Hi folks

As promised some pics of the kit. I've put these in a build blog to save the effort of reloading them when I get started. Not a big hurry for that, I'll await an expert review or two and see what AM products appear but a nice project for next year.

I know little about this boat so it would be inappropriate for me to comment on accuracy, but the kit parts look clean, fairly well detailed and unless there is anything dramatically wrong this shoulkd be a fairly nice straight forward build (famous last words).

OK here you go.

Pretrty cool Box Art



Finish options in colour on the side





Kit and PE pics on the other side





The hull and deck conme reveresed and held in palce by some cardboard shapes





















Two trees of similar parts







Two larger trees of different parts





Small bag of screws and rope



Bridge and Stern Parts





PE Fret



Information Booklet



Decals



Instructions









I'd like to get started now but I'm in the middel of some truck building so better to wait awhile and see what comments and AM stuff appear.


Thanks

Al

Thanks for posting the pictures Al. I have mine on order from Lucky Model, and I am awaiting shipment. The photos help ease the pain of anticipation . I am looking forward to both the arrival of my kit and your build. Thanks again and Happy Holidays. Al

Hi Al,

Some interesting camo options contained in the little info booklet.

Cheers

Al

There is a short but useful chapter on MAS camouflage in LA MIMETIZZAZIONE DELLE NAVI TIALIANE 1940-1945 by Bagnasco and Brescia. If you're into the RM, this is a great reference, as it covers everything from battleships to tugs. These are very competent and reliable authors and Brescia's artwork is great!

Al Ross

Looks like a really nice kit Al.

Thanks Al.

Dave, hopefully it can be pretty much an OOB build. I've built the ground version of the 20mm for one of my LRDG trucks, nice lille kit.

Merry Christmas to you both.

Al

We seem to have a plethora of Al's in this thread , so it's nice to hear from Dave. I don't know why, but it always seemed somewhat strange to me when I am talking to someone who has the same name (I'm sure a psychiatrist would find some deep seated reason for why this is so ). A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you. Al

Yes, there are a lot of Al's Al.

Al

Hi Al, Great pics, looks a cracking kit.

on oin my really really must have list.

thanks for posting

Si

There will be an English language book on the MAS boats from Nimble Books, LLC on April 1, 2011.

Garth

Hi Simon, as requested ,

Hi Garth, Many thanks.

Al

Beautiful kit. Thank you for sharing.

Not a problem Alan, ... it is at the publisher's now. He told me that it will be hard cover.

Garth

This looks like as great kit, but . . . . what's the price tag? Gigantic I would imagine. Their new Biber mini sub is $55.00 (for a very small mini sub mind you) so I can't imagine what this thing costs.

Brian

Best price I saw so far was 87USD + shipping. Compared to the Biber that is a more-than-fair-price IMHO.
I... must...resist... I... must...resist... I... must...resist...
See how long I can keep this up...
Guido
(being on the brink of losing another battle of will)

Hi Brian,

Can't say State side but shop around.

I got mine from Netmerchants, including the VAT it was £71.99, so the actual cost of the kit was around £61.00. Deal included Free shipping.

I checked out 4 or 5 of my other regular suppliers but at the time they were the cheepest.

What made me buy now as opposed to later is the pending VAT rise here in the UK which is going up from 17.5% to 20% on 4th January 2011. Not a big saving but I'd rather have the money in my pocket that that of the David and Nick Show.

Al

Hi Alan
Could not agree more with you on having money in your own pocket rather than having someone who does not know what there doing with it being in charge of it.
Any way rant over and will be following your build with interest to pick up on any build tips you come across. Going from past builds of the Elco and the S100 this kit should be a great build straight from the box but I,am sure we will see quite a bit of after market goodies coming out soon as well
All the Best Keith

Hello All, I ordered mine from Lucky Model for $60.00(US) + shipping. They list the kit as available, not as in stock, so I've been waiting about two weeks so far. I don't mind the wait, it prolongs that Christmas eve anticipation. Al (PS) I wish you a Happy and Healthy (and productive) New Year !

Hi Keith,

Yes, it will be interesting to see what AM products come along.

Here's a look at the Italeri Crew set. Not that impressed with the commanders but the crew look useable. As Keith says hopefully we will see some alternative figuers coming along from the AM Guys.







The set comes on one tree with 6 crew ans some accessories.













Al

A very nice article giving a good idea of what is the boxes, ( and leading me into temptation again here ). The crew set evindently contains evidence that the Italian crews burned off quayside bollards to take home to Italy
cheers,
Julian

Hi folks,

Page 15 of the reference manual shows MAS 558 in a very cool camo pattern. I came across this one on the net which seems to have a similar scheme, can't tell which boat number this is.

[url]

and also this



Can anyone add any further info to the pics?

Also what colour would the crew uniforms have been? Anyone got a picture of the uniforms worn?

Thanks

Al

The colors are GRIGIO SCURRO (dark gray), GRIGIO CHIARO (light gray), ROSSO (red), and BIANCO SPORCO (white). Here is an illustration by Dr. Maurizio Brescia from the Italian camo book I cited earlier.



WEM offers color chips of these colors, interestingly matched for them by Maurizo. They did have some RM paints in their Colourcoats line (being discontinued), but of the above colors, it only included ROSSO.

Morning Al,

A Happy New Yeaer to you and yours.

Thanks for the pic and the info.

Al

I BELIEVE that the boat(s) in the photos is MAS-588 and MAS-562, but I could be mistaken.

Garth

The photo of the MAS dockside appears in AT CLOSE QUARTERS and is identified as MAS 562 following its capture by PT 308 & 309.

According to Bagnasco in I MAS E LE MOTOSILURANTI ITALIANE and other sources, the 500 series boats ended with MAS 576, so this cannot be MAS 588. A photo of MAS 536 in I MAS shows the same pattern and what appears to be the same patch below the cockpit.



Although these two photos appear to show both sides of the boat, I suspect this is a case of negative reversal, as the "patch" does not appear as a design feature in the drawings nor on photos of other boats in its production group. I MAS notes that MAS 536 was damaged in a collision with CERERE on 11JUL41, which might be the cause of the apparent repair.

Al Ross