|
Special Hobby 1/48 IMAM Ro.43 Reconnaissance Seaplane by Jean Barby |
|
Click the STORMO! Eagle to return to the Gallery |
|
This carrier-borne aircraft took part in the naval war operations in the Mediterranean. It was developed from
a land aeroplane, the Ro 37. The Ro 43 was a catapult seaplane version of the Ro 37 reconnaissance aeroplane. It
was assigned to naval reconnaissance squadrons and was also used as a ship-based observation aeroplane. Cruisers
each carried two Ro 43s aboard, and battleships carried up to four of them. The aeroplanes were launched by
catapult and landed on water. The Ro 43 was a composite-structure two-seat biplane with fold-back wings. It
was powered by a 700 hp Piaggio P.XR radial engine. There was also a single-seat version, the Ro 44, which was
built as a fighter but saw only limited duty. Ro 43s remained in service until September 1943. |
|
|
|
|
The Special Hobby Ro.43 is not for rookies and will fight you all the way! I had to use every trick I know to achieve this result. Fixing the main float to the plane’s body was painful as the two front arms are too short and I had to scratchbuild mine. Fixing the engine correctly is also fairly difficult not to mention the rigging which I did with fishing line heated to tension once in place. I used Ali D'Italia #12 IMAM Ro.43/44 to reproduce as many details as I could, being very careful because all the silver deco has no mercy. The decals went very well, and it is a very decent representation of this Italian floatplane. ALCLAD White Aluminum was used to paint the model. |
Technical Data Aircraft: Meridionali Ro 43 Manufacturer: S.A. Industrie Meccaniche & Aerondutiche Meridionali (I.M.A.M.) Type: Reconnaissance Year: 1936 Engine: Piaggio P.XR, 9-cylinder radial, air-cooled, 700 hp Wingspan: 37 ft 11 1/2 in (11.57 m) Length: 31 ft 10 in (9.71 m) Height: 11ft 6 in (3.51 m) Weight: 5,300 lb (2,400 kg) (Loaded) Maximum Speed: 186 mph (299 km/h) at 8,200 ft (2,499 m) Ceiling: 21,600 ft (6,583 m) Range: 678 miles (1,092 km) Armament: 2 machine guns Crew: 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December, 2017 STORMO! © 2017 |