The
Uruguayan ARME (nothing to do with arms, just the acronym of “Avión
de Reconocimiento Modelo Escuela”) Montevideo was a vernacular creation
loosely based on the Breguet XIX. It was an observation trainer powered by a 450
hp. Lorraine. One was equipped with floats –of archaic design- aiming to a
Montevideo-New York raid (Via the Pacific Ocean climbing the Andes, not an easy
feat) that fell short in Colombia.
Three
machines were built and operated from the late 20’s into the mid 30’s.
This model was a commission that pressed a little bit more on the skills
department, as the stringer-ridden fuselage needed a viable way to be
reproduced.
Click on
images below to see larger images
So again a
wood fuselage was created, and again the lack of vacuforming equipment of
the right size prevented a copy to be made; therefore the wood shape once
carved was covered with previously-engraved skin panels.
Some small
parts as per photos were vacuformed with the Mattel Psychedelic Machine,
and the rest was created from styrene sheet of varied thicknesses again as
per images.
A wood prop
was made and much fun was had with the 28 struts and the rigging that
populate the wings and attach the floats. The two cockpits were provided
with generic interiors and the decals were home-made. The fuselage and
tail added up to 75 parts, the wings to 12. Floats to 18. And better to
stop here.
A
certain number of images is included to depict the techniques used during
construction, saving me (and you) from large explanatory paragraphs.
Not
in the same aesthetic category as the Uruguayan seaplanes posted here before,
but this one had two merits: it was a local creation and after all its clumsy
lines look in a –strange- way appealing.
Gabriel Stern
Click on
images below to see larger images
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