Italy

Picture	Manufacturer	Model	Notes
100_2010	Ambrosini	S.7	The S.7 was a pre-war design which served as a trainer for the Italian air force after the war. Built from scratch.
100_1643	Breda	Ba.64	The Ba.64 was the precursor to the Ba.65 attack aircraft. It was not successful. It only had 650 hp. to haul 6,700 lbs. around. 42 were built and relegated to second-line duties. Built from scratch.
100_1205	Breda	Ba 65	A single-seat ground attack plane that saw quite a bit of action.
100_1954	Breda	Ba 65 bis	The Ba 65 ground attack aircraft was susceptible to attack from the rear, so defensive armament was added, either 7.7 mm or 12.7 mm., in an open cockpit or a turret, as in this example. Of course the extra weight resulted in a corresponding decrease in bomb load.
100_1224	Breda	Ba 88 Lince (Lynx)	This aircraft was designed for ground attack, but proved a failure. All 100 ended up parked on Italian airfields to serve as decoys for Allied planes.
100_1207	Campini Caproni	N.1	This was Italy's first jet fighter. It wasn't a true jet in the sense that we know now. A regular piston engine was used to compress air, into which fuel was then sprayed. Kind of like after an afterburner without the jet engine.
101_0063	Campini Caproni	N.1	Another version of the Italian jet. This was one of my first ventures in scratch-building with wooden dowels for fuselages and sheet plastic for wings.
100_2465	Caproni	Ca.310	This aircraft participated on the Peruvian side in the war against Ecuador in 1941. Peru won. The Ca.310 was also used by Italy, Spain, Norway, Yugoslavia, Hungary and Croatia. England was going to order 200, but Italy declared war.
100_1725	Caproni	Vizzola F.4	Begun in 1938, the F.4 had a German 1175 hp. engine. No production. Built from scratch.
100_1229	Caproni	Vizzola F.5	After this prototype, 14 more were built and assigned to the night defense of Rome.
100_1726	Caproni	Vizzola F.6	The F.6 followed the F.4 and F.5. The power was up to 1475 hp. Top speed was to have been 353 mph. Italy surrendered on September 8, 1943 and that ended development. Built from scratch.
100_1195	CANT	Z.1007 Alcione (Kingfisher)	Quite a good medium bomber, although fairly easy to shoot down. This was the single-rudder model.
100_0873	CANT	Z.501 Gabbiano (Gull)	Germany and Italy both sent help to the Spanish Nationalist side.
100_1182	CANT	Z.501 Gabbiano (Gull)	Italy had 202 of these at the start of the war. They served for reconnaissance and light bombing. Nineteen of them joined the Allies.
100_0799	CANT	Z.506B Airone (Heron)	The Germans obtained some of these excellent floatplanes for use as air ambulances. It appears that the British caught some of them transporting armed troops into combat, after which they were shot down on sight.
100_1999	CANT	Z.511	The Z.511 was the world's largest floatplane, with a wingspan of over 131 ft. The engines and floats were all accessible in flight from the inside. Designed as a luxury commercial plane, both prototypes were taken over by the Italian military. One was destroyed in an Allied strafing attack, and the other was shipped to Germany, where it was ignominiously scrapped. The Z.511 had handed propellers judging from contemporary photos (left side, clockwise; right side, counter-clockwise) to cancel out torque effects. Built from scratch.
100_1998	CANT	Z.515	The Italians outdid themselves with this graceful floatplane prototype. With its two 700 hp V-12s, it was competitive with the FIAT R.S. 14. But CANT had no production capacity available, and the Z.515 fell by the wayside. Like its big brother the Z.511, the Z.515 appeared to have had handed propellers (left side, clockwise; right side, counter-clockwise). Built from scratch.
100_1198	CANT	Z.1007 Alcione (Kingfisher)	Here is the twin-rudder version of the Alcione. No distinction was made between the two types, and they often flew in the same formation.
100_1214	CANT	Z.1018 Leone	Graceful Italian medium bomber which should have gone into production, but suffered so many delays that only one was built.
100_1006	Caproni	Ca.133	This armed transport served in the Austrian Air Force. Built from scratch, and all insignia were hand-painted.
100_1986	Caproni	Ca.135	This bomber first flew in 1935 and found such diverse customers as Spain (14), Peru (32) and Hungary (100). The short, stubby wings were odd. Built from scratch.
100_1184	Caproni	Ca.183 bis	This was a proposed high-altitude interceptor which had a jet engine in the rear to assist the piston engine up front. It shows off that innate sense of design for which the Italians are justly renowned. I built this one from scratch.
100_1119	Caproni	Ca.312	The French had been slow to re-arm before the war, and found themselves having to buy foreign aircraft like this light bomber from Italy.
100_1226	Caproni	Ca.313	Another version of this aircraft, with radial engines.
100_1225	Caproni	Ca.314	Even though this was a light multi-role plane, it was able to carry a single torpedo.
100_1231	Caproni	Ca.316	Another example of Italian design at its best. It's a shame that only one was ever built.
100_1183	Caproni	Ca.331B Raffica (Squall)	Italy built 2 of these very attractive night fighters/ground attack/torpedo bombers. I made this one from a heavily-modified Beaufighter kit. What would I do without Beaufighter kits? They can be made into so many different aircraft.
100_0981	Fiat	B.R. 20 Cicogna (Stork)	For some reason, Japan bought 75 of these Italian bombers. It's not like they didn't have plenty of bombers of their own.
100_1204	Fiat	B.R. 20 Cicogna (Stork)	Some 606 were made. This one has a colorful desert camouflage. They were used in the Battle of Britain but were easy to shoot down.
100_1206	Fiat	C.R. 25 bis	Long-range reconnaissance/fighter. Twelve were made.
100_1003	Fiat	C.R. 32	Austria bought some of these nimble little fighters from their Italian neighbors.
100_2472	Fiat	C.R. 42	Belgium had ordered 40 Fiats, but only 30 had been delivered by the time of the German sneak attack. This was the aircraft of Sergeant Van Molkot in which he and two others attacked Ju52 transports on May 10, 1940. All three were shot down by the escorting Messerschmitt 109s. Built from scratch.
100_1043	Fiat	C.R. 42 Falco	In 1940 Sweden received 72 of these Italian biplanes. That was before they decided the war was going to make the delivery of foreign aircraft impossible and they had to rely on their own industry.
100_1227	Fiat	CANSA FC.20	The 37mm. cannon was for tank-busting, but the aircraft's performance was disappointing.
101_0069	Fiat	CANSA FC.20	A reconnaissance plane that failed due to poor handling. I made it from (you guessed it) a heavily-modified Beaufighter kit.
100_1634	Fiat	G.12	Fiat made 30 of these transports, with the typical Italian layout of 3 engines. This one served with the Allies after Italy switched sides in 1943. Built from scratch.
100_1187	Fiat	G.46	A handsome 2-seat trainer. Built from scratch.
100_1208	Fiat	G.50bis Freccia (Arrow)	This fine-looking fighter was one of the most important in the Italian Air Force, at least in the beginning. One version was enlarged to serve as a naval fighter-bomber for 2 proposed Italian aircraft carriers. Old kit.
100_1218	Fiat	G.55 Centauro	This was one of the best fighters produced by Italy. Deliveries had just started when Italy capitulated. Since the factory was in the German zone, all 105 went to the German-backed Italian Air Force.
100_1220	Fiat	G.55 Silurante	Fiat built a single example of this torpedo fighter in a striking camouflage scheme.
100_1203	Fiat	I.C.R. 42	This prototype was the only one completed as it was realized that the floatplane fighter was an obsolete concept. I took a C.R. 42 kit and added floats from the parts box.
100_1181	Fiat	RS-14B	This was a very good reconnaissance bomber. A total of 150 were built, but only 24 remained on October 28, 1943 when Italy surrendered to the Allies. They split evenly, 12 staying with the Germans and 12 heading south to join the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force. This is one of the latter. I made it from a heavily-modified Beaufighter kit.
100_0882	I.M.A.M.	Ro 43	Reconnaissance plane.
100_1037	I.M.A.M.	Ro 37	This Italian reconnaissance plane was used by Uruguay.
100_1209	I.M.A.M.	Ro.37	Observation plane.
101_0072	I.M.A.M.	Ro.57	This potent-looking interceptor turned out to be under-powered and was not a success. I made this one from a heavily-modified Hurricane kit. In some ways, it turned out better than the other two I made from vacu-form kits.
100_1219	I.M.A.M.	Ro.57	I liked my home-made Ro-57 enough that when I found a vacu-form kit, I bought it and made this version.
100_1211	I.M.A.M.	Ro.57bis	This was the dive-bomber version of the Ro-57 interceptor that was under-powered. Only a few were operational.
100_2152	I.M.A.M.	Ro.58	The Ro.58 was similar in concept to the Messerschmitt Bf 110. The sole prototype had excellent flying characteristics, but Italy threw in the towel before production could get underway. Built from scratch.
100_1222	Macchi	C.200 Saetta (Arrow)	This aircraft looks just like the Fiat G.50 and even shares the same name. The main difference is that the Fiat had a smooth cowling. About 1,000 were made. Old kit.
100_1230	Macchi	C.200 Saetta (Arrow)	This was the first Saetta.
100_1213	Macchi	C.202 Folgore (Lightning)	Almost 1,500 examples of this very successful fighter were produced, thanks to its high-performance German engine. Old kit.
100_0201	Macchi	C.202 Folgore	This excellent fighter was captured and tested by the US. It retained its white Italian identification band.
100_1200	Macchi	C.205V Veltro (Greyhound)	An improved version of the C.202. They reportedly could hold their own even against Mustangs.
100_1732	Macchi	M.41 bis	For years, Macchi built extremely graceful fighter seaplanes. This model came out in 1929, and 8 were still in service when W.W.II broke out.
100_1185	Nardi	FN.305	A 2-seat trainer. Hundreds were made. Built from scratch.
100_1188	Piaggio	A.P. 1	One of the older ground support aircraft in the Italian Air Force. Built from scratch.
100_1633	Piaggio	P.32	A combination of high wing loading and lack of power caused this Italian bomber to be a failure, although 32 were manufactured. Built from scratch.
101_0067	Piaggio	P.108B	Piaggio was only able to build 28 of Italy's only heavy bomber. I made this one from a heavily-modified B-17C. Of note are the remote-controlled turrets on the outboard engine nacelles.
100_1282	Piaggio	P.111	Piaggio built a single example of this graceful high-altitude research aircraft. It made 110 flights and was scrapped in 1943. Built from scratch.
101_0073	Piaggio	P.119	Only one example of this Italian fighter with a radial engine buried in the fuselage was made. I scratch-built this one from a 4th of July rocket nose cone, etc.
100_0841	Reggiane	Re.2000 Falco I	This Falco served with the Hungarian Air Force, with the later insignia.
100_1194	Reggiane	Re.2001 Falco II	Reggiane made 252 of these in several versions.
100_0728	Reggiane	Re.2002 Ariete (Ram)	Germany had a Lend-Lease program too, in this case, Italian fighters that they used in the Balkans.
100_1189	Reggiane	Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer)	Once they got access to high-horsepower German engines, the Italians were able to build really good fighters like this one (48 made). Old kit.
100_1228	Reggiane	Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer)	A Re.2005 in an unusual color scheme.
101_0074	Reggiane	Re.2007	This gorgeous little Italian jet fighter looks just like a half-scale F-86 Sabre. It reached a pretty advanced stage, but was never flown because Germany couldn't spare any engines to power it. I built this one from a heavily-modified Gloster Whittle jet kit.
100_1318	S.A.I. Ambrosini	207	Small wooden lightweight fighter. Only 13 were built before production switched to the improved S.A.I. 403. Modified from a Caudron 714 kit.
100_1186	S.A.I. Ambrosini	403 Dardo	A lightweight fighter that reached 403 mph on 750 hp. The government had ordered 3,000, but the surrender ended the project. Built from scratch.
101_0070	S.A.I. Ambrosini	S.S. 4	The first warplane with a "canard" front end. Built from scratch.
100_1201	Saiman	202	Liaison type. I modified a Bf 108 Taifun kit.
102_0006	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M.79	The S.M.79 finished its career as a transport, in this case with the Italian Airforce from 1944 to 1950.
100_0612	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M.79-I Sparviero	The Sparviero was the pride of the Italian torpedo bomber squadrons. This one was captured near Addis Ababa in 1941 and operated by the British.
100_0876	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 79-I Sparviero	This example was operated by the Legionaria Spagnola, the Italian equivalent of the Condor Legion.
100_1617	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 79-I Sparviero	The S.M. 79 was sold to Iraq, Rumania and in this case, Yugoslavia. Most were destroyed when the Germans attacked in 1941 to help the Italians who were taking a beating at the hands of the Greek army. This delayed the attack on Russia by a crucial 6 weeks, without which the Germans might have gotten to Moscow and won the war.
100_0726	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 79-II Sparviero	When Italy surrendered to the Allies, the Germans walked right in and took it over to keep it out of Allied hands. They used this 79 as a fully-armed transport.
100_1210	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 79-II Sparviero	The Sparviero was an excellent torpedo bomber and was used throughout the war. Old kit.
100_1212	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 79-II Sparviero	Another Sparviero in an interesting paint scheme.
100_1602	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 79-II Sparviero	The white Mediterranean Theatre band on this S.M. 79 was oversprayed for night torpedo missions.
100_1603	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 79-III Sparviero	When Italy capitulated in October 1943, some squadrons joined the Allies. Others like this Sparviero stayed with the Germans as part of the Aviazione della Repubblica Sociale Italiana.
101_0068	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 79	This aircraft was used to test the twin-rudder assembly for the proposed S.M. 84. Modified from a regular kit.
100_1193	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 81 Pipistrello	One of the older bombers in the Italian Air Force. Judging by the bright colors, they must not have been encountering much opposition at that time.
100_1197	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 81 Pipistrello	Another model of the Pipistrello with different engines, different camouflage, and carrying 2 torpedoes.
100_1619	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M. 82 Marsupiale	The S.M. 82 was built in significant numbers both as a bomber and as a transport. This one is a bomber in August 1940.
100_1641	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M.91	Savoia built another twin-boom fighter to the same specification as the S.M.92. They had the same Daimler-Benz engines and about the same weight, but this one was 20 mph slower. One prototype only. Built from scratch.
100_1254	Savoia-Marchetti	S.M.92	Big 2-seat long-range escort fighter with heavy armament and a speed of 382 mph. Only one was built and flown. Built from scratch.