Fiat G.55 Sottoserie 0 mm91064 questions

[tanker149805]

Hello, I`m building the 1/48 Special Hobby G55 Sottoserie 0 MM 91064 "Blue 11", and looking for answers to 2 questions:
1. Does anyone have pictures of this aircraft? I ask this because the upper wing ANR insignia is incomplete compared to the lower wing insignia. I do know of incomplete markings on G.55`s. Why have perfect markings underneath but not on the upper wing? I can`t find pictures on the internet to prove this upper wing marking decal option.
2. The kit paint scheme calls out for VM1,MM1, and GM3, over GAC1. I am familiar with the Fiat prewar of VM1,BM1, and GM1 over GM and have seen models built in prewar colors. My question is this: Was GM3 used in place of GM1? I can understand CAC1 replacing the prewar GM per Tavola. I can also see GM3 replacing GM1 at this stage of the war, but, with all things Italian, anything is possible. I want to be accurate.

You guys here are always of great help. I was going to attach a picture of my last build, but even with cutting the picture the file is too large.

Thank you,
Jeff

[Editor]

Hi Jeff,
1. Below is a photo of Azzurro 11 (160 and 161, Ref. D'Amico and Valentini, Camouflage and Markings of the ANR 1943-1945 p.99) at Lonate Pozzolo. The top wing markings for Azzurro 11 are incomplete - stencils were used to paint rough (initial) markings and the rest was filled in by hand. If you zoom into photo 160, the G.55 next to Azzurro 11 and behind the S.79 III the top wing markings are complete. There are no photos of Azzurro 11 undersurfaces, Ferdinando assumed the lower wing markings were complete, and probably were. In the second scan p.98 (below) of Ferdinando's book are the Plate and Plan Views for the G.55s at Lonate Pozzolo, note that Ferdinando generalizes these drawings for the G.55s at LP (this wasn't the case as is evident in 160; Plate A3 and the top wing markings apply to Azzurro 11). Also see Stormo 48011 Subject IV for the most up to date drawing of this plane (see the link below).

https://stormomagazine.com/Decals_Stormo.htm#STRM48011

2. The three-tone scheme was an experimental scheme applied to G.55s of 1a Sq 2o Gr. No other squadron in 2o Gr or 1o Gr adopted this scheme (we know this from an allied intercept). The colors used in these schemes were from remaining stockpiles of the pre-war colors. The Tavola 10 colors appeared at the end of 1941 (a directive was issued in July 1941) for RA aircraft and these colors still appeared on newly constructed aircraft post-1943 such as the C.205V and G55 but by March 1944 the ANR had adopted the Luftwaffe colors, specifically 74/75/76. The kit suggested colors for Azzurro 11 are taken from Ferdinando's book - VM1, MM1, and GM3, over GAC1. There were two types of the pre-war Serie Mimetica colors (yellows, browns, greens and grays), the early (light) and then late (dark) shades but at this stage of the war (1944) the paints used on 1a Sq 2o Gr G.55s were whatever they had in front of them (the Serie Mimetica colors were now long out of production), GAC1 lower surface was factory applied with the original top surface color VOS2. Keep in mind, the top surface color and (experimental) camo scheme(s) were meant to conceal these planes on the ground where 15th AF was ever present, most losses were from ground attacks.

To load images onto the forum you need to resize an image such that its no larger than 256 KB (use explorer to locate the image on your PC and hover your mouse pointer over the file and it'll tell you how large the file is) or about 1500 pixels wide, or email me the images, we would be happy to post your work here.

[tanker149805]

Thank you for your information! I don`t have that more comprehensive research reference you cited as I am working with my Ali D Italia #10. I figured there was more to the story.
Thank you again,
Jeff