Courageous Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 With the Fokker in its later phase, it's time to look at a second build for this GB. After getting clearance from the group admin, I've opted for doing another float plane (as I have a few), a Savoia-Matchetti S.55 torpedo bomber of the RAI in 1/72 using the Dora Wings kit. In my view, this aircraft fitted nicely into the 'twins' GB nicely, it had twin hulls, twin booms and twin engines, the only question was whether it fitted into the 1935-1945 window but after looking at reference, it looks like these aircraft were in their endgame from 1935 and consigned to reserve by 1939. The stuff... The box Lots of plastic Glazing, decals, PE and resin engines. Glossy instruction booklet Never built anything from this manufacturer before so it will be interesting to see how this goes. I do have a civilian version of this also in the stash , so this'll be a pathfinder. I'll start this as soon as the Fokker is all but done, so shouldn't be too long. Stuart 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 This is a fantastic choice Stuart, such a great looking aircraft and with just about twin everything! I haven't built anything by Dora either and would like one of these so I'm very keen to see how you get on with it, especially after seeing how well you are doing on your Fokker. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 I'm also interested to see what you make of this, having not been up close with anything from the brand either James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck1945 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Not a kit I have, but the real thing has a certain charm, will be fun to watch this progress 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 An interesting choice and the kit looks good! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 That’s quite a pretty looking machine, although I suspect the ships it would try to attack could almost outrun it! 🤣 Fascinating subject, will watch with interest. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Now this looks very interesting! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vppelt68 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Fascinating subject and a ambitious looking kit of it, welcome! Another new entry to the list, now 🙂. V-P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 4 hours ago, vppelt68 said: Another new entry to the list And its doubled the Italian contingent too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RainierHooker Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Looking forward to this one. I have the same kit in the stash and I'd been eyeballing it for this GB in the event that I get my Q1W1 done. Guess I wasn't the only one, and now I have to go a little further down the esoteric rabbit hole... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 4 hours ago, RainierHooker said: Looking forward to this one. I have the same kit in the stash and I'd been eyeballing it for this GB in the event that I get my Q1W1 done. Guess I wasn't the only one, and now I have to go a little further down the esoteric rabbit hole... You are allowed to build the same model/kit that someone else is, if you want to James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RainierHooker Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 8 hours ago, 81-er said: You are allowed to build the same model/kit that someone else is, if you want to James Well, of course, but an aircraft as obscure as this deserves its own stage. Besides, my stash is almost entirely populated with the uncommon, so I just have to dig a little deeper. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted February 29 Author Share Posted February 29 Seems to be a lot of interest in this old bird. For those that are interested, this video might be useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWV0nJQf9eY&ab_channel=Rex'sHangar With the Fokker waiting for its base, thought I'd start with the S.55 I decided to start with the hulls. Nothing much to the exterior but the interior is nicely detailed with ribbing, framing and the starboard hull will have an anchor windlass fitted but not before priming and an interior colour added. The instructions call for it to be grey but some references say a light wood colour, we'll see. I would've liked to have this in a flying attitude but I'd be needing up to six crew; two in the cockpit, one in each of the tail guns, one navigator/torpedo aimer and one front gunner/in-flight engineer. Stuart 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted March 6 Author Share Posted March 6 Been busy, busy, busy on 1:1 stuff. Decided to tackle the Isotta Fraschini engines. These were resin parts and were fitted with plastic carburettors and exhaust ports. Unfortunately, one twin port went walkabout so a scratch option was made. Some cleaning up is still required. Also built up the radiator and a tank. Stuart 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 Nice work on the engines Stuart. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 Those are nice looking engines, Stuart James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted March 11 Author Share Posted March 11 Fiddly work... Here was one fiddly job that needed an extra pair of hands, the engine mounting. I am finding that the easiest way o building these types of structures is to use the kit part that will be used to attach it to. After building the top engine mounts, I attached the main struts and while the glue was curing, I placed it at its mounting points and secured with tape until dry. Then I attached the central V struts and finally the PE rails, all a bit time consuming. Next I turned my attention to the cockpit. Firstly, the location for the torpedo mounting points needed drilling out. The seats were plastic & PE and are dry fitted. Control column with its wheels was also dry fitted. Then came the most fiddly job, throttle quadrant(?) with its 6 PE levers. The levers were meant to be attached to a plastic that was about 1.5mm across, optivisor work but it would be very fragile. So I opted for a different way of building this part, I produced a number of plastic discs from plastic rod and sandwiched these discs between the levers, much easier and then fitted it into place. What I'd like to know is, did the aircrew have belts or something 'cos there are non in kit?? Stuart 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted March 11 Author Share Posted March 11 Found this on Wiki... No belts but I need to make some comfy cushions. Stuart 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 Very fiddly work indeed Stuart but you're doing a great job of it. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 Evidently, belts are for wimps! That's very nice looking (if very fiddly) work, Stuart. A good idea to use the wing as a jig for the engine mount James 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted March 14 Author Share Posted March 14 As I procrastinate on the interior colour, grey or wood... I thought I'd start on the tail section. The forward horizontal had fixing tabs on its rear edge for fixing the elevators to. Two of these tabs were missing/broken and also being weak points, were replaced with metal 'pins' that fixed into both edges. The two start vertical fins were fitted after a little cleaning up. Unfortunately, the rudder fixings are the same but thinner and again, look weak points, so I'm not sure how I'm going to resolve this...where there's will, there's a way. Stuart 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 That looks to have gone together well so far, Stuart. Those rudder fixings are definitely going to be challenging, those fins are very thin. James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Super choice for the GB. Scale thickness can be a mixed blessing! Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted March 15 Author Share Posted March 15 20 hours ago, 81-er said: Those rudder fixings are definitely going to be challenging, those fins are very thin. 17 hours ago, AdrianMF said: Scale thickness can be a mixed blessing! The tail and rudder are thin, so thin that I daren't risk it with metal wire. On top of that, the rudder have decals on them and the look over size, so it'll be best to fit decal rudders, cut to size and then fix them... Needed to stop the thinking on interior colour. Decided to go off piste away from the suggested grey and went with a woody colour and gave it dark wash. I decided to go this route due to the cockpit. With aluminium items in the cockpit with a grey interior, it would look a bit monotone, so with a wood interior the details will be more noticeable. Next step is to paint and fit the anchor, its windlass before closing the hulls. Stuart 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 The wash has brought out the detail on the interior very nicely Stuart. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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