Valom 1/72 Fokker F.VIIb-3m Civil Transport by Vince Fiore

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The Fokker F.VIIb-3m "Southern Cross" flew across the Pacific Ocean, from San Francisco to Brisbane, Australia, in 83 hours and 38 minutes in 1928, distance of about 7,300 miles (11,900 km). The Southern Cross set out on May 31, 1928, and for two years continued to make record-breaking trans-oceanic flights. In the summer of 1930, Charles Kingsford Smith with a three-man crew completed an around-the-world flight of 50,000 miles (80,450 km). Amongst the records established during these flights was the first flight to New Zealand, on September 10, 1928; a flight from Sydney, Australia, to Croydon, England, in 12 days, 14 hours, and 18 minutes; and an east-west Atlantic crossing of 2,000 miles (3,220 km) on June 24-25, 1930. This plane, which was to become the most popular and most successful Fokker transport, was developed almost by accident. The famous English explorer George Hubert Wilkins, who owned a three-engine F. VIIa-3m, asked for a larger aircraft of the same type but with greater range for exploitation flights. The new plane was also a high-wing monoplane with three engines. It was of steel-tube construction, the fuselage was covered, and the wings were covered with wood. The plane could accommodate any radial engine then manufactured, including the 300 hp Wright Whirlwind, the 365 hp Gnome-Rhone Titan, and the 215 hp Armstrong-Siddeley Lynx. The plane could carry eight-ten passengers plus a two-man crew. The Fokker F.VIlb-3m led the vanguard in commercial aviation at once. Seventy aircraft were built by the Fokker company and another seventy or so were constructed under licence elsewhere, in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Poland, France, Italy and England. The planes built in England by the Avro company were known as Avron Tens, while the F.VIIb-3m in America were called F.10 and F.10A. The American subsidiary sold its planes directly to US operators. The F VIIb-3m flew everywhere in the world. Air France, Swissair, Ala Littoria and KLM flew the plane and it was also sold in Australia, Canada, Spain, and Japan. Variant models were also built, including the F.VIIb-3m/M bomber and the F.VIIb-3m/W seaplane. Amelia Earhart's "Friendship", the plane she flew across the Atlantic in 1928, was a F.VIIb-3m/W seaplane.[1] IMAM Ro.10 The Ro.10 was a license-built version of the F.VII/3m (three-motor) high-wing transport which was originally built by Fokker in 1925 as a conversion of the already successful single-engine F.VIIa. The Italian model fitted three 200 h.p. Alfa Romeo Lynx seven-cylinder radial engines.[2] References: 1) Angelucci, E. and P. Matricardi, Origins-World War 1, Sampson Low Guides, Berkshire, 1977 2) Thompson, J. W., Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-1945, Aero Publishers Inc., Los Angeles, California, 1963

Construction This is the Valom 1/72 Fokker F.VIIb-3m. The plane I-VINY was used by ALA LITTORIA for passenger service. The kit is very nice but its not for a beginner. When the engine housing is assembled and the supports are in place the attachment stations will not allow the housing to be attached in the proper place, so don't panic. Also be aware that the cabin clear part sits a little too high to allow a bond of the wing to the fuselage, therefore the top of the windscreen must be sanded ever so slightly. Because I built this kit before I knew there's a problem with the horizontal stabilizer I was extra careful joining the fuselage. Even though it was perfectly joined it was not parallel to the wing when I inserted the horizontal stabilizer. I therefore, had to shave some plastic from one side of the fuselage. Shaving just a tiny bit at a time until it was right. All the paints used were MRP.

Technical Data Aircraft: Fokker F.VIIb-3m Manufacturer: Fokker Type: Civil Transport Year: 1928 Engine: Three Wright Whirlwind, 9-cylinder radial, air-cooled, 300 hp each Wingspan: 71 ft 3 in (21.71 m) Length: 47 ft 7 in (14.50 m) Height: 12 ft 10in (3.90m) Weight: 11,700 lb (5,300 kg) Maximum Speed: 111 mph (178 km/h) Ceiling: 14,400 ft (4,400 m) Range: 740 mile (1,200 km) Crew: 2 Passengers: 8-10

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