STORMO! Roden 1/48 Beech F-17/UC-43 Staggerwing by Vince Fiore

Roden 1/48 Beech F-17/UC-43
Staggerwing
by Vince Fiore

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Even though it was the first commercial aircraft to be produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, the Beech 17 showed itself to be one of the most numerous of the biplane formula with an enclosed cockpit. Even today hundreds of American enthusiasts gather annually with their 'Staggerwings' and re-live the thrill of flying in the 1930s. The 'Staggerwing' (the name by which the Beech 17 is universally known) in fact flew for the first time in 1932 and remained in production, passing through various versions, until 1948. The model F-17 was the seventh variant in the series. Although it retained the lines of its forerunners, it had a different engine and different structural details. After its success during the war years, when the Beech 17 was chosen as a military executive model and mass-produced, the last version appeared in the immediate postwar period. This was the G-17S, and it was also the best of all the variants. The UC-43 Traveler was the Military variant with a 450hp R-985-AN-1 engine; 75 ordered for the Army Air Corps and 63 for the United States Navy as the GB-1, 132 were later transferred from the Navy to the Army Air Corps.

Construction

This is the Roden 1/48 0442 Beechcraft UC-43 Staggerwing. There is not too much to say about this kit. Its made by Roden and it went together very well. Well for me, as I have been building resin and short-run kits a lot recently. This plane was the personal aircraft of Alessandro Marchetti head of the design team at Savoia-Marchetti. Decals can be bought online from Arctic decals for ten euros. Mika the gentlemen who produces these decals is a fantastic person to deal with. The paints as usual are MRP (Bianco Avorio 5). If you have not tried them do you will never use enamel or acrylic again - these paints are fantastic.

Technical Data

Aircraft: Beech F-17
Manufacturer: Beech Aircraft Corp.
Type: Light Transport
Year: 1938
Engine: One Jacobs L-6, radial with 7 air-cooled cylinders, 330 hp
Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
Length: 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m)
Height: 10ft 3 in (3.12 m)
Weight: 3,550 lb (1,610 kg) (Loaded)
Maximum Speed: 180 mph at 10,000 ft (289 km/h at 3,050 m)
Ceiling: 19,800 ft (6,040 m)
Range: 700 miles (1,130 km)
Crew: 1
Passengers: 4

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