1/72 Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero - Vigna di Valle II - COMPLETED!

[Flyingbabydoc]

Hi all

Time to start a new project. This is another aircraft from the Vigna di Valle Museum in Rome, this time the Sparviero SM.79.

The aircraft was one of 4 delivered to the Lebanese Air Force after the war, and returned to Italy in the 50's. Two of them are in Museums, one in the original Lebanese colors in the Gianni Caproni Museum (Trento) and the other in Rome, in the camo of the 278° Squadriglia Anti-Silurante (Torpedo) in 1942. This is the one I will try to model. However, since it was a bomber in Lebanon, there are no torpedo fixtures under the fuselage - and an semi-open bomb bay.

Italeri 1/72 with lots of Eduard PE as usual.

Cheers

Alex

The original aircraft:

My progress so far:

Thanks for looking in.

 

[errains]

Great Start there Alex! and a interesting subject to boot.

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Hi friends,

Sorry I have been AWOL for a while now. Corona has picked up again in Germany and only now we are seeing some results of the vaccinations... No time for the bench until last weekend.

In any case, some progress in the Sparviero. I simply love these airplanes - I wish I could have one 1:1 in my backyard. In any case, the Italeri kit is a straightforward kit that requires small adjustments only, and the PE fits rather nicely even in the cockpit.

This is the progress, now on to painting.

Cheers and thanks for looking.

Alex

 

[errains]

Wow that is some great work there Doc! The interior is awesome.

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Thanks Eric. Much appreciated. I love working on those PE Details in 1/72. Somehow it relaxes me.

Cheers

Alex

 

[Impisi]

looks good

 

[rob hart]

Great start. Interesting subject.

 

[Sherman 18]

Love the detail work!

What is with the 55 gallon drums?

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Love the detail work!

What is with the 55 gallon drums?

Thanks a lot guys, appreciated. Those are not gallon drums. Those are the bomb holders in the bomb bay of the Sparviero. It used the same system as the Heinkel He-111 with vertically suspended bombs (5 x 250kg). Not a very impressive payload.... Eventually these "drums" were changed into an extra fuel tank for the ultimate torpedo version.

 

[Sherman 18]

Cool thanks!

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Anytime! I don't know much but I am happy to share the little I know.

Not much progress but the base colour is in. That is the Grigio Mimetico (FS 36231) undersides and Nocciola Chiaro 4 (FS 30219) oversides. The camo will be finished with Verde Oliva Scuro 2 (FS 34052) in a continuos line all over the plane. I gotta prepare myself for that with lots of beer.

Cheers

Alex

 

[jknaus]

Very cool.
James

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Thanks James appreciated.

 

[Sherman 18]

Sweet!

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Thanks everyone.

Well, it cost me a lot of time, sweat and beer to get the wriggles all completed. Mind you, it is one single line from beginning to end of the aircraft, just like the real one (in the picture).

As soon as I recover I will move on to decals and the last adjustments. Cheers and thanks for looking

Alex

 

[moon puppy]

Nice work Dr Alex!

 

[Duke Maddog]

Wow, I just caught up with this. Your painting and detail skills have shown a marked improvement! Wow, this is one incredible plane. I should do one as it's one of the only Italian bombers I have not built.

 

[Rhino]

"Beer"?! Bravo! Bella Sparviero Amici!!

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Thanks guys!
@Duke Maddog Indeed I would recommend. It is such a pleasure to build one
@Rhino: Mille Grazie. Si io preferisco la Birra... Thanks a lot.

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

After a bit of delay, the bird is ready. I am quite pleased with the result. I hope you agree. Thanks for looking.

Cheers

Alex