Airfix 1/72 Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79 Sparviero (Hawk)

AIRFIX 1:72 SAVOIA-MARCHETTI S.M.79 SPARVIERO
'In The Box Review'

Reviewer: Mark B (SMAKR Webmaster)
extra aftermarket and other information supplied by Chris Busbridge
Addendum about colours supplied by Paul De Sanctis

Kit: Airfix 1:72 Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79 Mk II - kit # 04007

Aircraft: Generally regarded as the best Italian land-based torpedo bomber of the second world war the Sparviero (Hawk) was responsible for the sinking of more Allied merchant ships in the Mediterranean than most other axis aircraft. It first appeared in 1934 as a commercial airliner with the three engined layout chosen primarily for safety reasons. A bomber version was developed in 1936 and when the Spanish Civil War broke out and Italy began supplying S.M.79's to the Nationalist Air Force. Some 100 examples were being used in Spain as day and night bombers, often without fighter escort, due to their high speed and they were among the most efficient machines in service. By the time the Civil War ended Spain had chosen the type as the nucleus for its air force.

In 1940 when Italy entered WW2 a new version of the Sparviero had been developed, as a torpedo bomber, and designated S.M.79-II and this type equipped some two-thirds of the Italian bomber and torpedo-bomber groups. They were active in all theatres of Europe and the Mediterranean such as Algeria, Tunisia, France, Greece, Malta and Yugoslavia. In the Mediterranean they achieved their greatest successes destroying a mass of Allied Merchant and Warships while bomber versions operated against Malta. After Italy capitulated in 1943 some S.M.79s that were still airworthy joined the Allies and others were used by Germans in Northern Italy.

The Box: As with the case of the current Airfix line of releases the box contains plenty of information for the modeller prior to opening it up. The boxart is appealing and this kit is marketed as a Series 4 (more experienced scale) kit with a 2-hours flying token attached which is obviously something only redeemable in the UK. On the side of the box a list of Humbrol paints by number used in the kit are provided, dimensions of the finished model (300mm span x 205 mm length), Versions (Italian) and number of parts on the sprues (102).

Parts: All the parts are found in the box with no protective bag or plastic covering them with some smaller pieces having detached themselves and are floating loosely. There are 102 (so Airfix states - which I assume also includes clear parts) light grey injection molded parts on a number of small sprues with the wings not attached to sprues. There is a little bit of flash apparent but nothing that will provide the average modeller with any problems. The level of detail on the parts is quite good with raised lines to effect fabric and wood panelling etc as appropriate. There is no rivet detail, which is a relief and the plastic conveys the early 80's style of Airfix molding* so is quite good, although attachment points are really thick. There are seven clear parts which are not all that clear and typical of Airfix quality - the fuselage windows are joined together in one strip and are not individual.

* The original Airfix S.M.79 kit dates back from the 60's and this is obviously a reissued version of that aged kit.

Instructions: The assembly steps are provided on a single double-sided A4 sheet with half a dozen sketches outlining the process. Overall the steps are easy to follow but are not precise in placement - thankfully though parts have locating pins and alignment tabs so this shouldn't present too much problem. The other sheet is A3 sized folded to make A4 booklet setting out brief history in several languages on the front page, with symbols and Humbrol paint numbers used on the second page, a completely blank third page and a three-view diagram on the back page for the solitary version supplied by the kit, this time including Humbrol names with paint numbers in several languages for the main external scheme and other areas (eg: spinner) highlighted with Humbrol numbers. Decal placement is not really explained with only basic info provided and the decals already on the aircraft - but this should not present any real concerns because there are only a few decals in the kit anyway.

Versions: Only one torpedo-armed version is produced in the kit S.M.79, 252a Squadrigilia, 104o Gruppo Autonomo AS, Raggrupamento Aerosilurante, Regia Aeronautica, Siena, Italy 1942-3 (say that with a mouthful of soap!). This wears a mottled medium green (Humbrol 102) camouflage pattern over upper medium grey (H94) and lower light grey (H64) surfaces. I'm not convinced this is accurate - especially when you look at the boxart!! - but I will worry about this when I build it and use some reference material.

Decals: The decal sheet is small providing only roundels, serials, unit badge and cowling stripes with very good colour register. Unfortunately, as you would expect in that it has been floating loosely in the box, the decals are scratched and one roundel is unusable as is one unit badge, if one were a perfectionist. There was backing paper with the sheet but this was not on the sheet when I opened the box. Some spares will be needed.

Accuracy: This kit is not noted for its outstanding accuracy and there are several aftermarket parts available for sprucing up the kit and I will leave you to read the section below supplied by Chris Busbridge. But even without putting the kit together I spotted the distinctive humpback feature above the cockpit is far too sleek and ill-replicated by the kit. You will need to extensively modify the kit with aftermarket sets to get an accurate depiction.

Detail: Panel lines are raised but finely done and it looks well done on the fuselage and rudder sections although it can still only be described as 'adequate' and certainly no Hasegawa or Academy type of offering. There is no interior wheel well detail at all. The cockpit is quite good for an Airfix offering with a long cabin floor with stubs to place the pilot and co-pilots seats upon, which are of course bucket seat types. Control wheels are provided for the pilot and co-pilot as well as a large instrument panel but there is absolutely no detail upon this (not that you would see much once the cockpit is closed). A rear bulkhead and cabin wall separating gunner from cockpit is also provided. Three figures are provided for pilot, co-pilot and rear gunner. The rear gunner is not provided with a seat but is sort of standing/squatting with a painful locating tab under his feet to glue him into the floor and he is supplied with a basic but realistic rendition of a gun to use. The interior cabin is completely sparse and a fair bit of work will be needed to spruce up the inside, if one is to have the cabin door open and be able to see inside via the fuselage windows. The engines are also quite basic but are supplied in two cylinder blocks for each engine but Airfix have supplied 14 cylinder versions, when the aircraft had Alfa Romeo 9-cylinders (thanks Dick for the info). The undercarriage is made up of a trapeze type outfit with wheels provided in halves and one would describe these as being standard in detail for this scale and nothing spectacular.

Options: Airfix have provided the modeller with a fair few choices in this kit in terms of moveable and positionable components. The rudder is separate and thus can be set in the desired position and of course as already stated figures are supplied to fill in the interior space. Guns are supplied for the rear upper gunner and I assume the cabin door area - unfortunately the latter of mine is broken. There does not seem to be any option to display the belly gunner with no gun or figure provided. The cabin door is a separate piece and can with a little work be hinged open. Some parts of the landing gear are labelled as "do not cement" indicating that some areas are either moveable or positionable. Trailing edge flaps on the main wing are trapped by their hinges so these are able to be moveable.

Impressions: Obviously I have never built this kit but have heard a hell of a lot of things about it and aftermarket sets as shown below must be purchased to have an accurate and correct depiction. It certainly looks okay in the box and dry test fitting components doesn't reveal any major concerns as far as fitting is concerned, although the wings are slightly warped but nothing a few rubber bands and bulldog clips won't fix. The interior cabin and cockpit will need some scratchbuilding if you want any essence of detail displayed and with the belly gondola type section provided you will need to also keep this in mind. It is a kit I have always wanted in my collection so I am still looking forward to building it one day when I am confident of getting that mottled type camouflage downpact. I do question the painting info supplied by Airfix and will need to look into this later. With the additional aftermarket sets used, I am sure this will turn into a decent project and would recommend.

Other Comments: Rather than purchasing this kit and trying to make all the modifications as Chris points out below, you may want to wait around for a little while because Italeri have announced an S.M.79 in 1/72 for release in 2002! If it's anything like the apparent great little MC.202 recent release, here's hoping for a ripper!

Addendum#1 - Some extra comments/information supplied by Chris Busbridge

The Airfix S.79 kit is a very old kit and there are, or were, plenty of aftermarket items to help. Here is a list of some of them:

Ali d'Italia monographs are very useful as reference material.
Italian Wings resin "corrected" wing, which come with separate control surfaces including the leading edge slats. It also came with the wing fillets as separate pieces, which were a pain to fit. Despite not being entirely correct (they were based on incorrect plans), they are still better than the kit parts.
Italian Wings resin engine cowling set (includes replacement engines, wheels and undercarriage doors but strangely ...no exhausts). In order to attach the engines to either the fuselage or wings, cone shaped fairings had to be made. These resin items are now sold as "Old Wings" - probably a phoenix company - at http://www.italiankits.it/oldwings.html with prices in Lire.
The Falcon vac-form corrected canopy also has the distinctive humpback feature. It corrects the crude Airfix moulding. This is a vital feature to have right.
The Eduard brass etch interior detail set is not really necessary as nothing can be seen very well through the small windows. The exterior stuff was not much cop either!
Both Tauro and Skymodels do very nice transfers which are much better than the transfers that come with the kit.

So what you get in the end is an extensively modified kit, where the only bits left of the original kit is the fuselage and the tail surfaces.

It might be cheaper (and easier) to get the Vintage Models of Italy resin 1/72 scale kit instead. I have one on order.

Addendum#2 - Some extra comments/information supplied by Paul G. De Sanctis

Firstly, I'm grateful to "dear old Airfix" because she has been releasing this unique 1/72 kit since the early Sixties and - albeit for Italian modellers - is very important.

Yes, the kit has his own inaccuracies but is overall acceptable, providing some modifications are done; Examples:

the ventral gondola can be left closed as this was the usual -in flight- configuration;
the engines need to be replaced;
the landing gear needs some improvements (but not too much!);
only one torpedo was carried (usually the port one) as the weight of two affected the aircraft's performance too much; and
the Mgs are okay, the propellers also, etc.

Now onto the kit colours:-

Those reported in the instructions are accurate: it is true! Indeed the kit depicts a first half 1943 machine of the so-called "Raggruppamento Aerosilurante" of 252^ Sq., 104� Gruppo Autonomo, Siena/Ampugnano based (torpedo-bomber group, 252 Squadron, 104 solo-wing). These machines were painted to blend into the sea due their torpedo-bomber role (the boxart illustrated is too much conspicuous when viewed from above, being sand-yellow painted!). If you are concerned about this I suggest these colours should be as follows:

Top surfaces: "grigio mimetico 1" (camouflage grey No1) FS. 36231 (e.g. Humbrol 140) overall, plus
"verde oliva scuro 1" (dark olive green No1) FS. 34086 (e.g. Humbrol 141) mottle, to give camouflage effect (*);
Undersides: "grigio-azzurro chiaro 1" (slate blue-grey No1) FS. 36307 (e.g. Humbrol 66);
The "Regia Aeronautica"'s insignia are quite accurate and usable, so the kit is O.K. And enjoiable!

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