1:72 Macchi M 33 rigging wire set

Macchi M 33 - rigging wire set 1:72 from SBS Model

Rigging, that is the system of bracing wires and rods between the hull, the wing and the floats, is among the most visually exposed features of aircraft of the 1920s. On a model in 1:72 scale it decides the overall impression more than most small details. This metal set from SBS Model replaces improvising with fishing line or stretched sprue by a ready-made solution of uniform thickness and color. It is an accessory among the metal and photo-etched parts; the kit of the aircraft is not included.

The real subject

The Macchi M.33 was an Italian racing flying boat built for the international Schneider Trophy speed races in the mid-1920s. The hull was a boat, the engine was carried above the wing on a system of struts and the whole assembly was completed by bracing wires that held the geometry of the airframe and carried the loads. It is precisely this cobweb of wire that makes a model of a racing boat a build where it pays to plan the procedure in advance.

Building and painting tips

Install the wires only after the main parts have been painted, otherwise they are hard to paint over. Pre-drill the holes for the attachments with the finest drill, ideally in a pin vice. Degrease the metal parts and glue them with cyanoacrylate glue applied with the tip of a piece of wire, not from the tube. Tension them gradually and carefully; an over-tensioned wire will pull out its attachment. At the end a light misting with a shade matching the subject is enough, so that the wires do not look too shiny.

Who the set is for

• Builders of racing seaplanes and aircraft of the 1920s in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who want their bracing at a uniform thickness and taut
• More experienced builders with experience of fine metal work
• Those who want to take a model beyond the level of the contents of the box

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.