Savoia S.65 Schneider Cup - Modified Karaya 1/72 resin

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

 

 

The exceptional lines of the Savoia S.65 are a sheer delight, and although it never delivered what it promised, and did not actually compete in the Schneider Cup, the mere act of contemplating it is a source of aviation bliss.

 

 

Karaya is a firmly established model manufacturer with a wide catalog that includes, to my delight, many Schneider planes. Karaya's reputation is good, but apparently my first encounter with their products was unfortunate, as I purchased a sadly inaccurate S.65.

 

To start to make this flawed kit look like the real thing, the following was done:

 

-Correct the spurious cut out on the fuselage top and sides, restoring the correct, continuous shape

-Install the side windows, deleting the spurious extra radiators (located above the correct fuselage radiators)

-Correct the shape of the elevator horn balances

-Add the headrest

-Correct the wrong position of the insertion of the float struts into the fuselage bottom

-Substitute the ridiculous resin butt-joined booms for metal inserted ones

-Correct the mistakes on the rigging

-Revise position of "V" struts at the end of the floats, moving them back as per photos

-Add boom fairings that continue on top and bottom of the elevator

 

I am sure there were others, but that should be entertainment enough.

 

A seemingly nice kit, certainly nicely molded and with good detail, completely let down by its many very visible inaccuracies. And not just minutia: blatant mistakes made absolutely obvious just by looking at photos of the original plane.

The list is too long, but you may like to have a look at my many encounters during the build with frustrating errors, and to add insult to injury an engineering that left a lot to be desired, and not particularly accurate decals:

 

 

Still, propelled by the sheer beauty of the type, some modifications were made, parts replaced with better ones, engineering revised, and many details corrected to obtain a model that if still not totally accurate, at least resembles much closely the original.

This is a missed opportunity: such fantastic plane, and a kit that came too short, not sure why, as the general quality of the parts (accuracy and engineering apart) is good.

 

The modifications to obtain a more credible model are too involving, and I wouldn't have done it if I knew from the start the challenges, but I started blinded by the good reputation of the manufacturer (whose other kits reputedly are accurate and nice to build). So I went on, feeling bad about trashing a kit of such beautiful plane that besides cost a pretty penny.

 

So here are the results of much huffing and puffing, and having to continually look at references in order no to fall into accuracy traps.

 

A paradigm of Italian design that produced a very stylized racer, and, if nothing else, a wonderful "oggetto d'arte". 

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[billn53]

She looks gorgeous, even more so knowing how much loving attention you gave toward correcting her flaws. 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

1 minute ago, billn53 said:

She looks gorgeous, even more so knowing how much loving attention you gave toward correcting her flaws. 

Thanks, Bill!

A big sigh of relief, completing this one!

Cheers

[JamesP]

Stunning result. Certainly looks right. 

[billn53]

I fully understand. And, I was thinking the word “loving” might not be entirely accurate?

[Gorby]

Wow! That's stunning!

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

18 minutes ago, JamesP said:

Stunning result. Certainly looks right. 

Thanks James, not an easy feat, for sure 😄

 

17 minutes ago, billn53 said:

I fully understand. And, I was thinking the word “loving” might not be entirely accurate?

 

😉

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

12 minutes ago, Gorby said:

Wow! That's stunning!

Thanks, Gorby

Glad it finally was put together and the result is not bad.

Cheers

[Planebuilder62]

Well done Moa to finish this kit.

 

Beautiful work on a beautiful plane.

 

regards Toby

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

2 minutes ago, Planebuilder62 said:

Well done Moa to finish this kit.

 

Beautiful work on a beautiful plane.

 

regards Toby

Thanks Toby!

After all that work, I am really happy that came out ok.

Up to the last minute I was afraid I would mess up.

Phew!

Cheers

[Bengalensis]

You've got an amazing result out of that shall we kindly say compromised set of parts. It's an absolute beauty. I'm saying it again; squeezing down between those two large racing engines must be one of those ultimate happy experiences for a human.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

20 minutes ago, Bengalensis said:

squeezing down between those two large racing engines must be one of those ultimate happy experiences for a human.

Surely so! And also to look back and see that large prop turning like a chopper if you dare to bail out.

 

[Bengalensis]

4 minutes ago, Moa said:

Surely so! And also to look back and see that large prop turning like a chopper if you dare to bail out.

 

Oh, what could possibly go wrong with this machine? 😎

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

46 minutes ago, Bengalensis said:

Oh, what could possibly go wrong with this machine? 😎

Yeah, one wonders....

https://oldmachinepress.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/savoia-mrachetti-s65-recovery.jpg

 

 

[Baldy]

Utterly stunning Moa - both the aeroplane itself and your model. And huge credit to you for persevering with the inaccurate kit. Your WIP was another fantastic lecture in your University of Modelling! And what a fantastic era it was for stunning machines - whether they be failures like this one or successes like the S-6. Little wonder the term and widespread use of Risk Assessment evolved!

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

20 minutes ago, Baldy said:

Utterly stunning Moa - both the aeroplane itself and your model. And huge credit to you for persevering with the inaccurate kit. Your WIP was another fantastic lecture in your University of Modelling! And what a fantastic era it was for stunning machines - whether they be failures like this one or successes like the S-6. Little wonder the term and widespread use of Risk Assessment evolved!

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

Thanks Malcolm, and a very true note on the era.

 

[spiton]

Fantastic !!!

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Just now, spiton said:

Fantastic !!!

Thanks!

[Jo B]

Such a beautiful aircraft and a beautiful build. I have deep appreciation for these gorgeous objects. Thank you for building this, Moa. Wonderful. I look forward to seeing more of your builds.

[Andrew.S]

Despite all the kit's faults, your completed model is fantastic good looking hell of the racing airplane

[Abandoned Project]

A work of art. A labour of love. A beautiful masterpiece. Truly amazing. You really are talented and your dedication and commitment shows in every plane you build.

[Courageous]

With all your huffing and puffing and generous amounts of modelling skill, you've produced a gem. Those side pics in post #2 show the beauty of this craft. Give yourself and your monastery a good pat on the back.

 

Stuart

[John_W]

Beautiful build. She looks like she was designed by a comitee though

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

13 hours ago, Jo B said:

Such a beautiful aircraft and a beautiful build. I have deep appreciation for these gorgeous objects. Thank you for building this, Moa. Wonderful. I look forward to seeing more of your builds.

Thanks Jo

Some builds are close to completion waiting for the decals or details (Vultee V-1, Seabee, HP O/700)

Today I will post the American Airlines Beech 18, completed yesterday.

If you are curious and haven't seen them yet, I have posted about two hundreds builds already here at BM.

Cheers

 

11 hours ago, Andrew.S said:

Despite all the kit's faults, your completed model is fantastic good looking hell of the racing airplane

Thanks Andrew!

9 hours ago, Abandoned Project said:

A work of art. A labour of love. A beautiful masterpiece. Truly amazing. You really are talented and your dedication and commitment shows in every plane you build.

Thanks for your very kind words.

Cheers