Peter s Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 I've always liked the SM-79. For some reason I still remember when I first discovered it.... in a "Commando" comic about 1984. I remembered a load of guff about putting a Blenhein prop on a Gladiator plus fixing extra machine guns and taking on swarms of them. Incredibly I've FOUND the commando comic! Free to read for those of a certain vintage:https://view-comic.com/commando-for-action-and-adventure-issue-5196/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=ee91d357cf8635fa0dcbda2c6a31d1fb354acd06-1597326790-0-AWHARxWo8JrsIyIhuMSJim6kUCLAkwAIyo7d2aUWUY0ESiI1zxke2LoZ_puQdhsfmSgHHM8Ohn6DIwKyOtdCBJyDGduSNwuBLB5uPnaJeQWJjGfAYQvdxtBzsRQWPhXbEI9szNffUK3fMH2yQgZCEY1UD4lp0toUQbpnqK7jT-5tkcjqm0bDBRNviZJxryjT2UnMo5n8qOsnvrjmcnA_8LxqoKG_JFFgBLPVyBnCgpZ1Fil1wboe7Qj9v9Xg6go1G_JIudn7nGHb1-j1IL3ROwDfh6QaUBPNIDsbI1-MaMOiga2D7wRd30qPgu6eC0cpph5x4Yayr7NxY7RLkdmpLZs I've had the SM79 on pre-order since it was first anounced & I'm pleased to say it was worth waiting for. Not the most complex kit to build (nothing wrong with that) clean mouldings and not much filler needed. Since lockdown started I've been trying to build at least one of every aircraft that took part in the battle of Britain. While there's no evidence the SM-79 took part the Italians DID use 70 Fiat BR.20 bombers (like ugly DO-17s) and contributed several fighters including the CR-42 biplane (I have the matchbox) and Macci 200 (made by R..... ). They also used the Fiat G.50 and I managed to find an old airfix on eBay. When that arrived I saw two horrible features: "made in France" and "made of bably blue plastic". I've had bad experiences of these palitoy vintage horrors but this one actually went together really well. Pics to follow as soon as they're moderated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter s Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Looks like the 403 "Forbidden" is still a problem.......Models are finished and look good. I'm going to try and upload them to the product page for the SM79 and then hopefully post the full build when I can.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter s Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share Posted September 4, 2020 Hopefully I can remember what I actually did! Bad phone pics I'm afraid..../media/tinymce_upload/5772749239638361db5c731ec83f3bd4.jpgBoth kits built straight out of the box. One thing I didn't fully appreciate is that the panel on either side of the fuselage is a gun port. There's a small MG which looks a bit like a Lewis gun included but its less than clear where it (can) go./media/tinymce_upload/338e4504617c42269dedb0bb7728a5ba.jpgLess than clear but both planes have white fuselage bands and white (or yellow in the case of the G50) cowlings. I primed the whole plane (s) white then masked off./media/tinymce_upload/d5d08a8f7ca1e58c903145ec2df71deb.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/9bff827427a5653160bc419bc929c39e.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/6fb5e4954fb9f0137b497d8ea59937a6.jpgI wasn't going to kill myself sourcing special Italian colour matches so basically used WW2 German N.African shades. Both planes sprayed with "Sand-Gelb" which is quite a brown-sand. I free handed olive green splots on the G50 and olive and red-brown on the SM79. The red-brown doesn't come across well in the pics but are more obvious "in the flesh". All paints used are Model Colour BTW/media/tinymce_upload/d2e30a1a6d7616a6f1779c79ec19e598.jpgBoth planes given a wash with burnt umber oil paint in thinners as a light wash/filter/bit of back-to-rear streaking./media/tinymce_upload/c275817b60558222f66cdf5929b722b1.jpgWatch the box art.... the engine cowlings are not especially obvious. What could be the usual "antique bronze" strip on a radial is actually red paint. The props and engines are a very tricky white-red-white-red-white banding. I used 18mm wall planner stickers to mask the front of the cowlings and Tamiya flexible tape./media/tinymce_upload/90828886ba3c86e8fbb3b63f9ecd6656.jpgMasks off and they more or less worked. A tiny brush touch up of the red needed. Decals applied. Incredibly the decals on the ancient G50 were still good to use./media/tinymce_upload/f3ee675e7b071acf57d439ddfa5aeb30.jpgAfter this just the usual minor extra bits (like the rear gun) and tyres to paint and a touch more weathering. I added the torpedoes at a late stage and found them an awkward fit. One is good, one seems to have slightly twisted while the glue set but this is only obvious front on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter s Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share Posted September 4, 2020 /media/tinymce_upload/1d2621794b74fac3070fc88c9d3400da.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/9da12695390eab95022f6162bcf08524.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/cb783da3dd86e2e514a3e8241c449490.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/d446f7c1c3dddbd2661c41908d198c05.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/45d52d491ead451a18d15810e3a7933c.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/706ef85e4116eddaa4400dddd9f95014.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/86aba1e0b9d74067a01d43b872c90e3a.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/82b5dda6af31a4a62e3af19119353037.JPGThe final pics.... I messed around with a few filters to try to recreate the early colour film effect you see in old films/Signal magazine on a few of these shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter s Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share Posted September 4, 2020 /media/tinymce_upload/8bb026bf59161d9e9f76f40370277136.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/a4fee12ef11b68e81a9f3119e290db30.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/58a3e22d519aa38d1e0a71a63819f836.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/505c730a097a9edef4ee1b853fdbcfd0.JPGHopefully the mods let me post these. The two airfix with the rest of the Italian airforce. The F42 Biplane is a matchbox kit as old as me. Still a great build. It would be high on my request list for a new tool as it would make a lovely dogfight double with a Gladiator. The Macci 200 is by R------- . If anyone is curious its paint scheme was the same as the Airfix but reversed. A base of Olive then sand-gelb and red-brown applied with a kaput old brush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth ONeill Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Ref the "Gladiator guff" up-thread. There's not much photo reference, but at least one up-engined and up-gunned Gladiator was used in the defense of Malta. (Sources being various books on the Mediterranean theatre, and particularly the defense of Malta). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter s Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 Ref the "Gladiator guff" up-thread. There's not much photo reference, but at least one up-engined and up-gunned Gladiator was used in the defense of Malta. (Sources being various books on the Mediterranean theatre, and particularly the defense of Malta).The "Commando" comic was clearly a pastiche on Malta. (actually not bad for a kids comic is it?) The fact three sea gladiators are in a hanger was very coincidental. Hope Faith and Charity are a bit of a myth. There have have been 3 airworthy at a time but there were more than 3 airframes on Malta. Does anyone know if you COULD put 2 extra guns on the upper wing? Apart from being awkward to reload and adding ~100lbs of weight 50% more firepower seems desirable especially against bombers where weight of lead does matter. If possible I wonder why it was never (apparently) done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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