Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

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Rod The Fixer
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Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Rod The Fixer » Wed Jun 23, 2021 10:14 am

Hi all,
I'm start to build the S.55 flown by the italian aviator Francesco de Pinedo (February 16, 1890 – September 2, 1933).
In 1927, with Carlo Del Prete and the engineer Vitale Zacchetti, De Pinedo flew on this Savoia-Marchetti S.55, called "Santa Maria", from Elmas (Sardinia, Italy) to the Cape Verde Islands, to Buenos Aires and finally reached Arizona.

Image
De Pinedo - S.55 Santa Maria in New Orleans

If you are interested to deepen the topic, here an interesting site.

As Usual a quick look inside the box:

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Any tips or info to improve the build are welcome :biggrin:

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Editor
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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Editor » Wed Jun 23, 2021 12:27 pm

Great subject and a great plane.

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davenport49
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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by davenport49 » Thu Jun 24, 2021 7:54 am

Some questions:
1. As a flying boat, how did it get to Arizona?
2. What happened after that?
3. With the engines canted at such an angle, what were the flight characteristics like?

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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Editor » Thu Jun 24, 2021 11:39 am

1-2) The flight to Arizona was part of a "Four Continents" flight in 1927 made by de Pinedo and a small crew using a single S.55 named "Santa Maria". The plane departed from Cagliari, Sardinia and flew to the Spanish Sahara and then onto Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and through the Caribbean and across the Gulf of Mexico to Louisiana, Texas and Arizona where a volunteer accidently burned the plane while refuelling. de Pinedo and his crew were to fly to San Diego and then return to NY and back to Italy.

3) Canted engines were mounted this way in the event of an engine loss, it made the aircraft more controllable. Obviously speed suffered as result. Another advantage of the engines mounted this way is that they provided greater lift given the heavy fuel loads these planes were carrying.

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Rod The Fixer
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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Rod The Fixer » Thu Jul 08, 2021 2:23 am

First steps, twin hull assembling ...

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

I'll paint interior with Light Gray FS 36495 or FS 36307.

Anyone can suggest me further documentation on the S.55 ?
Thanks in advance

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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Editor » Thu Jul 08, 2021 7:54 pm

The twin floats look amazing.

What kind of information are you looking for the S.55? Have you chatted with Stefano?

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Rod The Fixer
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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Rod The Fixer » Sat Jul 10, 2021 2:08 am

Editor wrote:
Thu Jul 08, 2021 7:54 pm
The twin floats look amazing.

What kind of information are you looking for the S.55? Have you chatted with Stefano?
Hi Vince.
I'm looking for all information available about this plane, because I haven't found much documentation
Sorry, but I don't know Stefano :esmile:

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Rod The Fixer
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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Rod The Fixer » Sun Jul 11, 2021 3:17 am

Cockpit and fitting test ...

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

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Rod The Fixer
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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Rod The Fixer » Thu Jul 15, 2021 11:14 am

Center wing section, wings and extra large hull assembled ...

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

First steps on tail section ...

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

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Rod The Fixer
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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Rod The Fixer » Thu Jul 15, 2021 11:15 am

Center wing section, wings and extra large hull assembled ...

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

First steps on tail section ...

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

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Rod The Fixer
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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Rod The Fixer » Tue Jul 20, 2021 3:12 pm

Main body assembled ...

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Engine fitting test ...

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

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Rod The Fixer
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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Rod The Fixer » Sat Jul 24, 2021 9:50 am

First layer of Aircraft Gray

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Editor » Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:56 pm

Great work Rodolfo, it looks great so far.

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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Rod The Fixer » Sat Jul 31, 2021 4:15 am

Decal applied and painted the black line over the wings ...

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Image
by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

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Re: Savoia-Marchetti S.55 - Dora Wings 1/72

Post by Editor » Sat Jul 31, 2021 10:18 am

It looks gorgeous Rodolfo.

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