SBS4008

The Macchi M.33 in 1:48 scale

A kit of the Italian Macchi M.33 racing flying boat in 1:48 scale. The subject is among the machines you come across only rarely in the modeling ranges, so a finished model will be impossible to miss in a display case next to ordinary fighters.

The real subject

The M.33 was created in the mid-1920s for the Schneider Trophy, the international race for floatplanes and flying boats. That race pushed aviation development forward at the time as few other events did: the machines were built for a single purpose, namely to fly the course as fast as possible, and everything else gave way to it.

The M.33 is a flying boat, so it sits on the water directly on its hull and has no floats. The engine is set high above the surface, so that the propeller does not pick up spray. Against the biplane rivals of the day the M.33 took the route of a single lifting wing, which in the mid-1920s was a solution that racing machines were only beginning to use.

Building and painting tips

• Try the parts dry before you glue them for good.
• Cut the surplus material away with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the remainder off carefully.
• Wash and degrease the parts before painting.
• Racing machines were built clean and smooth, so it pays to spend time on filler primer and sanding; a rough base shows under a gloss finish.
• A flying boat has no landing gear, so decide in advance what the model will stand on or how you will settle it on a water surface.
• The exact building sequence and the recommended paints are given by the manufacturer in the instructions.

Terms of supply

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Paints, glue, a stand and a base are not included in the box, unless stated otherwise.