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Fiat G.55 Prototype

by Riccardo Trotta

I built this model some years ago using the 1/48 scale resin kit by RCR.

The version supplied in the kit is a I° series with the guns in the wings. However,  this version was not widely used by the Regia Aeronautica so I decided to research all the characteristics that distinguished the prototype from the I° series. I was largely inspired by the interesting camouflage scheme. 

I hope that these brief notes will help anyone who wants to repeat my project using the new Vintage resin kit 1/48 scale. 

When I built my model, number 10 of the Ali d'Italia series dedicated to the Fiat G.55 had not yet been released. I can recommend this excellent book as a reference today. In the absence of this book, I used  an article published on the Notiziario by Club Modellismo Plastico Ravenna (CMPR), which is one of the most authoritative clubs about the Regia Aeronautica in Italy. I also used the book "I caccia della serie 5 - Fiat G55" by N.Arena, the number 4/1976 of the magazine Aerei, an article dedicated to this plane in the magazine "Storia Militare" n°5 February 1994 and the publication "Catalogo Nomenclatore" where all the parts composing the aeroplane are detailed with drawings. 

The characteristics of the prototype are as follows:

• The length of the rollover protector can be seen at page 7 in the Ali d'Italia book, comparing it with a subsequent series plane at page 9. This structure ends at the panel behind the cockpit. This modification can be easily implemented reducing the dimensions of the structure according to the photo. 

• Absence of the guns in the wings and presence of two machine guns in the lower part of the nose. This armament is also a characteristic of the series I°- sottoserie 0. It is evident in the photo at page 6. I used a mini drill to realise the grooves. 

• The fairings for the lower machine guns are different. These are visible in the photo at page 6, looking at the lower part of the wings in the space between the landing gear bay and the water radiator:. It is also possible to see the hole for the shell ejector chutes. To indicate the correct position I have provided a drawing from the Catalogo Nomenclatore, where these fairings are visible

• The rudder counterbalance should be built as represented for the sottoserie 0 in the drawing at page 23. 

• The propeller and the spinner were the original German VDM , so I used parts from a Bf 109G-6.

I also corrected the position and the dimensions of the rudder according to 1/48 drawing published in the magazine Storia Militare.

There are some other minor details to be added, but they can easily found by a careful examination of photos and drawings published on Ali d'Italia. 

I thought it was interesting to add a drawing from the Catalogo Nomenclatore showing the seat and the correct position of the harness and four photos of the details of the landing gear bay. 

These photos belong to a Fiat G59, but this plane, which was the successor of the Fiat G55 after the WW II war, mounted the same wing. 

Furthermore, the restored example of a Fiat G.55 surviving today has been obtained by backdating a G.59, so I the photos might be useful. I have not added photos of the the cockpit interior because they can be examined in the Ali d'Italia book. 

Camouflage is typical of Fiat during this period - Verde Oliva scuro 2 (dark olive green FS 34052) with large mottles of Nocciola Chiaro 4 (light hazel brown FS 30219) for the upper surfaces and Grigio Azzurro chiaro 1 ( light blue gray FS 36307) for the lower surfaces. 

Riccardo Trotta Plastimodeler Group of Florence, Italy

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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2001 by Riccardo Trotta
Page Created 15 March, 2001
Last Updated 04 June, 2007

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