SPIN 1/48 Sage 2

Introduction

Prior to the introduction of a synchronizing gear to allow machines guns to fire forward through the propellor arc, many ideas were tried, one of which was the Sage 2. The crew sat within an enclosed cockpit that completely filled the space between the fuselage and upper wing. There was a circular opening for the gunner to stand up with his head and shoulders above the upper wing. This arrangement allowed him complete freedom to fire in the upper quadrant with no fear of hitting the aircraft. However forward and downward firing would have been impossible. Equipped with a 100hp Gnome-Monosoupape engine, it made its first flight on10 August 1916, and was damaged following a forced landing on 20 September 1916. By this time better aircraft with a forward firing gun were entering service and the concept was dropped.

The Kit

Cast in the usual light tan, the kit comprises 32 resin parts as well as a full decal sheet and clear material for the wrap around windows. The fuselage has engraved panel lines on the exterior as well as raised stringer detail. The interior also has the stringer detail and vertical formers in place. Additional interior details include seats and two full formers as well as a control column and rudder bar. Other than that the interior is bare.

The wings and tail surfaces have nice, subtle ribs and thin trailing edges. There are some marks on the top of the upper wing forward of the gunner's opening. These may be to locate a gun mount, but there is no mention of it in the instructions.

Other details include struts, four blade prop with spinner, cowl, engine and wheels. The prop/spinner is interesting as the interior of the spinner is cast with the prop showing inside of it.

Besides the marks on the upper wing, the only other blemishes I found were air bubbles in one of the wheels.

Instructions consist of a three-view drawing as well as an exploded view of all parts and closeups of the interior.

Conclusion

This looks to be a fairly straightforward build of a most unusual subject. SPIN continues to come up with some of the more interesting kits and this kit is no different.

My thanks to Lubos Vinar of Hobbyshop.cz for the review sample