Hi all,
Research shows detail not always reflected in the model kit or its instructions.
This model will depict Macchi M.5, Serial No. M 7288 of No.260a Squadriglla, operating from Venice during 1918.
The following are photographs showing M 7288 in flight and also an in-flight photograph of Macchi M.5, Serial No: M 7292. Both aircraft operated with No.260a Squadriglla.
The colour illustrations in kit instructions show that the aircraft had alternate red and green stripes, equally spaced around the fuselage.
The first (red) stripe appears to be located close to the curved recess in the top of the fuselage, which was necessary to clear the rotating propeller.
The last fuselage stripe (green) was located slightly rearwards from the leading edge of the tail plane support fairing.
The stripes were equally spaced along the fuselage.
However, when referring to the two photographs of the actual aircraft, it’s evident that the M 7288 did not have the first two stripes (red and green) on the underside of the fuselage and M 7292 did not have the first (red) stripe on the underside of the fuselage.
Either these stripes were never actually painted on these aircraft or if they were, the stripes had been gradually removed by contact with the beaching trolley or by water spray from the fuselage step at the rear of the ’keel’ of the fuselage hull.
Interestingly, as Roberto pointed out, although the kit instructions shown the wing floats as varnished wood, the floats on M 7288 were in fact painted with the Italian tricolour and M 7292 had white spots.
Mike
