elementaire Vliegschool (EVS)/Ecole de Pilotage Elementaire (Elementary Flying School) at Goetsenhoven. In October 1991 the Belgian government ordered nine additional SF260D's as attrition replacement. On September 12th, 1996 all flying training units of the Belgian Air Force were consolidated at Beauvechain airbase as the 1st Training Wing Training, thus ending 75 years of flying activities at Goetsenhoven. In 1999 the Belgian Air Force started a study to replace the somewhat absurd 'Vietnam'-camouflage with day-glow high-visibility markings and after some tests a bright yellow color scheme was introduced. Also since 1999 all SF260Ms were fitted with a new set of wings during the routine maintenance programme and later an avionics improvement was introduced. In 2008 a new wider cockpit canopy was first tested out on ST-34 and will be introduced progressively on all remaining aircraft. The famous 'Swallows' demonstration team made this aircraft (which from some angles resembles a WWII fighter) very popular with the public. The team was formed in 1973 and continued to thrill many spectators at air shows all over Europe until it was disbanded in early 1984. In 1995 a new 'Swallows' team was formed at Goetsenhoven, making their debut on June 28th. Unfortunately on December 5th, 1997 their made their last performance. Since then a new team "Hardship Red" was formed by N° 5 Squadron CO "Jief" Ballon presenting 4 Marchetti’s in a very tight formation display. As of the 2011 season Hardship Red became the "Red Devils" with their aircraft painted likewise. (with thx to Daniel Brackx) More about the general history can be found [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIAI-Marchetti_SF.260]here[/url] The kit: the parts (from the net, why reinvent hot water), the PE parts have changed and are precolored, pic will be added soon. The version I want to make: At the moment I'm mostly cleaning parts, and waiting for some missing parts. Meanwhile I have time to look for references and detailing the cockpit a bit.... Edited February 19, 2019 by Silenoz 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr B Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Nice....I built this very same kit during the last trainer gb in 2013....time flies when we are having fun hope to see yours built up soon it is a lovely aircraft rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 A rare bird but good to see it getting some attention. A nice looking machine as well I've always thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 very interesting! did not know it existed in kit form in 48! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted February 19, 2019 Author Share Posted February 19, 2019 @Mr B: looked up your model, hope to get it at least half as good... @Col.: Always found it a nice machine with sleek lines @exdraken: that's usually means extra cost or insulation in some weird way... 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisk Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 I will follow with interest as I like to build this kit one day. Cheers, Peter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 Not seen one of these built before, so looking forward to this one. cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share Posted April 16, 2019 And finally some first work onto this one... A slow start, due to other kits that I'm busy with, garden work, waiting for reference book, difficulty to find descent pictures of the cockpit and sidewalls... The book that I ordered is: Though interesting it gives more info about the status of the first batch of aircraft delivered, and the walk around section gives a some detailed pictures, but then you can guess a bit as to where the detail is located... Above is the reworked part, and below the original. There isn't that much detail to the sides, but it is not a flat as shown.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 They've certainly kept the interior face of the kit parts simple. A blank canvas if nothing else 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK GOH Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 The SF260 is a beautiful aircraft and always wished that some mainstream manufacturer will come up with an injection moulded plastic kit. I have a 1/72 scale resin kit stashed away and not brave enough to start on it. Look forward to learning from this build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted April 30, 2019 Author Share Posted April 30, 2019 Mated the hull sides, the wings and the tail. When mating the hull to the main wings, there was a little difference in width. So i glued the front and back first, added a spacer in the middle before gluing those. The squares in front of the nose will disappear and be replaced by styrene. The cockpit can still be mounted like this, thus... more sanding ahead and ready to detail the latter 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted May 3, 2019 Author Share Posted May 3, 2019 Some more progress... wasn't able to put on some paint, But I managed to deal with some details that need some reinforcements, like the tail and wingtip tanks... First I make a needle from a copper wire, in this case 0.8mm next I drill some holes ø0.9mm in the wings: next I place that needle into one of the holes, making sure it sticks out only slightly: Next I position my mating part carefully, and when I think the position is ok, I press it slightly onto the needle... that gives a pointy marking inside the mating part. There you can drill the first hole into this part. . Next I cut some copper rod to length so that the mating part touches the wingtip (still no glue), and I repeat the proces for the other hole. When satisfied glue the copper pins in and the part to its place. endresult so far: Till next... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted May 10, 2019 Author Share Posted May 10, 2019 Fitted the nose to the hull. It wasn't a perfect fit, so I aligned the top part to reduce filling. en then filled the sides on the nose and bottom on the hull to close the gaps: When I started this project, I tried to contact Planet models with regards to a missing piece for the front nose gear door... Utter silence was the answer so far... thus, first building this one, then the chin inlet and other details that needed to be removed... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 This kit is certainly making you work for a result but you are doing so in good style. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted May 13, 2019 Share Posted May 13, 2019 Looking good already! A bit of a fight, but then resin also asks a bit for this.... would just be assemlingbig junks,no!? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share Posted May 17, 2019 (edited) sst, just hope to get this one finished in time, still have a lot to do (build and restore) in the interior... Think the canopy will be half-finished in time..., no framing inside Edited May 17, 2019 by Silenoz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted May 22, 2019 Author Share Posted May 22, 2019 (edited) some progress... less then expected... The IP had the small border on top damaged.. so I cut off the details, sanded it flush and made a new top from paper: I also started cutting out the vacform canopies.. There are some small scratches in these, can these be polished out? Still need to add the rubber sealings, mirrors, knobs and open/close handles... And there I lost a lot off time... the dent on the back of the main canopy wasn't needed, and on the rel aircraft the sliding canopy sits pretty obvious on top of the tail as a third guide... so a lot of time went into searching for info, and I hate to say, but a lot of detailfoto's that aren't about the IP or the complete aircraft can't be found, and that for an aircraft with 50 years of service... So I went with a bit longer tail, also some reduced section to let the canopy pass, I added the rubbers to close things of and a basic shape to represent canopy slides... While I was at it, the square blocks on front of the canopy were airscoops, so I replaced these too... Finally I made a new part for the front wheelbaycover: To be continued... Edited May 22, 2019 by Silenoz 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted May 24, 2019 Author Share Posted May 24, 2019 on to the canopy works: added the "rubber" sealing to the front window: and a border and the mechanics to open/close the canopy, with exception of the handles: the sheen is from polishing (had some dips of CA while trying to glue the rim and some scratches from cutting it out) I hope to get is clear again with "future" or another product 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 Nice work on all those subtle details 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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