RODEN [ MORE REVIEWS ] [ WEBSITE ] [ NEW STORIES ]

Built Review
148
Beechcraft SD17S
Staggerwing on floats
  • move

by: Richard Tonge [ TINBANGER ]

The history
This aircraft type has been covered in detail within the previous "in the box" reviews that were done by Ms. Jessica Cooper & Mr. Stephen T. Lawson here at Aeroscale. I highly recommend that you see them as well! In general there were 479 Beech Stagger Wings built. That is 67 Civil & 412 Military. The Engine is the Pratt & Whitney 985 (39,000 produced).
P & W 985 also used in other Aircraft, but not limited to:-
a. Beechcraft Model 18
b. Vultee BT-13 Valiant
c. De Havilland Beaver
d. Vought OS2U Kingfisher
e. Sikosky H-S Helicopter

The kit
Kit Accuracy:- When assembled it looks like a Stagger Wing!

Suggested Improvements to kit
I put this at the front to suggest that the reader may want to consider these possibilities and include them in their build.
1. Vacuum formed front windshield.
2. Re-work window and door molds to fit openings.
3. Correct Mass arm's length by 1/3.
4. PE parts for Cockpit Dash and Cabin window brace.
5. Control rods for float steering
6. Positive locations for floats to hull. Care is needed when adding float pylons. Note my images include a jig I built from sheet stock plastic.
7. In depth rigging drawings.

The Build
Step 1: Remove flash from Cowling 1A-4A (There are no location pins to align ring halves).

Step 2/3/4/8: Clean flash off 8A. Dash panel 10A remove ejector pin marks and drill a hole for 10A. Seats 1C need to have large ejector marks removed. The control column 14D is very delicate! 15A mold lines to clean up. Paint and assemble cockpit.(IMG #4376).

Step 5/6: Cabin doors and windows all need to be filed to fit! Note on my example the clear plastic was brittle.

Step 7: Assemble engine and paint. 7D drill out for prob pin. As per Stephen I replaced over size rod on 7D with .010" rod.(IMG #4416 & 4524).

Steps 8/9: follow instructions.

Step9/10: Glue door and install cockpit(IMG #4378).

Step11: Assemble fit together well with minimum filler. #6 windshield cracked (Operator error!). 4D is very thin I replaced with brass wire.

Step12-15: Drilled wings for rigging. Glued wings 4H/6H & 5H/7H together(IMG #4409). Glue 3C to lower wings. Primed and painted body/tail and inner side of wings. Glue on top wings 12/13. Add rigging and paint outer surface of wings. Decals were added at this time.

Step 16-17: Assemble Floats,some filler required on lower joint.(IMG #4410). More rigging could be added at the stage.

Step18: Floats 17/3L are primed and painted. I made a jig to aid in location of 3L(IMG_4531). Glue 3L to floats(IMG #4530). I cut back 9c to 1/3 as per Jessica C advise.(IMG #4529).

Step19 Final assembly attach floats/prop and 12D Loop. I did not use beaching wheels in my build. (IMG_4535)(IMG_4536). Paint used:- Model Master and Tamiya.

Kit Decals
1. Beechcraft SD17S Staggerwing, “Yellow 5” of the 28th Composite Group, USAAF, Alaska, 1941.
2. Beechcraft SD17S Staggerwing, “KA 08”, 1st Air Base Group, USAAF, Langley Field, 1938.
3. Beechcraft SD17S Staggerwing, CF-BIF, USAAF/RAAF mixed fighter group, Brisbane, Australia, 1942.

For future issues of this kit I would like to see:
China Air Ambulance (China/Japan conflict), Mail carrier, Pacific Western Airlines, Spanish Civil War or Bush Plane. (Some of these have different cockpit configurations).

Conclusion
Kit will build into a good looking model with above suggestions it would be a great model!

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE

Click here for additional images for this review.

SUMMARY
Highs: Parts fit is good. 3 colour schemes. Most decals applied fine, but those for the floats' water-line would not set into the detail very well.
Lows: Clear parts are brittle and need fitting. One Decal out of register. Instruction sheet for paint /decals could be more detailed.
Verdict: Kit went together well. Care is needed when adding float pylons. I would recommend this kit to any one with a few builds under their belt.
Percentage Rating
85%
  Scale: 1:48
  Mfg. ID: #448
  Suggested Retail: $39.00
  Related Link: webstore
  PUBLISHED: Nov 16, 2012
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 90.21%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 87.05%

Our Thanks to Roden!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

View This Item  |  View Vendor Homepage  |  More Reviews  

About Richard Tonge (tinbanger)
FROM: ONTARIO, CANADA

I started building model aircraft with my brother and dad at about 7 years old(Yellow single engine float plane). Born in England so mostly built Airfix and Frog Kits! Moved over the pond in 1979. Main interest any type/era aircraft. Tinbanger call sign comes from my sheetmetal days. I am also ...

Copyright ©2021 text by Richard Tonge [ TINBANGER ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



Comments

Nice one Richard Excellent use of a jig for the floats. That's worth a "How-To" Feature in its own right! I'm glad you had better luck than me with the decals - those included with my last three Roden kits have been very poor (smudged, out of register and inaccurate colours). That really is an area of their production I wish they would improve as a priority. All the best Rowan
NOV 19, 2012 - 08:47 PM
Thank you Rowan. The decals for the float water line would not set into detail on float very well,so into the bin they went! I look forward to doing more reviews.
NOV 19, 2012 - 11:37 PM
Cheers Richard I'll add a note of that to the review - otherwise it reads as though the decals were all fine. All the best Rowan
NOV 20, 2012 - 09:37 AM
Cheers Richard I'll add a note of that to the review - otherwise it reads as though the decals were all fine. All the best Rowan [/quote] Thank you!
NOV 20, 2012 - 10:41 AM
Agreed! Any additional detail on the jig for the float attachments would be icing on the cake. How about a "Feature" on the frontpage for the folks?
NOV 20, 2012 - 04:18 PM
Agreed! Any additional detail on the jig for the float attachments would be icing on the cake. How about a "Feature" on the frontpage for the folks?[/quote] Hi Stephen & Rowan I will work on a Feature for the float jig on the weekend. Thanks for your support!
NOV 20, 2012 - 11:21 PM
   
ADVERTISEMENT


Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
ADVERTISEMENT