I may not have had much time to post on the forum lately or get involved in debate but I have made sure I make time to build models, even if at a slower pace.
This is my latest.
The Fiat G50bis was originally developed as Italy's first all metal, monoplane fighter with an enclosed cockpit. When it entered service the pilots did not like the small cramped enclosed cockpit and it was changed to an open 'pit.
The Italians designed some beautiful, sleek fighters. This is not one of them, it is an ugly machine that was outdated at the start of the war. Mussolini sent 3 squadrons to help Hitler in the Battle of Britain but the RAF pilots would not even have noticed. The aircraft had too short a range, it was not fast enough and was armed by a mere two machine guns (the BoB Spitfires and Hurricanes had 8 machine guns of a similar size). That is not to say that it did not have its successes, the Finns used the type with success in their war with Russia and the Italians found them somewhat useful in North Africa.
The model, like the bulk of what I build, is 1:32 scale. It is a short-run kit from a small manufacturer Special Hobby. Sadly no major company produces any 32 scale Italian (or French) aircraft. The kit is multi-media with injection molded plastic for major parts and most of the detail isresin and photo-engraved brass. These short-run kits are not up to the build standards of the big players, the fit is not as good and there are no location pins for a positive fit either. A lot of filler was needed plus plastic card shimmies. I knew what I was getting into and the result is acceptable but not the best.
The aircraft depicted is an early G50bis operated by the squadron commander of 354a Squadron, 155 Groupo in Derna, Italian Libya in July 1941.
