STORMO! Pacific Coast Models 1/32 Fiat G.55 Serie I Centauro by Luca Bossi

Pacific Coast Models 1/32 Fiat G.55 Serie I
Centauro
by Luca Bossi

Pacific Coast Models 1/32 Fiat G.55 Serie I, Yellow 5.

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There were about 30 of these airplanes in service in the Italian Air Force at the time of the 1943 armistice. There were 150 in the fighter units of the ANR after that date, and they remained in service until the end of hostilities in 1945. This was the operational career of the Fiat G.55, one of the finest Italian combat airplanes of the war. The airplane was the result of the last desperate production effort of the Italian aviation industry during the war. It was powerful, fast, and sturdy, an unbeatable interceptor at high altitude. In dog fights carried out in the north during the last year of the war, the G.55 was pitted against the best British and American airplanes of the time, such as Spitfires, Mustangs, Thunderbolts, and Lightnings, and proved to be no easy adversary.

The Fiat G.55 appeared at the same time as the other two 'Series 5' fighters, the Macchi MC.205 and the Reggiane Re 2005. Comparative tests were made, but it was hard to choose between such well-matched aircraft however the G.55 was judged to be the best over-all, but the ministerial decision was not impartial. Instead of concentrating production on one of these airplanes, it was deceided to build all three. Thus 250 Macchi MC.205s were ordered, along with 600 Fiat G.55s and 750 Caproni-Reggiane Re 2005s. In comparison the British had one competitive aircraft of this type in early 1943, namely the Spitfire, while the Italians had produced three outstanding designs, equal and arguably superior to the Spitfire in most aspects. Its also worth pointing out that the Supermarine designs (Spitfire) were inspired by the indeed the lines are undeniable.

The Fiat was a good deal faster than the Macchi MC.205 above 23,000 ft (7,010 m). It was more modern, and more powerfully armed, but it was slower and less manoeuvrable than the Re 2005, although it was much sturdier. The Fiat G.55 was an all metal single-seat low-wing monoplane, and the under-carriage was fully retractable. Power was provided by a 1,475 hp Daimler Benz DB.605 engine driving a three-blade metal propeller with variable pitch. Armament consisted of two 12.7 mm machine guns in the engine housing, synchronized to fire through the propeller disc; two 20 mm Mauser cannons in the wings; and a third cannon firing through the propeller hub.

The airplane became operational in June 1943 with the 353a Sq. This unit did not take part in any major battle. The situation was different in the north after the 1943 armistice. About 20 airplanes were taken over by the ANR, and the rest of the airplanes that were produced went into fighter squadrons where they saw service until the end of the war.

In early 1943 a German test team was sent to Guidonia to evaluate the new generation of Italian aircraft. Among the fighters tested by the Luftwaffe pilots, led by Oberst Petersen of the Rechlin Erprobungsstelle, the G.55 was judged to be "Excellent". After listening to recommendations from Milch, Galland and Petersen the Future Aviation Programs meeting held by Goering on 22 Feburary 1943 voted to build the Fiat G.55 in Germany.

"Tests began 20 February 1943 with the German commission impressed by Italian aircraft, the G.55 in particular . . . the G.55 was competitive with its German counterparts in terms of speed and climb rate at high altitudes, while still maintaining superior handling characteristics. The definitive evaluation by the German commission was "Excellent" for the G.55 with Oberst Petersen declaring the G.55 'the best operational fighter in the Axis' inventory' "

Milch a strong proponent of the plan to build the G.55 in Germany hoped to have the G.55 available for the Luftwaffe within a year, and powered by the new 1,750hp DB.603 (which could not be installed in the Bf.109). The plan was eventually cancelled after the Italian Armistice but again resumed with the construction of two prototype G.56s (MM.536 and MM.537), MM.536 making its maiden flight on 28 March 1944. Performance was quite good and the fighter reached 680 km/h (423 mph) with no trace of flutter, even while manoeuvering under high speeds, a common problem with most piston-engined fighters of the period.

Production of the G.55 was resumed after the war and about with the wing canons replaced by 12.7mm machine guns and other minor changes. Sixteen aircraft were delivered to the Italian Air Force early in 1948 as the G.55B. Variant models included the dual seater G.55B trainer and the G.55S torpedo carrier. The G.55S was developed in 1944, but the project was abandoned after a few test flights.

References
[1] Angelucci E. and P. Matricardi, "World Aircraft - World War II - Part I", Sampson Low, Bershire House, UK, 1978

G.55 Serie I, MM.91097, Squadriglia Complementare 'Montefusco-Bonet', Venaria Reale, April, 1944. 'Continental' scheme VOS2/COLORE 2 upper surfaces. GAC1/COLORE 1 undersides. VOS2 spinner, black props with yellow tips and Macchi factory logos on propeller blades. Following the death of cap. G. Bonet, the commanding officer, in combat on 29 March 1944, Squadriglia Complementare 'Montefusco' became 'Montefusco-Bonet'. Shortly afterwards pilots stenciled Bonet's signature in white on the nose of their G.55s to honor the memory of their CO. The individual aircraft number in yellow on the fuselage was repeated on the nose but was smaller and more rounded. These markings appear to have been applied to the starboard side only. Spinner painted in a red. Full factory-applied national markings 9x6 yellow fringe style flags on the fuselage sides and 8x5 yellow fringe-style flags on the rudder. Factory applied upper and lower wing fasces in black with white background. Unlike C.205Vs and Italian Bf.109s, the orientation of the wing fasces on G.55s were the same in all four positions, except for some exceptions where the wing fasces were repainted. FIAT factory stencilling in blue (Azzurro 11) and yellow with empty weight script on the rudder in yellow. First-Aid kit storage marking. Small blister between gun troughs and engine exhausts, characteristic of Serie I planes. Large gun blisters and early-type horn-balance. Bump skid bulge. Gun troughs painted in a heat-resistant black. Photo Ref.[3], Ref.[3,4]

Construction

Here is the Pacific Coast Models 1/32 Fiat G.55 Centauro MM 91097 Serie I. This is a G.55 of Squadriglia Complementare "Montefusco-Bonet" based at Venaria Reale near Turin in April 1944.

Colours and Markings
The camouflage consists of standard Metropolitan scheme in "Verde Oliva Scuro Tipo 2" and grey Tamiya XF19 for undersurfaces. I used exclusively a mixture of Tamiya basic colors. The green composition has been self-made by Tamiya colors.

References
- Ali D'Italia n.10 – FIAT G55 - La Bancarella Aeronautica
- CMPR notiziario modellismo 1\86
- DELTA Editrice - I grandi aerei storici - n.11 agosto 2004
- Classic Publication – Camouflage and Markings of the ANR 1943-45, D'Amico and Valentini
- a lot of photos

Technical Data

Aircraft: Fiat G.55 Serie I
Manufacturer: Fiat S.A.
Type: Fighter
Year: 1943
Engine: Damiler Benz DB 605A-1, 12-cylinder V, liquid-cooled 1,475hp
Wingspan: 38 ft 10 1/2 in (11.85 m)
Length: 30 ft 9 in (9.37 m)
Height: 12 ft 4 in (3.77 m)
Weight: 8,200 lb (3,720 kg) (Loaded)
Maximum Speed: 385 mph (620 km/h) at 24,300 ft (7,400 m)
Ceiling: 41,700 ft (12,700 m)
Range: 1,025 miles (1,650 km)
Armament: 2 x 12.7mm (0.5 in) SAFAT machine guns, 3 x 20 mm cannons
Crew: 1

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