1/48 SMER Macchi Castoldi MC.72

Subject: 1/48 SMER Macchi Castoldi MC.72 Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:36 am

Hi folks, thought it was about time I made some sort of contribution to the forum so made a start on this lovely red Italian Hot-Rod!

Kit is..erm... fairly basic, but that's OK, I always try to see it as a challenge!Quite a lot of flash to clear up and a couple of broken bits and pieces, but nothing that's not easily rebuilt.

1/48 SMER Macchi Castoldi MC.72 050

Not sure SMER did their homework here, they've moulded both props rotating in the same direction!
1/48 SMER Macchi Castoldi MC.72 055-1

On closer inspection of some photos of the real thing, it became obvious that the kit blades looked nothing like the real thing as well! Had a look through the spares box and found some spare donor blades
1/48 SMER Macchi Castoldi MC.72 057

After reprofiling the new blades, drilled and pinned them to the hub with some 0.5mm brass tubing and CA.
1/48 SMER Macchi Castoldi MC.72 058

Filled in the hole in the rear hub using the kit supplied prop pin, and drilled it out to accept a 3/32in brass sleeve. Also snipped off the prop blades and did the same as for the front hub
1/48 SMER Macchi Castoldi MC.72 059

Eventually got a spinning contra-prop, with the help of an out of shot hair dryer!
1/48 SMER Macchi Castoldi MC.72 061

Posts : 8 Join date : 2011-01-07

Hi Doug,

Neat project! I always liked the MC 72.

Nice work on the props!

Looking forward to your progress on the kit.

Ted

Subject: Re: 1/48 SMER Macchi Castoldi MC.72 Mon May 09, 2011 11:39 pm

Cheers Ted, should get some more done over the next few days, got a GR1 Harrier on the go as well.

Looking forward to getting some paint on this one as I think it's really going to ping! I've co-opted a pilot from my Flycatcher kit.

Posts : 8 Join date : 2011-01-07

Ahhhh, the spirit of international co-operation!

A British pilot flying an Italian racing plane, actually THE Italian racing plane!

I wonder if that would ever have happened in real life back then?

Anyway keep on trucking!

Ted

Subject: Re: 1/48 SMER Macchi Castoldi MC.72 Tue May 10, 2011 5:58 am

Not sure about flying it, but I read that they let some of our engineers look at the engines for them as they couldn't get the fuelling right. Then they broke the record! Rolling Eyes

Posts : 8 Join date : 2011-01-07

Hi Doug,

So technically, the British own the seaplane speed record! Hmmmm....

Anyway she should look pretty in the Italian racing red!

I wish I could figure out a way to get that 1/32 resin model that a concern in Italy produced.

It sure looks like a nice kit!

Talk to you soon,

Ted