Supermodel 1/72 Cant Z.506B

SUPERMODEL 1:72 CRDA CANT Z.506B

Reviewer: Carlos Giani (carlos_giani2002@yahoo.de)
Kit Review submitted: 21 March 2009

Kit Details:

Supermodel 1/72nd scale C.R.D.A. CANT Z.506B (Kit N° 10-015 ). Produced in Italy

Aircraft History:

The story of the Z.506 plane begins with the CANT Z.505 from July 1935, when the prototype of this new three-engine postal wooden floatplane flew for the first time. The Z.506, a smaller transport version from the former (12-14 passengers) had its maiden flight on the 19th August same year, with Mario Stoppani in the office. It was powered by three Piaggio Stella IX delivering 610HP each. The tests were satisfactory and the type entered production in 1936 as Z.506A, powered by three Alfa Romeo 126 RC 34 of 750HP each. It was used by the Ala Littoria on their Mediterranean routes. With pilot Stoppani this type set numerous distance, altitude and speed records during 1936-1938.

The military version Z.506B was developed in 1937, having a two-pilot, tandem-seat cockpit, longer glazing, a ventral gondola which included the bomber´s place, bomb bay and rear firing Breda-SAFAT 7,7mm, and a dorsal Breda M.1 or Caproni Lanciani Delta E turret (12,7mm); bomb load (in different combinations including one torpedo) was 800-1200 Kg. The Z.506B was equipped with three 750HP Alfa Romeo 127 RC 55. Some 324 were built, being used by the Regia Aeronautica, the Regia Marina, the Spanish Nationalists and, in the sea rescue role, even by the Luftwaffe. Some of the SAR exemples flew till 1959.

The Kit:

Coming from the same “Supermodel rare subject golden era” as the Z.1007, a sturdy end-opening box offers one plastic bag containing three sprues of mid-grey styrene with 91 parts, one sprue with 14 transparencies and the decals sheet. Molding quality is very good, surface detail is raised and there is no flash to speak of. The loyal X-acto will be enough to clean the parts. The clear parts are a bit thick but less distorting, and include a stand which will allocate the floaters. Parts breakdown is conventional. There are very few “panel lines”, no surprise considering the plane’s wooden construction. There are alternative parts for 3 types of rear side panels (with machine gun, without machine gun and closed with a bull´s-eye), 2 types of bombers glazing and 3 types of dorsal panel/turret combinations (including one without turret). There is no information what goes for which version (annoying!).

Instructions:

Surprisingly, the instructions are not the usual “one big sheet” Supermodel affair, but rather from the fold-out type (like Italeri, Hasegawa, Academy, etc.). You are presented with history/technical data in Italian, English, German and French, sprues layout, 13 construction steps from the exploded-view type, and some information about other Supermodel products. As expected, there is absolutely no detail painting information. On the rear side of the box there are 2-side coloring/decaling diagrams for three versions, again giving only minimal information about colors.

Construction:

In a similar effort as with the Z.1007, I decided to detail the office a bit, and the first step was to fill the wing roots recesses with green putty, sanding it later approximately smooth to the surrounding contour. Next, some framing was simulated with .020” square Evergreen strip. Although a part is provided to represent the bomb bay, it is too low to conform the pilot’s floor, so that this was created from a piece of styrene sheet. Some painted dials, modified seats with belts made from Tamiya tape and the kit’s control columns completed the inside. Since I decided to build the SAR-version, I used no gun turrets / side firing openings, gluing the corresponding blanked parts instead. For the same reason I also glued / filled / sanded the bomb bay doors. I don’t know if this is correct, since I have no reference material to these rare birds.

Next I glued / filled / sanded the wings together, and next day glued them to the fuselage, using the box bottom as a reference to get the dihedral as good as possible (which will have an enormous influence on the effective length of the diagonal floaters struts). Big gaps at the wing roots had to be filled / sanded. The tailplanes were added and, after these have been filled / sanded I added the ailerons, the elevators and the rudder, which all are separate parts. The engines are trapped inside of the cowlings, which are then glued onto “pegs” which protrude from the nacelles / fuselage nose. Since I soon realized that these would lead to bad, weak fits, I cut off the pegs, blanked the front of the nacelles / nose with circular styrene plates and glued cylindrical prolongations (from the spares box) onto which the engine’s rear could be glued. Voila!

Now was the time for the harder job. I assembled the floaters (split vertically) and added to them the vertical, one-piece N-struts, hoping that I would get the right angle. With these subassemblies filled / sanded I glued them into their positioning holes on the wing undersides, and again left it to dry. After these was also filled / sanded I added the diagonal struts and, yes, you’ve guessed right, they were the wrong length (too short). I ended up using the front (longer) struts on the rear position and “elongated” the rear ones whit pieces of plastic and much filing / filling / sanding. A wonderful day finally - all this work was finished and I could add the canopy and other clear parts, which fitted rather well. After some patient masking, the plane got 3 layers of Humbrol white H34, one layer Klear, the decals, more Klear and a final coat of Humbrol H135 satin clear. I´m very satisfied with the result.

Colour Schemes:

Three: one Regia Aeronautica, one Spanish Civil War and one Luftwaffe/Red Cross SAR plane. Absolutely no data!

Decals:

One sheet covering basics for the versions mentioned above, the decals being mid-thick and matt. Since this is an original kit (not an Italeri reboxing), the decals are old and, as I expected, they didn’t perform well, the main crosses suffering from “corrugation” due to Johnson’s Klear (!). Needless to say that I had to use them since, were the hell should I get “Red Cross” spares?

Conclusions:

Another great subject choice from a by-gone era which, I must confess, requires much elbow grease. Recommended for Regia Aeronautica collectors and those interested for the rare. With some patience and endurance you will get a beautiful rarity.

References:

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