History

The Stampe et Vertongen SV.4 (also known as the Stampe SV.4 or just Stampe) is a Belgian two-seat trainer/tourer biplane designed and built by Stampe et Vertongen. The aircraft was also built under licence in France and Algeria.

The SV.4 was designed as a biplane tourer/training aircraft in the early 1930s by Stampe et Vertongen at Antwerp. The first model was the SV.4, an advanced aerobatic trainer followed by the SV.4B with redesigned wings and the 130 hp/97 kW de Havilland Gipsy Major.

Only 35 aircraft were built before the company was closed during the Second World War. After the war the successor company Stampe et Renard built a further 65 aircraft between 1948 and 1955 as trainers for the Belgian Air Force.

A licenced SV.4C version was built in France by SNCAN (Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Nord) and in Algeria by Atelier Industriel de l'Aéronautique d'Alger, the two firms completing a combined total of 940 aircraft. The postwar SV.4Cs were widely used by French military units as a primary trainer. Many also served with aero clubs in France, numbers of which were later sold secondhand to the United Kingdom and other countries.

History adapted from Wikipedia.

First Impressions

This is manifestly a product of the MPM stable. Their signatre packaging and moulding style is quite distinctive. The kit is short-run in nature, meaning that there is some flash to clean up and there are no location pins, but it is far more sophisticated than the image the phrase "short run" usually conjures up; there are some almost impossibly tiny parts on the sprues. The plastic parts are identical regardless which boxing is purchased. The variants are distinguished by optional resin parts and of course the decals. Some options require the modeller to do some minor surgery to the kit parts. The instructions are very clear when this is necessary.

Fuselage

The fuselage is two halves from firewall to tail with a separate cowl. Cockpit detail is limited to floor, seats, joysticks, rudder pedals and instrument panels. Some extra details and seat belts would not go amiss. As it is, careful painting will make it look acceptable, especially if the enclosed canopy variant is chosen.

Engine

There are two complete cowlings and three propeller styles to choose from, depending upon the desired subject. There are also two exhaust variants; a manifold or separate stacks depending upon whether the Gypsy or Renault engine is chosen.

Wings

Each wing is a single piece with the dihedral moulded in place. The struts are individual items which may complicate assembly unless the modeller uses a jig. The ailerons are moulded in place. Cutting them out to pose them is possible.

Empennage

The tailplanes and fin and rudder are one piece mouldings. They could be cut apart and posed if the builder wishes.

Landing gear

The landing gear struts and wheels are finely moulded and nicely detailed. The main struts are one piece with separate bracing struts. The main wheels are one piece. The tail wheel is moulded with its strut, which is acceptable with such a small part.

Accuracy

I don't compare models to drawings or published measurements. When assembled it will look like a Stampe.

Decals and Markings

The markings are where the variety happens. The marking options are:
Kit No. FR0024: "Belgium"

• 1. V33 of the Belgian Air Force in overall orange with dayglo red panels on the nose, wing tips and rudder;
  
• 2. Belgian Air Force Display team Les Manchots. This scheme may have either the two seat closed canopy or an optional single seat canopy;
  
• 3. V23 of the belgian Air Force in overall silver dope with yellow trainer bands very similar to the RAF's training scheme.
  

Each Belgian option has a prominent penguin. The Belgian sense of humour is subtle.

(See photos below the text for the following schemes)
Kit No. FR0025: "France"

• 1. Stampe No. 45 of Escadrille 50S Aeronavale in overall silver dope;
  
• 2. Stampe No. 360 of the Armee de l'Air in overall Khaki;
  
• 3. F-BDEE in overall silver dope with orange nose, fin wing and tailplane tips.
  

Kit No. FR0026 "United Kingdom"

• 1. MX457 Ex belgian civil OO-ATD as it appeared in full RAF Trainer colours and a special extended exhaust;
  
• 2. Ex belgian civil OO-ATD as it appeared immediately after its escape from Belgium on Jul 5, 1941, with RAF roundels applied over its overall silver dope civil scheme (Some souces say that this aircraft was actually paitned light brown).
  
• 3. G-ATKC in a bright yellow, red and black aerobatic scheme. This scheme sports prominent red sunbursts on the upper wings and tailplane.
  

Kit No. FR0027 "Aerobatic"

• 1. F-BDGI flown by French aerobatic champion Marcel Charollais. There are two different options for this aircraft, both with the front seat faired over. The aircraft is in a distinctive yellow and red scheme;
  
• 2. F-BDNM in overall silver dope with red trim as it appeared in St Yan in the 1950s;
  
• 3. D-EEFB in overall red with white trim.
  

More information on these schemes is available on the Fr.Rom website.

The Real Thing

A pair of Belgian Stampes with their penguin markings prominently displayed.

Inside the cockpit, giving an idea of details and colours.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.