Airfix's 1/72 scale
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

by Bruno Perfetto

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Here is my 1/72 scale upgraded Airfix Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero.

The model reproduces the plane used by capt. Emanuele Buscaglia - 281ª Squadriglia Aerosiluranti based at Gadurrà (Rhodes island) in 1941.

To hide the plane during ship attack approach, at sea level, the whole front side was painted with the same color of lower sides: Grigio Mimetico. For this plane the paint was a little bit darker being applied on field, but it’s no rare encounter other planes with a different shade (see picture at page 22 of Ali d’Italia nr 11).

The model is from the old 1/72 Airfix kit and I’ve built it at the end of the ’90. I’ve used the RCR Models and Eduard photoincision sets provided for the “Gobbo maledetto”, the canopy by RCR Models/Squadron and a huge scratchbuilt job.

The main corrections applied to the kit are:

• The half fuselages must be shortened 3mm just beside the tail

• Frontal fuselage zone modified: sections evolve from a square to a round shape

• New fuselage and tail external structures: those from the kit are wrong

• Bomb bay upper door: must be shortened 4mm in the rear side; the same length must be added to the fuselage

• Windows on the lower side: they are absent in the kit

• Fuselage windows are moved 1,5mm beyond; fuselage gunner windows are moved 1mm beyond and 1mm above

• Horizontal tail wings modified: those from the kit are wrong

• Wings are too wide in longitudinal axis: 2mm must be removed on the rear side

• Wheelbase among lateral engines is 2mm too long: so, 2mm must be removed from the inner wing side and added on the wingtips that must have a circular shape. Consequently, ailerons and flaps shall be revised.

• The fitting between fuselage and wings must be corrected to the right shape

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Model and Text Copyright © 2017 by Bruno Perfetto
Page Created 11 May, 2017
Last Updated 11 May, 2017

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