STORMO! Xotic-72 1/72 Savoia Marchetti SM.84 by Richard Mendes

Xotic-72 1/72 Savoia Marchetti SM.84
Torpedo Bomber
by Richard Mendes

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The Savoia-Marchetti S.84 medium level and torpedo bomber was designed by Alexander Marchetti (1884-1966) to replace the aging S.79 Sparviero and although the aerodynamics of the plane were an improvement over the original airplane and had more powerful radial engines it was not as good as the plane it was intended to replace – this was mainly because the S.84 was not as maneuverable as the S.79.

First flying on June 5, 1940, three hundred-nine aircraft of all versions were built during WWII compared to 1,240 S.79s built before, during and after WWII in spite of its age. Many historical accounts have been written about both aircraft. The S.84 luxuriated in some fame after 36° Stormo torpedoed the British capital ship HMS Nelson off Calabria during Operation Halberd on September 27, 1941 knocking it out of action for six months. The S.84 was also used as a level bomber and was used in secondary roles by the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana and Aeronautica Cobelligerante Italiana, a handful flying post war with the Aeronautica Militare Italiana.

Construction

The 1/72 scale 2000-vintage Aviation USK AV-2025 and rebranded Xotic-72 AU-2025 with injected plastic, resin and etched brass parts, 2019-vintage SEM Model 72021 and 2018-vintage 1/48th scale 48001 with resin, white metal and rubber tire parts featuring finely crafted cockpit instrument panels are the only scale model kits of the S.84 none of which are in production and those occasionally coming up for sale on the secondary market being very expensive. Just one production run was made of the very well-crafted 72021 kit they now next to impossible to obtain, foolishly forgoing the opportunity to buy one in 2019 had no choice but to build one each of the inaccurate AV-2025 and AU-2025 kits purchased several years ago at great expense.

In spite of many negative kits build reviews posted on the Internet over the years the Aviation USK and rebranded Xotic-72 SM.84 injected-plastic kits were amongst the least troublesome builds of mine since 2006 when resumed building Italian-subject scale aircraft models. Inaccurately scaled, proportioned and scribed the awkward to place clear vacuform cockpit canopies gave me the most grief, multi-piece propellers breaking apart whilst handling and painting them giving grief as well. The kits lacked sufficient pitot tube, Lanciani fuselage dorsal turret and beam machine guns parts (no mounts, fabricated them from scratch), no fuselage ventral gun and retractable forward fuselage bombardier’s stations parts either though sufficient fuselage interior parts were provided they and aft mainwing landing gear struts super-detailed with scratch-built ones.

SKY Models 72019 decals were used for this build. LF/KORA blue and white Piaggio propeller logos were affixed on propeller blades of the 204° Squadriglia model, Testors Flat White enamel stipples generically replicating those of a yet to be identified blade manufacture per some S.84 wartime photos.

Technical Data

Aircraft: SIAI-Marchetti SM.84
Manufacturer: SIAI-Marchetti
Type: Bomber
Year: 1941
Engine: Three Piaggio P.XI RC 40, 14 cylinder radial, air-cooled, 1,000 hp each
Wingspan: 69 ft 7 in (21.20 m)
Length: 58 ft 10 in (17.93 m)
Height: 15 ft 1 in (4.59 m)
Weight: 29,330 lb (13,288 kg) (Loaded)
Maximum Speed: 268 mph (432 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
Ceiling: 25,900 ft (7,900 m)
Range: 1,137 miles (1,830 km)
Armament: 4 machine guns; 4,400 lb (2,000 kg) of bombs
Crew: 5

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