1/72 Stampe-Vertongen SV-10 by Vami Models

Gallery Article by Carl Gootzen on Apr 28 2010

 

Some history:

After an issued specification for a twin-engined "Flying Cruiser" in 1934, Stampe and Vertongen accepted the challenge and started their largest project. Their creation would be a fixed-undercarriage biplane manned by a crew of three; maximum speed had to be at least 350 km/h, whereas landing speed could not exceed 110 km/h. Further instructions pointed out to fully aerobatic capacities, the new machine would be used as a bomber AND a fighter!

This specification stuck to obsolete theories which larger Air Forces had dropped as early as the mid-1920's, after a handful of disappointing prototypes had been flight-tested, such as the French Bréguet 41M of 1931. 

The design-office came out with the drawings for the SV-10: as a compact and powerful aircraft, powered by twin 780 hp Gnome radials, it was a pleasure to look at.

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The prototype was crabbed out of the hangar on 01.10.1935 and was taken for its first flight by Jean Stampe; the second flight was done by his son Leon on 04.11.1935. On the following day Leon took off again with chief-designer Ivanow aboard, with the strict order not to use the landing flaps. After a while the SV-10 was seen coming back above the field at low speed, engines throttled back, at about 1,000 feet. The large plane suddenly went into a left spin, recovered and went then in a right spin, resulting in a crash, wrecking the aircraft and killing the two men aboard. Several theories still exist, but what had happened, was never quite found out! After the accident, Stampe and Vertongen decided to drop the SV-10 program and Demidoff, a Russian-born engineer was entrusted with the technical department after the sad demise of Ivanow. The information for this little part of history, comes from the book "Les Avions Stampe" by Reginald Jouhaud, mostly in French but with some summaries in English. The picture with the SV-10 being crabbed out of the hangar, comes out of the SV-collection. Also helpful was the book: "L'Aviation Militaire Belge", part 2 by J.C.Devester

In the Stampe-Vertongen Museum at the airport of Antwerp, we do have the tombstones of Leon Stampe and Ivanow. This model will be placed there as a salute to this Belgian aircraft builder and the two pioneers that gave their life.

The Kit:

After some delay, Vami models introduced this limited run resin kit. And as a volunteer at our Stampe Museum, this was a "must do"-project to illustrate a nearly forgotten part of Antwerp history.

As most limited run-kits, this is not an easy one to build. First of all, one has to start with removing flash and cleaning all the parts. Next or even more important part: get enough and clear information and pictures, if possible. About the SV-10 not much is believed to exist, except some beautiful pictures, kept scrupulous out off view by some collectors, terrified to loose their treasures.

While cleaning the fuselage, I discovered there was a window missing, on both sides. (After the model was finished, I discovered that I missed another two on both sides!! I will correct that on the next one, I have two more kits waiting for my attention)

The remainder is just carefully studying the plan(? picture 04!!), your references (available pictures and drawings) and logical thinking (and sometimes supposing and assuming!). The engines need special care: you have to compose the engines. You have the main part and then you have to clean and glue the tiny, little cylinders in place. Somewhere in my search for info, I discovered that the designer was planning to use the 10-cilinder Armstrong Siddeley Serval-engine of 340 hp beside the choice of the Gnome 14-cilinder of 780 hp. The cylinders are well detailed but very small, there are some spares and you'll need them; I lost two or three of them but got two complete miniature Serval's completed nevertheless!!

The next problem I had to solve was the colour scheme. The one on the plan, told me to paint everything in khaki. But one of the pictures available, shows the aircraft with an unpainted (silver?) nose-section so that is the one I have applied on my model: underside of the wings and part of the nose in aluminium; the upper parts of the wings and fuselage in khaki drab. Wheel slabs, struts and engine nacelles are in black. I haven't applied any weathering; I think the plane to be rather "factory-fresh" when it crashed (it only made three flights). 

Some rigging was done after close inspection of the pictures and decals were sparse: just 4 roundels on the upper and lower wingtips, that was all!! 

Feel free to visit us at www.stampe.be or if you're visiting Antwerp, visit the real museum!! 

Carl Gootzen

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Photos and text © by Carl Gootzen