-- Originally Posted 4/5/10--

I came back for a second crack at making FAB-100 bomb fins, their only parts to be visible, inserted in their vertical drop-box in the bombay:

Along with castings of propellers (ultimately not used on this build) the bomb fin castings - mastered from coffee straws - proved simply too delicate: every one broke either during extraction from the mold, during cleanup (or both), as well as attempts to repair them, either before or after insertion in the bomb bay.

All together, a huge loss of time, and failed attempt. However these are the thinnest castings I've ever done - and now I know the limit!

Meantime, I found yet another relevant website, including specific references to the Chinese SB-3s. I am also continuing to search/translate (from "Simple Chinese"), the fairly extensive text at the Soviet Volunteer Air Force web pages:
http://www.afwing.com/combat/Soviet_volunteer_air_force/1.htm
and especially:
http://www.afwing.com/combat/Soviet_volunteer_air_force/sb-24

Great stuff - and you can definitely see the SB's were engaged in maritime/anti-shipping operations around China!

Cheers,

-Matty