SIAI-Marchetti SF-260M - BAF - WIP

1
August 27, 2014
In this build I want to find the correct balance weight to avoid the plane to tip backwards. So I need a firm landing gear: I can't use the kit wheel struts so I scratch my own.
2
August 27, 2014
Next I make sure that the landing gear has a stable connection point. This is achieved using hollow aluminium tube (red arrows).
3
August 27, 2014
I also have to drill out the complete nose section because it is made of solid resin. Doing so destroys the forward wheelbay, so I have to make a new one (green arrow). It is not very deep, the more place I have to put the balance weight.
4
August 27, 2014
Next I fill up the complete nose section with lead balls. I had to retry this 4 times until I had enough weight to get the correct balance.
5
August 27, 2014
As you see, the complete nose section is filled up. The black areas are not stains or filth, it is where you can see the lead balls through the resin wall because I had to drill out everything I dare. I even damaged the nose on 2 spots.
6
August 27, 2014
The damaged spots were repaired with some superglue and flour, and the lead balls were fixed with superglue as well. Then I tested my construction by dry fitting the landing gear. It seems to work.
7
August 27, 2014
To be sure, I also dry fitted the tail. The reason why I need so much lead is simple: the tail section is full resin instead of hollow plastic, and by drilling out the resin in the front section I even removed some weight before adding it again with lead!
8
August 28, 2014
Before I concentrate on the fuselage, I will correct another mistake of the kit: the spinner. I did some measurements and some calculation, and the kit spinner is at least 2 to 3 mm too short. And it is not pointy enough either.
9
August 28, 2014
So I decide to scratch a new one from white metal leftovers. This material is pretty easy to sand with a Dremel, and another advantage is its weight on the nose. I fix a central axle to a block of white metal, and I start to shape the new spinner.
10
August 28, 2014
Once the spinner is ready, I cut the axle to the correct lenght, and I remove the props from the resin spinner. Next I fix some metal connection pins to them and I drill out 2 holes of the metal spinner.
11
August 28, 2014
I also fix the cowling front to the nose and I install a piece of aluminium tube in the centre, with the correct diameter to receive the central axle of the propellor.
12
August 28, 2014
Then I dry fit the props into the spinner and I dry fit the completed propellor in the nose section.
13
August 28, 2014
Because eveything is only a dry fit, the angles of the props and spinner are not quite right, but I'll get there when I will use proper glue. But the shape looks correct to me, and that is what it was all about 😉
14
August 28, 2014
Another shot of the plane's front section with the new propellor in place. Looking good, so now I can finally concentrate on the fuselage.
15
September 11, 2014
Next I installed the seats into the cockpit and I fixed some metal supports.
16
September 11, 2014
I also completed the left wing with some masking tape because I had to sand off this area.
17
September 11, 2014
I tried to engrave some panel lines but no worries, I already decided to get rid of them, they are no way near to what I wanted to achieve...
18
September 11, 2014
Dry fit of the canopy...
19
September 11, 2014
Before I put the plane in primer, I removed the attempt to form panel lines 😉
20
September 11, 2014
Next I started to paint the interior of the cockpit.
21
September 11, 2014
I also sprayed the seats and sticks. Now I have to wait for the PE-seat belts I ordered.
22
July 5, 2015
Now that the PE-seat belts have arrived, I install them on the seats. This is an important enhancement of this model because the cockpit will be very visible.
23
July 5, 2015
The PE-set was intended for a C-130 Hercules, but the belts can be used for this Marchetti as well.
24
July 5, 2015
Now that the interior of the cockpit is ready, I can start to figure out how to fix the canopy...
25
July 5, 2015
Here the canopy is dry fitted; I still have to fix it to the plane and make sure there are no openings left to the cockpit. Otherwise I would spray the yellow paint into the cockpit, which would be desastrous...
26
July 10, 2015
The canopy was fixed with white glue. Next it was masked with Tamiya masking tape. Now the plane is ready to receive some paint.
27
July 10, 2015
I sprayed the red parts first, after which I masked them as well. Next the yellow parts were sprayed.
28
July 10, 2015
After a short time I removed the masking tape to avoid the dried paint to 'break' off while removing the tape.
29
July 10, 2015
Next I sprayed the whole plane (canopy included) with Gunze Sanyo gloss coat.
30
July 21, 2015
Once the gloss coat is dry, I can apply the decals.
31
July 21, 2015
From below, not a lot t do, except for the 'shark mouth'...
32
July 21, 2015
Top view of the plane.
33
July 21, 2015
Once all the decals have been applied, I protect them with another gloss coat.

Comments

5 27 August 2014, 15:05

Guy Golsteyn
This little model is so cute that I couldn't resist to start the modelling works right away😉

27 August 2014, 15:18

Gordon Sørensen
Looks great! A fantastic looking aircraft in real life, waiting to see how yours turns out....

28 August 2014, 00:00

Guy Golsteyn
I made some progress updates.

28 August 2014, 20:58

Stefan Schacht
looks good, i am in

30 August 2014, 20:21

Günther Debiscop
This is on my follow list now!

11 September 2014, 18:57

Guy Golsteyn
Seat belts were finally installed; cockpit is nearly ready.

5 July 2015, 20:56

Edgars Bizūns
i love it!

6 July 2015, 20:55

John E
You've got some impressive skills! Just wonderful so far.

7 July 2015, 00:30

Günther Debiscop
loving it so far!

16 July 2015, 19:22

Bart Goesaert
nice build so far...

17 July 2015, 07:10

Guy Golsteyn
Decals have been applied, gloss coat as well.

21 July 2015, 18:38

Günther Debiscop
Guy, it appears that the canopy problem hasn't been solved for 100%or am I wrong?

21 July 2015, 18:54

Guy Golsteyn
The canopy is a little wider than the airplane, but I closed all the gaps with white glue. So I could spray the plane without the risk of spraying yellow paint into the cockpit. Also, the problem seems to occur only at the left side; the right side is ok...

21 July 2015, 19:04

Günther Debiscop
Hope my copy doens't have the same issue...

21 July 2015, 19:12