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LF/KORA Models 1/72 SAIMAN 202bis Communications by Richard Mendes |
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The Società Industrie Meccaniche Aeronautiche Navali (SAIMAN) 202 side-by-side seat cabin monoplane with fixed landing gear powered by a 4-cylinder air cooled 120hp de Havilland Gipsy Major engine was designed by Mario Bottino in response to a Ministero dell'Aeronautica Militare Italiana requirement, the civilly-registered prototype I-BOTT (after Bottino). Three hundred-ninety aircraft of all variants built prior to the September 8, 1943 Italian Armistice. The first production aircraft were 202bis’ incorporating minor cabin changes for civilian aircrew training followed by the 202/I with improved fuselage design and repositioned tailplane. To compete in a 1939 touring aircraft rally the 4-cylinder air cooled 130hp Alfa Romeo 110-powered 202 RL and four-seat SAIMAN 204 R with lengthened cabin and longer nose powered by a 6-cylinder 205hp Alfa Romeo 115 engine were built. To meet an urgent operational requirement for military trainers in October 1939 the Regia Aeronautica ordered a simplified version of the 202 RL as the 202/M, Compagnia Nazionale Aeronautica building 85, Societá per Azioni Costruzioni Aeronavali 65, SAIMAN 215, several being employed for liaison duties and by Italian Air Attaches. Before WWII and up till the September 8, 1943 Italian Armistice SAIMAN 202s principally served with the RAI subsequently with the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR), Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana and Croatian Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske post-war with the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) until 1951. The Bulgarian Кралски Български Военновъздушни Сили, Deutsche Luftwaffe, Aeronautica Regala Romana and Schweizer Luftwaffe may have flown second hand planes, impressed or captured 202bis’ and 202/Ms documentation being inconclusive although the British Royal Air Force is known to have flown a captured, fully re-camouflaged and marked 202/M during the war. |
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The 1/72 scale 2018-vintage LF/KORA Models injected plastic KPK72101 SAIMAN 202 "I-BOTT", KPK72102 202bis, KPK72085, 72086, 72093, 72094, 72102, 72103 202/M single, KPK72095, 72096, 72097 202/Ms doubled with Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6s and early 2000’s-vintage Italian Kit Wings resin IW08 "SAIMAN 202" are the only known model kits of these cabin monoplanes in any scale the latter out of production. Adequately molded with good cockpit detailing, clear plastic cargo windows for the KPK72102 202bis the apparent sole parts difference amongst the others installing them necessitating having to cut out scribed areas inside fuselage halves, it and the 72086 202/M were purchased direct from LF Models on June 7, 2020 the main variants in RAI service during WWII as well as the newest Italian aircraft model subjects of my kit collection.
Model painting likewise was straightforward; cockpit interiors Testors Flat Black and White 15:1 mix enamels "light gray" approximating that surrounding Internet photo of the post-WWII restored Museum of Aviation Rimini, Emilia-Romagna Italy's 202/M. The exterior was painted Humbrol and Testors Model Master enamels replicating CMPR/GAVS Giallo Mimetico 3, Verde Mimetico 1, Marrone Mimetico 1 colors in Schema C1 livery per kit painting guide depicting "I-ABJU" formerly owned by Frederico Bazzi in RAI markings operating in Italian East Africa during 1940, kit decals exclusively used for the model build and oversprayed with Testors Clear Semi-Gloss Lacquer.
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Aircraft: S.A.I.M.A.N. 202 Manufacturer: Societa Anonima Industrie Mecchaniche Aeronautiche Navali (Caproni) Type: Communications/Training Year: 1936 Engine: Alfa Romeo 110, 4-cylinder in-line, air-cooled, 120 hp Wingspan: 35 ft 7 in (10.85 m) Length: 25 ft 3 in (7.70 m) Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.05 m) Weight: 2,046 lb (928 kg) (Loaded) Maximum Speed: 143 mph (230 km/h) Ceiling: 16,400 ft (5,000 m) Range: 435 miles (700 km) Armament: None Crew: 2 |
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