MAS 500 Italian Torpedo Boat (1/300)

** I have now added options to print the torpedoes separately. I recommend this. When I printed 6 boats with torpedoes included as a test, 2 of them suffered support failure on the torpedoes. **

The Motoscafo armato silurante (MAS) 500 series torpedo boat is my first go at an Italian boat from WWII.

The MAS 500 series was made in large numbers by Italy in WW2. They were used with success against Soviet forces in the Black Sea and, of course, against the Western Allies in the Mediterranean. Nevertheless, it was found to be outmoded and the Italian Navy supplemented these boats with early model S Boats captured during the invasion of Yugoslavia and the MS Boat, which was inspired by them.

The German Kriegsmarine also operated a number of MAS 500 boats - mainly, I believe, after Italy changed sides.

Compared to Britain's MTBs, Germany's S-Boats and America's PT boats, MAS 500s were small, fast and lightly armed.

This model is of one of the first series of MAS 500 boats, which were armed with two 450mm torpedoes and a single Breda M31 13.2mm HMG. I have also included a Breda M35 20mm cannon option, as I understand a number of MAS 500s ended up with these.

(Note that I have included some supports underneath each end of the torpedoes. The angles and spacing involved meant I found it basically impossible to add this support in my slicer. The supports are small and easily removed.)

The files included:

MAS 500 Armed (HMG) - the boat, armed with the HMG as it was when delivered.

MAS 500 Armed (HMG) No Torps - as above, with torpedoes removed.

MAS 500 Armed (20mm) - as above, but with the 20mm cannon instead.

MAS 500 Armed (20mm) No Torps - as above, with torpedoes removed.

MAS 500 - the boat without a gun armament.

MAS 500 Torps - as above, with torpedoes removed.

Breda M31 on Mount - the Breda M31 HMG. It includes a small disc underneath the tripod, as I found it broke too easily without this.

Breda Model 35 on Mount (no gun shield) - the Breda M35 20mm cannon.

Breda Model 35 on Mount (no gun shield) without loop - as above, except without the loop that goes above the gun. Provided in case the loop is too fiddly for your tastes/printer.

450mm Torpedo (MAS Boat) - the torpedoes for separate printing.