Special Hobby

Unboxing of the Special Hobby 1:48 Supermarine Walrus Mk.I SH48161.
I'm presenting what is in the box of this unusuall and interesting model.
The Supermarine Walrus is a British biplane amphibious flying boat with a metal or mixed structure from the World War II period. The flight of the prototype took place in 1933, and in the years 1936-1944 about 740 machines of this type were built. The propulsion was provided by the Bristol Pegasus VI engine with a power of 680HP moving the push propeller, located under the upper lobe. Supermarine Walrus was adapted to launch from ships using special catapults. These biplanes were equipped with an ASV radar and were used for maritime reconnaissance, search and rescue missions and ZOP activities. Between 1936 and 1944. approx. 740 machines of this type were built. Technical data: length: 10.2 m, wingspan: 14 m, height: 4.6 m, maximum speed: 215 km / h, rate of climb: 5.3 m / s, practical ceiling: 5600 m, maximum range: 965 km, armament: permanent- Two 7.7mm Vickers machine guns, suspended, up to 220 kg of bombs.
Music: www.bensound.com
License code: PXXKCAE0FBPFVF82
Music I use: Bensound.com
License code: 1UDRVLORMZH9ENXZ

[@eprohoda]

outstanding , ;)

[@modelfun]

😀

[@ianthomson9363]

I've been commissioned to build a Walrus for somebody else and I discounted the Airfix version as it's now quite rare and expensive. I bought a Classic Airframes kit- the same plastic as your one, slightly different resin parts and no photo etch. The build started off quite well and the interior detail is very good. However, removing the resin parts from their casting blocks was very difficult- the wheel wells were particularly troublesome and I'm not that experienced in dealing with resin. I found that the fuselage wouldn't close around the interior detail, which was disappointing. The biggest problem was that there are very few definite locations for parts such as the engine and the eight struts that are attached to it, which are all separate pieces. I couldn't think of a way of getting all the struts in exactly the right positions, which is vital, and I decided that I wouldn't be able to build the aircraft to a high enough standard for my client. I don't like abandoning kits halfway through, but in this case I had no alternative and I bought the Airfix kit. It is so much better! It has locating holes and pegs, so you know exactly where things go, and everything fitted exactly. The engine struts are moulded together as one piece for the forward and rear struts and there's no guessing when fitting them. It all went together without any trouble at all and is a much easier kit to build. The Classic Airframes instructions included a note to say that the kit is a limited run, and therefore parts may need more cleaning-up, and that it is a kit for experienced modellers only. I agree! Good luck building this one, you may need it!

[@modelfun]

Thank you for the warning, indeed this kit looks like a real challenge. With the comment from you I will be even more carefull :) With a bit of luck, maybe I can finish this boat :) Cheers!

[@ianthomson9363]

@@modelfun I would be very interested to see a video of your build.

[@grigorynezhivenko3783]

Hi man! I've built like 5-6 comissions Special Hobby kits and I can confidently say that fuselage halves not closing due to interior's width is some kind of Special Hobby's signature. I was really dissapointed cause I was looking forward to purchasing their Viggen in 48th scale but after all those builds I've dropped this idea

[@modelfun]

Thanks for the warning, so far, dry fit seems to be OK, but I tried on empty halves. After adding the interior it may change. I will be extra carefull with this one and hopefully it will be doable. Cheers!

[@ianthomson9363]

I think it was the cockpit floor that caused my problem, I would recommend dry-fitting both fuselage halves together after gluing the floor to one of them to make sure it lines up correctly. I'd be interested in seeing how you deal with the 8 engine struts.

[@richardgillies6741]

mk 1 was wood so no rivets like to see you make it

[@modelfun]

@richardgillies6741 thanks, I will try to build it the best I can, althou it looks like a big challenge. Regarding the rivets, yes, it is troue when it comes to the wings constructon, however the whole fuselage was metal and riveted. Luckily I have nice reference pictures and drawings published by James Kightly and Roger Wallsgrove, so I plan to add rised rivets to my model. Cheers!