Und noch eine Arbeit des letzten Jahres - ebenfalls aus der Abteilung "was ganz anderes". Denn Whifs aus der Pre-WWII-Ära sind eher selten, Doppeldecker noch dazu (ist ja auch Fummelei)! Also, hier ein weiteres Kuckucksei der Geschichte, die
Macchi C.170 "Brezza"!
Macchi C.170 Brezza by
Franclab, on Flickr
Dank und Gruß an Mit-FlickR-User Franclab aus Kanada für dieses wundervolle, binnen 24h gestaltete Profil der Maschine in italienischen Diensten auf der Basis meines Modells!
Some background:The Macchi C.170 Brezza ("Gust of wind") was a single-seat biplane fighter which served primarily in Italy's Regia Aeronautica before and in the early stages of World War II. The aircraft was produced by the Varese firm, and entered service, in smaller numbers, with the air forces of Italy, Austria and Hungary.
In spite of the biplane configuration, the C.170 was a modern, 'sleek-looking' design based around a strong steel and alloy frame incorporating a NACA cowling housing the radial engine, with fairings for the fixed main landing gear. The C.170's upper wing was slightly larger than its lower wing, carried only by six struts and a few bracing wires. Only the upper wing featured ailerons while the lower wing carried large flaps. Although it looked slightly outdated, the aircraft proved exceptionally agile thanks to its very low wing loading and a powerful, responsive engine.
Power was provided by a 650 kW (870 hp) Fiat A.74 14 cylinder radial engine, which also drove the contemporary Fiat CR.32 fighter. With the "direttiva" (Air Ministry Specific) of 1932, Italian industrial leaders had been instructed to concentrate solely on radial engines for fighters, due to their better reliability. The A.74 was actually a re-design of the American Pratt & Whitney R-1830 SC-4 Twin Wasp made by engineers Tranquillo Zerbi and Antonio Fessia, and in the C.170 it was geared to drive a metal three-blade Fiat-Hamilton Standard 3D.41-1 propeller of 2.9 m (9.5 ft) diameter. This allowed an impressive top speed of 441 km/h (272 mph) at 6.500 m (20.000 ft), and 342 km/h (213 mph) at ground level.
The first C.170 prototype flew on 24 December 1934 in Lonate Pozzolo, Varese, with Macchi Chief Test Pilot Giuseppe Burei at the controls. It was followed by the second prototype early the next year, which flew with an armored headrest and fairing in place (the C.170 lacked any further armor!) and other minor changes that were incorporated for serial production.
Despite Macchi’s proposal for a closed cockpit canopy the cockpit remained open – Italian pilots were rather conservative. Additional protection was introduced through armored side panels, though, which would protect the pilot’s shoulders. Radio equipment was also not included, as in many other Italian fighter aircraft.
During evaluation in early 1935 the C.170 was tested against the Fiat CR.42 and the Caproni Ca.165 biplane fighters, and was judged to be on par with the CR.42, although the Ca.165 was a more modern design which boasted a higher speed at the cost of maneuverability. An initial order of 99 C.170 for Italy's Regia Aeronautica was placed to Macchi factory in summer 1935, followed by foreign interest and order options from Austria, Belgium and Spain.
Anyway, what looked like a prosperous design was soon rendered obsolete: Following the end of Italy's campaigns in East Africa, a program was started to completely re-equip the Regia Aeronautica with a new interceptor aircraft of modern design. The 10 February 1936 specifications called for an aircraft powered by a single radial engine, with a top speed of 500 km/h, climb rate at 6,000 meters of 5 minutes, with a flight endurance of two hours, and armed with a single (later increased to two) 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine gun. That was more or less the premature end for the C.170, as Macchi and other manufacturers quickly turned to more modern monoplane designs.
Therefore, orders and production of the Macchi Brezza remained limited. Beyond the original 99 aircraft for the Regia Aeronautica only 24 further C.170s were delivered. These aircraft went in spring 1936 to Austria to equip Jagdgeschwader II at Wiener Neustadt. Immediately after their delivery the Brezza fighters were retro-fitted with radio equipment, recognizable through the antenna installation on the headrest fairing. The potential orders from Belgium and Spain were soon cancelled, due to political tensions.
As a side note, the Austrian C.170s fighters were the first aircraft to sport the new national emblem, which had been the result of a competition and won by flight engineer Rosner from the Graz-Thalerhof base. The white, equilateral triangle with the point facing downwards in a red disc was a completely new design and had (other than the flag or coats of arms) no prior basis.
The C.170s' career in Austrian service was short, though: in March 1938 the Austrian units were absorbed into the Luftwaffe, and after a brief period the aircraft were handed over to Hungary where they were used for training purposes.
Although an obsolete design, it proved to be robust, durable and effective especially in severe conditions. In spring 1943, surviving C.170s were rounded up from training schools and delivered to night ground attack units operating on the Eastern Front. The C.170 was used to conduct night harassment sorties on the Eastern Front until September 1944, when the units were disbanded, due to a lack of serviceable airframes and spare parts.
General characteristicsCrew: 1
Length: 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Height: 11 ft 9 in (3.58 m)
Wing area: 323 ft² (30.0 m²)
Empty weight: 3,217 lb (1,462 kg)
Loaded weight: 4,594 lb (2,088 kg)
Powerplant1× Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 650 kW (870 hp) at 2,520 rpm for take-off
PerformanceMaximum speed: 441 km/h (238 kn, 274 mph) at 20,000 ft
Cruise speed: 338 km/h (187 kn, 210 mph)
Range: 780 km (420 nmi, 485 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,210 m (33,500 ft)
Rate of climb: 11.8 m/s (2,340 ft/min)
Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 4.75 min
Wing loading: 69,6 kg/m² (15,3 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 311 W/kg (0.19 hp/lb)
Armament2× 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Breda-SAFAT synchronized machine guns above the engine, 370 rpg
Some aircraft were field-modified to carry up to 8× 15 kg (33 lb) or 2× 50 or 100 kg (110/220 lb) bombs under the wings
Zum Modell:Inspiriert hat mich zu dem kleinen Ding das Profil einer Ju-86 in Österreichischen Diensten - der Anstrich war/ist recht eigen, und warum das Ganze nicht auf einen Jäger übertragen...? Ich hatte noch einige Doppeldecker-Flügelteile auf Halde, und auch passende Aufkleber...
Aber: Doppeldecker sind durchaus knifflig zu bauen - und als Kitbash hatte ich große Manschetten. Insofern ist das Design etwas moderner ausgefallen, mit rel. wenig Streben und Verspannung. Aber die Herausforderung hat gereizt!
Was da alles drin gelandet ist:
● Rumpf, Triebwerk, Cockpit und Heck einer Revell Macchi C.200 "Saetta"
● Oberer Flügel einer Matchbox Gloster "Gladiator"
● Untere Flügel einer Matchbox SBC "Helldiver"
● Gekürzte Haupträder einer Matchbox Hs 126
Besonders tückisch war die Flügelgeometrie und die Tatsache, dass unterm Rumpf einiges gefüllt werden musste. Die Streben sind daher auch alle manuell aus Plastikstreifen geschnitzt. Zuerst habe ich die unteren Flügel montiert, und darauf dann äußeren Streben für die oberen Flügel gesetzt. Als dies stand sind die kurzen Rumpfstützen auf Maß eingepasst worden - ging besser als erwartet!
Die Verspannung besteht aus heißgezogenem Spritzling-Material. Das sieht nicht nur gut aus, es verstärkt - wie in echt - spürbar die Struktur und Stabilität des Doppeldeckers. Mühsam, aber durchaus empfehlenswert.
Durch das veränderte fahrwerk musste dann noch der Auspuff verändert werden, und ein paar kleine Details wie ein Tritt aus Draht worden noch ergänzt.
Die Bemalung orientiert sich an echten Flugzeugen der Österreichischen Luftwaffe kurz vor WWII, als gerade das neue Hoheitsabzeichen eingeführt war und bald wieder (für einige Zeit, heute ist es wieder in Gebrauch) verschwinden sollte. Die Farbtöne sind aufs Geratewohl:
● Ein blasses, gelbliches Beige (Humbrol 74, ‘Linen’, out of production)
● Ein bräunliches Olivgrün (Testors 1711, ‘Olive Drab’, FS 34087)
● Ein gelbliches Dunkelgrün (Humbrol 116, ‘US Dark Green’ FS 34079)
● Hellblau für unten (Humbrol 65, ‘Aircraft Blue’, RLM 65)
Um den Motor sind noch ein paar Bereiche in Alu und Stahl gehalten, innen in einem neutralen Grau. Die Hoheitsabzeichen stammen von TL Modellbau, die Fahne am Seitenruder ist gemalt. Die Nummer auf den Rumpfseiten sind weiß gerandete Zahlen für takt. Codes der Luftwaffe in 1:48, kommen hier aber prima zur Geltung.
Nach dem bemalen gab es noch einen Übetzug mit verdünnter schwarzer Tusche und einiges an Trockenbemalung (Humbrol 103, 155, Model Master 2138,‘Israeli Armor Sand Grey’, und Humbrol 122, sowie 167 und 168 overall). Auch die verspannung wurde bemalt - mit schwarzer Tusche, die dank feiner Pigmente nicht aufträgt. Zum Schluss noch ein Hauch Acryl-Mattlack - fertig!
Sieht exotisch aus, ist aber gut gelungen - und alles in nur binnen einer Woche fertiggestellt! Muahahaha!
Thema: What if? Macchi C.170 "Brezza"; Österreischische Luftwaffe; Wiener Neustadt ca. 1937 (Gelesen 4156 mal)