Special Hobby
1/72ème
Maquette et texte de Gabriele Luciani, membre de l'IPMS Italy
Photos de de Gabriele Luciani et Sergio De Mitri
A kit
of Piaggio P.108 was for many years a dream for the italian modellers... Only
with the recent issue of n°15 of Ali d’Italia, just dedicated to this
warplane, with the clear scale
designs and the text translate also in
English, was possible for Special Hobby, a firm of MPM Group, to produce a
good kit reproduction of the same aircraft. Until not little years ago however, the only possibility to reproduce in
1/72 scale an Italian four-motor bomber, was to realise the B.24D "Blonde Bomber
II" captured from the Regia Aeronautica in 1943 (with ancient kit the Revell and
from first years 90 with the model express dedicated to this B.24 from the
Academy at first). At this time, Challenge Plastic proposed in vacuform a model of the P.108. But assemble this poor kit was an
incredibly arduous enterprise... a step ahead was made in the 1996 by
Airmodel, historical German house manufacturer of vacuform : this company at the beginning of the 70's offered simple models, and had begun to insert some small parts in injection plastic in order to
favour the completion of its kits, but also his P.108 it is not a easy model. To
such model, the RCR, dedicated the improvement resin set n.014 and Olds Wings
realised one complete fuselage in order to made the P.108 A "Artigliere" : sin
that the roots andirons of the conversion in resin and the wings of the
vacuform were not just coinciding... In spite of this set of improvement, the
Airmodel model like saying was not just to the capacity of all and therefore,
when from the past year they began to turn voices of a model in plastic from Czech group MPM,
the wait has become spasmodic !
The P.108, altought having been realised in three years only in 24 exemplary (the amount of the production less than two days than a B.17 or a B.24... however the apparatus seed-manufacturer of a country as the Italy of 30-40 years, to pre-eminent agricultural economy as it was ours, surer could not be allowed...), occupies the classic place of relief in the history of italian aeronautics, also because it was the single four-motor bomber of the Axis employed in war actions, framed in the 274 sq. of the R.A.
The model was realised at the end of september 2004, boxing from the Special Hobby and also by Flying Machines (already famous from years for its Re.2005 in 1/48). In the two confections we find a stamp equal, composed in about 100 pieces in plastic (subdivided in 4 trees more fifth for the transparent parts realized also they to injection) and 61 parts in resin (between these also finishes them of the drainages motor of nocturnal type: the reproduction in scale of the fins of the same ones is remarkable). The differences are in the sheet instructions (in the course of the construction come omitted the parts that do not have to be used for the version proposed from the confection, respective 1° series for the Flying Machines and 2° series for the Special Hobby), in the camouflage outlines and the decals.
The S.H. gives the decals for P.108 MM.22004 (after carried to the standard of the 2°serie and with the green color for upper surfaces and black smoke for under surfaces, also for national insigna in fuselage) and for the P.108 M.M. 24325, last copy of series, with a similar camouflage, with the "americanized" insignia received to Grottaglie (a city nera Taranto, aslo to day with an airport where are based the AV-8B Plus of Italian Navy) little before the disastrous landing in hand the American pilots. The decals of U.S.A.A.F. stars have not the red bords: if you examined the photographic images, can you see them... For the coloration of the external parts the Special Hobby suggests the superficial use of camouflage green 2 for advanced of both the exemplary proposals from its decals: it is an indication that provokes to me a little perplexity ... In effects P.108 M.M. 22004 was first with the camouflage of green (verde mimetico 2 - F.S. 34092) with spots tawny camouflage (bruno mimetico - F.S. 30125 or 30129) and camouflage yellow (giallo mimetico 2 -F.S. 33481) and superficial inferiors in camouflage gray (grigio mimetico F.S. 36293); after to have been carried to the standard of the 2° serie, also its camouflage of upper surfaces was modified in a monochromatic livery, but this happened in the summer of 1942, when that is within in the full vigor the use of the new colors of “tavola 10”. The same P.108 M.M. 22004 after to have operated for a first period with the upper surfaces in gray, like other exemplary of the unit, received the obliteration of the insignia and of the superficial inferiors with the black smoke. The P.108 M.M. 24235 was a late production plane and therefore there is not doubts on the use of verde oliva scuro 2...
The F.M. proposes instead the P.108 M.M. 22003 on which it found the dead the son of Mussolini Cap. Bruno Mussolini, (characterized from the camouflage with patch of buno mimetico and giallo mimetico 2 on verde mimetico 2, motor cowlings in yellow; this warplane was the only with the number of the Sq. in fuselage), and the P.108 code red 2 - white 2 M.M. 22005, in verde oliva 2 with the firm of the son of the Duce in fuselage. The external differences between the two series are concentrated on the presence of the front defensive emplacement in first and on the configuration of the cowlings motor with the position of the drainages (in the first series are in the advanced part of the cowlings while in the second one they were placed low) : all these particular are in the stamp and the modeller can choose to realize a first series with the confection of the S.H. or to make the contrary with that F.M., held account also of the several configurations of the real aircrafts that to times did not introduce unit standards. If you have Sky Model decals n°72-014 (with one portion dedicated also to the P.108 is had the sheet Sky Models) then this choice may protrae very beyond the purchase of the confection...
Analyzing the stamp, we can see that is so cleaned and is a type more similar to usual industrial pulling : not there are slobbers or withdrawals, but on pieces we still do not find the wrist pins of reference for the assemblage and to the inside of many pieces are remained of the residuals of the extracting machines. Those present on the vertical drifts prevent to the closing of seeds fuselages and clearly they go eliminates; always two seeds fuselages, the several panellings are affected in diseguale way (deeper to sides and nearly imperceptible to of under). Also to the inside of wings and diving planes there are the residual of the extracting machines to eliminate; like for all the kit in short run, part of the plastic of the piece then must delicately detach pieces from the press trees (otherwise will remain on the sprue...) cleaning up them then from the residual same. Attention to the printed B, where the different are inserted between the other cowlings and gondolas of the motors: from the first moment pieces seem all equal ones but therefore it is not (the cowlings bring back in fact the various location of the drainages, while the second ones follow the different curving of the wings), and it runs concretely the risk to make confusion. It is better to study the instruction sets very well before detaching contained pieces in it. Beginning the construction as usual from the inner, it must be evidenced that with the exception of brought back how much in the instructions, the general color of the inner was the aluminum.
The C.M.P.R. of Ravenna published a special supplement to the n.1/2000 of its Notiziario di Plastimodellismo dedicated to the P.108 (also in the two varying from transport) : the Author of that publication filler the directed testimony of a former airman of the R.A. in service near the 274 sq. that he reminds the inners of fuselage, hold bombs, undercarriages, leaves in natural metal, with the single dashboard in black. The kit supplies some pieces in resin and plastic for the cokpit: dashboard, tunnel instrumentation, inserts and seats pilots in resin to insert all on a pavement (piece no. 14) in plastic. The rear vertical bulkhead do not create problems in his insertion to the inside of seeds fuselages, but all gives a poor idea of the inside : there are not the lateral instrumentations and the walls are smooth. For this zone therefore, what it supplies a kit can be more considered a line of departure for some detail (or an occasion for the producers of improvement resin set...), also because, the piece that reproduces the hood of the cokpit is much limpid and is extended its leaves transparent. The same hood is placed without problems of its space, not therefore the piece D 10 that acts as from bulkhead in fuselage and wing spar and D 8 (other bulkhead) : these then annoy the closing of the semifuselages (to the inside of the same ones beyond to cited pieces for the inside and the bulkheads we do not have other, circumstance that it forces to close the emplacements in fuselage... and here they are worth the considerations as soon as made for the space pilots...) and go both erased a lot.
The assemblage and the corrected alignment of seeds fuselages, in spite of the absence of the reply hinges and the dimensions of the same ones, are not much difficult : using ciano-acrylic glue and abrasive paper, the use of putty in order to make to disappear the signs of the splice of two pieces, will be much limiting to little centimeters over and under the part they of same and the some zones of the rudder centers. Following the instructions, passes to seeds wings respective uniforms in the two great pieces : not there are reply hinges but their union is simplest, of all the free one from putty; also the insertion on the two external motor gondolas of representing pieces in resin the two operated by remote control turrets Z 2, do not give to some problem (canes of the machine-guns are better to insert them to completed coloration). The inferior parts of the four motor gondolas are realized like pieces separated and it must be used a few of putty in order to join together them with the wing surface. More putty it is demanded always in order to join together the bases of the cowlings of the motors to the gondolas andirons. The necessity to reproduce the air intakes of the real airplane in this zone in fact has forced to realize four pieces to part (numbered D 5) that represent these sockets exactly and unfortunately the alignment of the same ones to the gondolas motor is not optimal, with some solutions of continuity. Before assembling relative D pieces 5 to the inner gondolas motor, it must also be inserted behind of they a piece in resin (no. 4) that it reproduces the vertical bulkhead of the legs of the main undercarriage to which goes joined a horizontal bulkhead (b 16) that in its turn it reproduces the roof of the same space: the residual of tap of the resin present behind pieces also 4 go eliminate otherwise would not concur the union of the piece D 5 with the engine’s gondola. The motor cowlings are reproduced respective in two pieces everyone and inside them, will be inserted one discreet reproduction of the front star of the enigenss : the union of all pieces does not denote difficulty of and using adhesive ciano-acrylic and abrasive paper is possbile to eliminate several the signs of splice. Unfortunately the splice wing-fuselage will demand a little more of putty to overwhelming the empty space (nearly a milimeter) between these two members of the model for the length of the line of splice of the same; fortunately the wing spar of the D piece the 10 and railroads for same the presents to the inside of seeds wings give one good solidity to all together.
Also transparent pieces representing the prow of the aircraft with the emplacement of the gunlayer do not have hinges of small reply and turn out opportune to insert to their inside streeps of plasticard in order conferring greater solidity to their union and for handle them when the sign of their splice will have to be eliminated on the advanced part of the same (fortunately for the under will placed the piece in plastic no. 11 that it eliminates here of the all problem) : this phase is much delicate for parts that will have to remain transparent and for the difficulty to use the putty. I have preferred therefore to use few amounts of ciano-acrylic adhesive with extreme caution on the splice zones, adhesive that once dried up I have corresponded with as much caution. For the inside of the emplacement of the gunlayer beyond to the pavement, piece D 7, unfortunately not there is null other: also here there is the same speech of the cokpit for the extension and the clear of the transparent parts, and therefore will be necessary to put hand to the documentation. The union to the fuselage of the emplacement of the gunlayer, at least in the kit from mounted me (I have chosen to reproduce a warplane of the first series with the front defensive emplacement), is not perfectly coinciding: in spite of the several one tried to you it remained always a small but annoying they scale in how much the fuselage more was tightened of two joined transparent pieces... These pieces, if putting on the plans in scale, appear too much abundant in length at least of one good milimeter: in order to obviate to this fact and also to reduce the climb with the fuselage, I have cut from goldsmith a part in excess of the transparents before joining them to the front fuselage.
After this, I used again the putty with attention for the transparent parts that are convenient protect with adhesive tape Tamiya since these moments without to wait for the phase of the coloration of the model. Transparent piece CP 7 that reproduces the cupola of the machine-gunner under the posterior zone of the fuselage does not introduce the opening for the relative machine-gun: for being able to realize it same piece CP 7 will have therefore to be pierced, but with a lot much caution... It is better to omit the four transparent pieces CP 8 in fuselage, replacing them afther the coloration with the Kristal Klear and to postpone, to such point, also the union of the cowlings motor to the rest of the mounted model in order not to have to make of the "acrobatics" for being able to paint the front part of the fuselage... The four cowlings motor then had advancedly air inlet whose reproduction in the kit is entrusted to a piece in resin that but reproduces the part begins them: in the truth the air inlet was continuation from a rectangular relief that extended end nearly to the term of the motor hood. I try again opportune to omit pieces in resin and to reproduce these air inlets with plasticard of very small thickness glue with ciano acrylic and joined together with putty. Pieces that reproduce the stars of the engines seem approximate but also they cannot be replaced with the those of set RCR. On the wings must be reproduced the two beacons on the edge of entrance to sides of the two gondolas motor and the lights of extremity. In last, the wheels of set RCR have the preciser ship-boys regarding those in plastic but they are of too much abundant dimensions for profitablely being able to be used with kit the Special Hobby. All is made of the construction of the kit who is accompanied from more than suitable sheet instructions whose validity extends also to the indications for the external coloration of the model.
To construction completed, it is possible to see the model capture very well the shapes and dimensions of the real aircraft with the small exception found by me in order to the emplacement of the gunlayer: there is in fact correspondence with the drawnings published on Ali d’Italia no.15 while some is also small difference with those of the special issue of the CMPR. In conclusion, even if as an example a greater detail for the inner ones would have been favorable, cannot more not be than satisfied than this model.
The P.108, altought having been realised in three years only in 24 exemplary (the amount of the production less than two days than a B.17 or a B.24... however the apparatus seed-manufacturer of a country as the Italy of 30-40 years, to pre-eminent agricultural economy as it was ours, surer could not be allowed...), occupies the classic place of relief in the history of italian aeronautics, also because it was the single four-motor bomber of the Axis employed in war actions, framed in the 274 sq. of the R.A.
The model was realised at the end of september 2004, boxing from the Special Hobby and also by Flying Machines (already famous from years for its Re.2005 in 1/48). In the two confections we find a stamp equal, composed in about 100 pieces in plastic (subdivided in 4 trees more fifth for the transparent parts realized also they to injection) and 61 parts in resin (between these also finishes them of the drainages motor of nocturnal type: the reproduction in scale of the fins of the same ones is remarkable). The differences are in the sheet instructions (in the course of the construction come omitted the parts that do not have to be used for the version proposed from the confection, respective 1° series for the Flying Machines and 2° series for the Special Hobby), in the camouflage outlines and the decals.
The S.H. gives the decals for P.108 MM.22004 (after carried to the standard of the 2°serie and with the green color for upper surfaces and black smoke for under surfaces, also for national insigna in fuselage) and for the P.108 M.M. 24325, last copy of series, with a similar camouflage, with the "americanized" insignia received to Grottaglie (a city nera Taranto, aslo to day with an airport where are based the AV-8B Plus of Italian Navy) little before the disastrous landing in hand the American pilots. The decals of U.S.A.A.F. stars have not the red bords: if you examined the photographic images, can you see them... For the coloration of the external parts the Special Hobby suggests the superficial use of camouflage green 2 for advanced of both the exemplary proposals from its decals: it is an indication that provokes to me a little perplexity ... In effects P.108 M.M. 22004 was first with the camouflage of green (verde mimetico 2 - F.S. 34092) with spots tawny camouflage (bruno mimetico - F.S. 30125 or 30129) and camouflage yellow (giallo mimetico 2 -F.S. 33481) and superficial inferiors in camouflage gray (grigio mimetico F.S. 36293); after to have been carried to the standard of the 2° serie, also its camouflage of upper surfaces was modified in a monochromatic livery, but this happened in the summer of 1942, when that is within in the full vigor the use of the new colors of “tavola 10”. The same P.108 M.M. 22004 after to have operated for a first period with the upper surfaces in gray, like other exemplary of the unit, received the obliteration of the insignia and of the superficial inferiors with the black smoke. The P.108 M.M. 24235 was a late production plane and therefore there is not doubts on the use of verde oliva scuro 2...
The F.M. proposes instead the P.108 M.M. 22003 on which it found the dead the son of Mussolini Cap. Bruno Mussolini, (characterized from the camouflage with patch of buno mimetico and giallo mimetico 2 on verde mimetico 2, motor cowlings in yellow; this warplane was the only with the number of the Sq. in fuselage), and the P.108 code red 2 - white 2 M.M. 22005, in verde oliva 2 with the firm of the son of the Duce in fuselage. The external differences between the two series are concentrated on the presence of the front defensive emplacement in first and on the configuration of the cowlings motor with the position of the drainages (in the first series are in the advanced part of the cowlings while in the second one they were placed low) : all these particular are in the stamp and the modeller can choose to realize a first series with the confection of the S.H. or to make the contrary with that F.M., held account also of the several configurations of the real aircrafts that to times did not introduce unit standards. If you have Sky Model decals n°72-014 (with one portion dedicated also to the P.108 is had the sheet Sky Models) then this choice may protrae very beyond the purchase of the confection...
Analyzing the stamp, we can see that is so cleaned and is a type more similar to usual industrial pulling : not there are slobbers or withdrawals, but on pieces we still do not find the wrist pins of reference for the assemblage and to the inside of many pieces are remained of the residuals of the extracting machines. Those present on the vertical drifts prevent to the closing of seeds fuselages and clearly they go eliminates; always two seeds fuselages, the several panellings are affected in diseguale way (deeper to sides and nearly imperceptible to of under). Also to the inside of wings and diving planes there are the residual of the extracting machines to eliminate; like for all the kit in short run, part of the plastic of the piece then must delicately detach pieces from the press trees (otherwise will remain on the sprue...) cleaning up them then from the residual same. Attention to the printed B, where the different are inserted between the other cowlings and gondolas of the motors: from the first moment pieces seem all equal ones but therefore it is not (the cowlings bring back in fact the various location of the drainages, while the second ones follow the different curving of the wings), and it runs concretely the risk to make confusion. It is better to study the instruction sets very well before detaching contained pieces in it. Beginning the construction as usual from the inner, it must be evidenced that with the exception of brought back how much in the instructions, the general color of the inner was the aluminum.
The C.M.P.R. of Ravenna published a special supplement to the n.1/2000 of its Notiziario di Plastimodellismo dedicated to the P.108 (also in the two varying from transport) : the Author of that publication filler the directed testimony of a former airman of the R.A. in service near the 274 sq. that he reminds the inners of fuselage, hold bombs, undercarriages, leaves in natural metal, with the single dashboard in black. The kit supplies some pieces in resin and plastic for the cokpit: dashboard, tunnel instrumentation, inserts and seats pilots in resin to insert all on a pavement (piece no. 14) in plastic. The rear vertical bulkhead do not create problems in his insertion to the inside of seeds fuselages, but all gives a poor idea of the inside : there are not the lateral instrumentations and the walls are smooth. For this zone therefore, what it supplies a kit can be more considered a line of departure for some detail (or an occasion for the producers of improvement resin set...), also because, the piece that reproduces the hood of the cokpit is much limpid and is extended its leaves transparent. The same hood is placed without problems of its space, not therefore the piece D 10 that acts as from bulkhead in fuselage and wing spar and D 8 (other bulkhead) : these then annoy the closing of the semifuselages (to the inside of the same ones beyond to cited pieces for the inside and the bulkheads we do not have other, circumstance that it forces to close the emplacements in fuselage... and here they are worth the considerations as soon as made for the space pilots...) and go both erased a lot.
 |
 |
The assemblage and the corrected alignment of seeds fuselages, in spite of the absence of the reply hinges and the dimensions of the same ones, are not much difficult : using ciano-acrylic glue and abrasive paper, the use of putty in order to make to disappear the signs of the splice of two pieces, will be much limiting to little centimeters over and under the part they of same and the some zones of the rudder centers. Following the instructions, passes to seeds wings respective uniforms in the two great pieces : not there are reply hinges but their union is simplest, of all the free one from putty; also the insertion on the two external motor gondolas of representing pieces in resin the two operated by remote control turrets Z 2, do not give to some problem (canes of the machine-guns are better to insert them to completed coloration). The inferior parts of the four motor gondolas are realized like pieces separated and it must be used a few of putty in order to join together them with the wing surface. More putty it is demanded always in order to join together the bases of the cowlings of the motors to the gondolas andirons. The necessity to reproduce the air intakes of the real airplane in this zone in fact has forced to realize four pieces to part (numbered D 5) that represent these sockets exactly and unfortunately the alignment of the same ones to the gondolas motor is not optimal, with some solutions of continuity. Before assembling relative D pieces 5 to the inner gondolas motor, it must also be inserted behind of they a piece in resin (no. 4) that it reproduces the vertical bulkhead of the legs of the main undercarriage to which goes joined a horizontal bulkhead (b 16) that in its turn it reproduces the roof of the same space: the residual of tap of the resin present behind pieces also 4 go eliminate otherwise would not concur the union of the piece D 5 with the engine’s gondola. The motor cowlings are reproduced respective in two pieces everyone and inside them, will be inserted one discreet reproduction of the front star of the enigenss : the union of all pieces does not denote difficulty of and using adhesive ciano-acrylic and abrasive paper is possbile to eliminate several the signs of splice. Unfortunately the splice wing-fuselage will demand a little more of putty to overwhelming the empty space (nearly a milimeter) between these two members of the model for the length of the line of splice of the same; fortunately the wing spar of the D piece the 10 and railroads for same the presents to the inside of seeds wings give one good solidity to all together.
Also transparent pieces representing the prow of the aircraft with the emplacement of the gunlayer do not have hinges of small reply and turn out opportune to insert to their inside streeps of plasticard in order conferring greater solidity to their union and for handle them when the sign of their splice will have to be eliminated on the advanced part of the same (fortunately for the under will placed the piece in plastic no. 11 that it eliminates here of the all problem) : this phase is much delicate for parts that will have to remain transparent and for the difficulty to use the putty. I have preferred therefore to use few amounts of ciano-acrylic adhesive with extreme caution on the splice zones, adhesive that once dried up I have corresponded with as much caution. For the inside of the emplacement of the gunlayer beyond to the pavement, piece D 7, unfortunately not there is null other: also here there is the same speech of the cokpit for the extension and the clear of the transparent parts, and therefore will be necessary to put hand to the documentation. The union to the fuselage of the emplacement of the gunlayer, at least in the kit from mounted me (I have chosen to reproduce a warplane of the first series with the front defensive emplacement), is not perfectly coinciding: in spite of the several one tried to you it remained always a small but annoying they scale in how much the fuselage more was tightened of two joined transparent pieces... These pieces, if putting on the plans in scale, appear too much abundant in length at least of one good milimeter: in order to obviate to this fact and also to reduce the climb with the fuselage, I have cut from goldsmith a part in excess of the transparents before joining them to the front fuselage.
After this, I used again the putty with attention for the transparent parts that are convenient protect with adhesive tape Tamiya since these moments without to wait for the phase of the coloration of the model. Transparent piece CP 7 that reproduces the cupola of the machine-gunner under the posterior zone of the fuselage does not introduce the opening for the relative machine-gun: for being able to realize it same piece CP 7 will have therefore to be pierced, but with a lot much caution... It is better to omit the four transparent pieces CP 8 in fuselage, replacing them afther the coloration with the Kristal Klear and to postpone, to such point, also the union of the cowlings motor to the rest of the mounted model in order not to have to make of the "acrobatics" for being able to paint the front part of the fuselage... The four cowlings motor then had advancedly air inlet whose reproduction in the kit is entrusted to a piece in resin that but reproduces the part begins them: in the truth the air inlet was continuation from a rectangular relief that extended end nearly to the term of the motor hood. I try again opportune to omit pieces in resin and to reproduce these air inlets with plasticard of very small thickness glue with ciano acrylic and joined together with putty. Pieces that reproduce the stars of the engines seem approximate but also they cannot be replaced with the those of set RCR. On the wings must be reproduced the two beacons on the edge of entrance to sides of the two gondolas motor and the lights of extremity. In last, the wheels of set RCR have the preciser ship-boys regarding those in plastic but they are of too much abundant dimensions for profitablely being able to be used with kit the Special Hobby. All is made of the construction of the kit who is accompanied from more than suitable sheet instructions whose validity extends also to the indications for the external coloration of the model.
 |
 |
To construction completed, it is possible to see the model capture very well the shapes and dimensions of the real aircraft with the small exception found by me in order to the emplacement of the gunlayer: there is in fact correspondence with the drawnings published on Ali d’Italia no.15 while some is also small difference with those of the special issue of the CMPR. In conclusion, even if as an example a greater detail for the inner ones would have been favorable, cannot more not be than satisfied than this model.
Many thanks to
all MPM Group for the review sample, specially to Alfred Riedl, Pavla Harazimowa
and Petr Sobisek