Nardi F.N.305 I-CARI #36 Carina Negrone

[Greggles]

Hello from Australia!

I am currently busy building a model of the Nardi F.N.305 I-CARI (military c/n MM 354) as flown by Carina Negrone with race number 36 in the 1938 III Raduno Aereo del Littorio. I am hoping someone here may be able to assist with reference images of this sporting machine, or even advice or suggestions on where to target my research.

I have collected a few images already, all collected into an album here:

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjDaPD1

Any further images greatly appreciated, as would be higher resolution copies of those images already in that folder.

I have started the 1/48 Special Hobby kit, working to convert it back to this particular early version. I hope to post progress images here in the future.

Thanks

[Editor]

Hi Greg, Welcome to Stormo and I look forward to following along on your progress.

There isn't much information for I-CARI MM.354, the plane was the first Alfa 115 powered two-seater with the Nardi canopy. In the reference ADI Nardi FN.305 #6 Mini Serie by Gregory Alegi there's just a sentence on the plane, flown by marchioness Carina Negrone (the leading female pilot in Italy at the time) in numerous races and rallies. The reference also has a photo of the plane, the same photo on your page (nice page btw), 2nd photo from the top of your page with the plane preparing to taxi. The lighting bolt on the fuselage sides was green and the undercarriage legs red (see some of the builds of this plane in our Gallery).

Try shooting Stefano Lazzaro an email, he may have additional information for this plane. I'll pm his email.

[Greggles]

Thanks for the prompt & considered response! All you have relayed aligns with my research, so that is most reassuring. I do have that Ali D’Italia book. There is another I have on order from Italy: ‘NARDI FN.305 - Storia e restauro’ about the GAVS restoration of the one in the Vigna de Valle museum. I’m hoping that will be helpful too.

Nardi canopy will be the biggest task .. I plan to vacform my own replacement!

[Editor]

I look forward to this build and how manage with the canopy. Let us know what you find or keep your page updated, its an interesting subject. Thanks.

[Editor]

(Editor: for those following along, below is Stefano's input and some useful attachments)

Hi Greg,
I appreciate your project and the interest about Italian aircraft. I've seen you yet have a good documentation. By my side, I can add a couple of images by the site www.gavs.it (Registro aeronautico civile) and a scan of a chapter by a rare and old issue of Dimensione Cielo, which thoroughly deals the story of that aircraft. At page 59 there is another picture of the subject you've chosen. I scanned the pdf with OCR, so it should be more easy for you to extract the text and translate it with AI. For now, I can't recall any other material in my archives, but if I find something other I'll send it you.

As for the livery, the aircraft was likely painted ivory white overall, as per RA civil aircraft, and the fuselage bolt seems to have been red, by comparing it with the rudder Italian flag (red was always aft). Little writings should have been black, but they could have been also dark blue, hard to judge.
I hope this is enough.
Best regards
Stefano

Editor Notes:
1) In regard to the color of the lightning bolt, I agree with Stefano, in the photo from Dimensione Cielo (as well as the other photos in Greg's page, and aside from the one in ADI) its clear its red and similar to the tone of the undercarriage legs.





Dimensione Cielo 10 - Nardi FN.305 e 315

[Greggles]

Thank you both!

Stefano, thank you for the GAVS images. The one with engine running I have seen before - but cropped. This wider frame version you have led me to allows me to now be certain that photograph was taken at the 1939 IV Raduno Sahariano. I had suspected as much from the palm trees on the horizon, but now we can see Italo Balbo himself waving the start flag!

The other image I believe is likely the from the same event .. more on that in a future post.

Meantime I have found two more images, within the daily coverage of the 1938 IV Raduno Aereo del Littorio in the newspaper ‘il Littoriale’. One image I am already familiar with - although this now definitively links it to that event - while the other is very much new. Sharing it here below, the Nardi 305 with the most elegant Carina Negrone herself:

55650128876_4c4ea47af7_o.jpeg (251.96 KiB) Viewed 850 times

55650128876_4c4ea47af7_o.jpeg (251.96 KiB) Viewed 850 times

I have added all newly supplied or found images to the Flickr album.

Now as for colours … I have a theory forming: that the livery evolved over time. Once the various images are pinned to & grouped by specific event - Carina flew this machine in several races - then i think the evidence suggests change. I’m still finalising my thoughts, with a view to outlining them here soon to be tested by the collective expertise!

Thanks for your interest,

g.

[Stefano]

It's right to say that the two pictures I posted to Greg are by the site of Gruppo Amici Velivoli Storici (www.gavs.it).
Stefano