The RAF's sole Savoia Marchetti SM-77 - Egypt, 1942

[loupgarou]

I cannot imagine how those parts could go together.
Very curious,waiting  for developments.

[PR19_Kit]

Actually the outer Lancaster wings are EXACTLY the same thickness and chord as the S.55's inner wing section. Amazing really, and it surprised me when I tried it a few weeks ago.

And it makes for a SERIOUSLY large span too.

[jcf]

The two Fiat-engined Italian Dornier Do X had the engine nacelles mounted on pylons.



When the first Do X was originally engined with Jupiter radials, they were also mounted on pylons.

[PR19_Kit]

Oh yes, I do like the look of that setup. 

Thanks for the pointer Jon.

Hm, a section of tailplane would work quite well for the pylon, maybe thickened a bit for crew access as Fred suggested?

[jcf]

Your notion sounds a bit like a super S.66. 

[PR19_Kit]

It is, which is why it's called an S.77............... 

[jcf]

 

The radiators for the Fiat A.22 engines were in the leading edge of pylons behind
movable covers. The air intakes (oil cooler and carb air?) were below the fwd
propellers.

[Tophe]

I'll have most of both fuselages left

Tophe?

Two remaining fuselages/hulls is a good inspiration for what-ifers, yes

[jcf]

The Merlin XX of the Lancaster is only slightly larger (3" longer, 1" wider, 5" taller) than
the Fiat A22-R used on the two Italian Do X, so the nacelle layout of those aircraft is a
good guide for designing your installation.

[jcf]

Oh yes, I do like the look of that setup. 

Thanks for the pointer Jon.

Hm, a section of tailplane would work quite well for the pylon, maybe thickened a bit for crew access as Fred suggested?

Both the Jupiter and Fiat pylons had access hatches on the sides, you can see one on the
photo of the Jupiter test installation, and two open doors on the second photo I posted
of R.I. Umberto Maddalena.

[PR19_Kit]

I like the idea of doors in the sides of the pylons. Something very 'Empire Boat'-ish about that idea somehow. 

I've started on the construction of this monster now, gluing the Lanc wing pairs together and cutting out the Lanc cockpit parts to enhance that of the S77, not that it's that difficult. The stock cockpit of the S55 kit has two vestigial seats and a paired control column that would do credit to a steam powered battleship! 

The sprues for the S55 are HUGE, fully 7 mm in dia in many places, and the whole thing makes a Mach2 kit look delicate!



Trying to cut out the twin control wheels of the S55 reduced them both to scrap, the sprue gates were larger than the parts themselves, so I decided to use the ones from the two Lanc kits. Having cut them both out I've managed to lose them both to the Carpet Monster  but maybe they'll show up later. The Revell Lanc BIII is remarkably well detailed, and must have been the leader of the pack before the current Airfix kit came out. It has two complete Merlins included, and I think I'll probably have one 'on show' in the S77 when it's finished off, it'd be rude not to.  The Revell sprues are much more conventionally sized, but there's a LOT of them!



This is just a sample, as with the ones of the S55 above, as I've already cut large chunks off the other sprues.

The main centre section of the S55 has had its outer wings sawn off, later to be mated with the Lanc wings of course, and there'll be a little work needed to fair the upper and lower surfaces together, but not that much, they look like they were designed to go together. 

[jcf]

What was that you were saying about a 'steam battleship'? 

[PR19_Kit]

That's about what it looks like in model form too! Luckily the Lanc bits make it look much neater and more aeroplane like..... 

Both hulls are glued together now, and bring new meaning to the term 'fit problems'. The lower planing surface of the starboard hull has a HALF INCH gap between it and the upper hull! 

I strapped it up with numerous lengths of tape, and it should be OK later on. I've left off the numerous 'clear' portholes as I think they were moulded by Mach2, and I'll use Kristal Kleer, or its equivalent on them. The two larger rectangular hatches  will remain open, and will probably have guns added, if I can find some to suit.

It's going to be a LARGE aeroplane when it's complete, nearly 20" span. Just how I like them. 

[zenrat]

When I built my Sky Pirates Kawanishi H6K5 I placed the wing mounting struts with a pylon. 
Kawanishi H6K5 WIP 2-12-17 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
I built it by wrapping styrene sheet round a tube, gluing and clamping the rear end with clothes pegs and then cutting it to shape when dry.

[tigercat]

https://www.sgtsmess.co.uk/shop/artillery/gn9-qa-oerlikon-20mm-aa-with-pedestal-mount/

How about a 20mm  if not the site does lots of other interesting bits