Piaggio Avanti

Real G

Member since
May 2011
From: Honolulu, Hawaii

Piaggio Avanti

Posted by Real G on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 9:16 PM

I just got this in today. The Avanti is such a wacky looking airplane that I just had to get one when Amodel announced they were doing a kit in 1/72. I got mine from Hobby Terra, out of the Ukraine. There was a discussion on another model forum regarding long delivery times this year, but my package arrived in Hawaii eleven days from pressing the "order now!" button.

The real Avanti first flew in the late 1980s, and is still in production. Although it looks like a composite aircraft, it has a conventional aluminum airframe. The pusher turboprops make for a quiet cabin, but I have read that it creates quite a distinctive sound to people on the ground.

Although the kit is not Hasegawa/Tamiya quality, I think it will build nicely and be a real eye-grabber when finished. Caracal Decals is supposedly working on a decal sheet, so hopefully there will be an alternative to the potentially dodgy kit decals. Pictures are worth a thousand words, so rather than me blabbing, here are some pics:

rMcL26[/url]Avanti-Box Art by N. T. Izumi, on Flickr:600:0]

rK16FN[/url]Avanti-001 by N. T. Izumi, on Flickr:600:0]

ruJipY[/url]Avanti-002 by N. T. Izumi, on Flickr:600:0]

qQvcdM[/url]Avanti-003 by N. T. Izumi, on Flickr:600:0]

rK13jN[/url]Avanti-004 by N. T. Izumi, on Flickr:600:0]

rMbnR7[/url]Avanti-005 by N. T. Izumi, on Flickr:600:0]

ruQDar[/url]Avanti-006 by N. T. Izumi, on Flickr:600:0]

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

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Cadet Chuck

Member since
April 2009
From: Longmont, Colorado

Posted by Cadet Chuck on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 9:21 PM

That's really interesting - I've never seen nor heard of that plane before! Have fun!

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

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Real G

Member since
May 2011
From: Honolulu, Hawaii

Posted by Real G on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 9:35 PM

I read that the sound of the aircraft flying is like a sheet of plywood being forced through a table saw!

I was surprised that the aircraft had been in production for a while, as I figured it was an expensive novelty rather than a practical business aircraft. I did read somewhere that the ergonomics for servicing the aircraft are terrible though.

BTW, Amodel also has a Beech Starship kit in two boxings (same kit, different markings), which is another fantastic looking civil aircraft. A buddy picked one up about a month ago. I hope Amodel does the Hansajet, as I love the unique forward swept wings. And Amodel being Amodel, maybe they will expand into other weird civil types like the Transavia Airtruck (The aircraft that was used in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.)

Anyway, hope to get on this kit ASAP!

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

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Don Stauffer

Member since
November 2009
From: Twin Cities of Minnesota

Posted by Don Stauffer on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 9:08 AM

I must admit when I see the Piaggio I also think of the Starship.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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Real G

Member since
May 2011
From: Honolulu, Hawaii

Posted by Real G on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 1:40 PM

Don Stauffer

I must admit when I see the Piaggio I also think of the Starship.

A fat Starship! Big Smile Actually, I thought it looked like a tuna. (But tuna are one of the fastest fish in the sea, so maybe the similarities are not coincidental.)

I had a better look at the kit last night, and the decals appear to be glossy, not the dead flat frosted Scotch Tape you usually find in sketchy Eastern European kits. The instructions indicate to use the "glass" instrument panel decal, but there is also an analog gauge decal on the sheet. There is a complete interior, with two options for seating configuration.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

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Pawel

Member since
May 2009
From: Poland

Posted by Pawel on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 3:14 PM

Hello!

There's a nice paint scheme for this aircraft used by Polish air rescue/ambulance service (Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe):

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

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modeler99

Member since
January 2014

Posted by modeler99 on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 6:17 PM

Wow, cool kit; thanks for the preview. I get to hear these unusual birds from time to time, and they really are distinctive. I may have to get one to go with my Starship by Amodel: HobbyTerra has always provided me excellent service and very competitive prices. As I understand it, the Avanti's design gives a very roomy cabin with tons of headroom (no spars or other intrusions in the cabin), and the plane is VERY fast (455 mph max cruise) due to its very efficient aerodynamics. Show it to us when you build it, too!

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deattilio

Member since
October 2005
From: New Port Richey

Posted by deattilio on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 8:26 PM

Real G
I read that the sound of the aircraft flying is like a sheet of plywood being forced through a table saw!

This thing definitely has a unique sound, I always know when the Piaggio is flying over. Right up there with an MU-2, very unique note.

WIP:
Trying to get my hobby stuff sorted - just moved and still unpacking.

"Gator, Green Catskill....Charlie On Time"

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Real G

Member since
May 2011
From: Honolulu, Hawaii

Posted by Real G on Thursday, March 26, 2015 3:08 PM

Thanks for the comments guys!

Here are the rest of the sprues and a bit of the decals. Nice that Amodel supply the Italian roundels with and without the green center dots (I think the ones with the dots are slightly out of register).

rKT5Yy[/url]Avanti-007 by N. T. Izumi, on Flickr:600:0]