Nighfighters Italian Style - Biplanes - COMPLETED

[Flyingbabydoc]

Hi everyone,

my addition to the campaign will be two little FIAT biplanes which were used (believe it or not) as night fighters in the defense of Sicily in 1940 and Rome in 1943. I can only imagine the courage of an Italian pilot sitting in his open cockpit at night, no radio, no radar, trying to gun down allied bombers with two 12,7mm Breda-Safat guns, and for that I think they should be remembered.

I will be assemblying a Fiat Cr.42 Falco and a Fiat Cr.32 (its predecessor) both Italeri kits in 1/72 with Eduard PE.

The first one will be an aircraft flown by Capt. Torchio in the 377a Squadriglia for the defense of Rome; this aircraft had experimental search lights underneath the wings, which will be represented here.

the second one is a Fiat Cr.32 from the 71a Squadriglia in Sicily in the beginning of the war. As always brush painted with acrylics. Wish me luck!

I am not sure how long the campaign runs but I will try my best to finish them on time!

Thanks for looking!

Cheers

Alex


Initial pictures:

 

[errains]

Good start there Doc!!

 

[moon puppy]

Would love to see this!

 

[jknaus]

Awesome
James

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Would love to see this!

You will. in due time. Will finish the Sparviero first.

 

[SA Dave]

This is going to be great I also love that the Germans used these planes as night bombers

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Looking forward to seeing what you do Alex!

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Thanks all of you,

Sorry I was AWOL again. A lot going on at the hospital as usual.

Well, I already began this project and it has been very pleasurable. The CR.32 will have to wait a bit since I thought that I had another Eduard PE Sheet but I did not - it was hard to find one, eventually I got one in the US and now I am waiting for it to arrive. Just a little picture of the opened model.

In the meantime the office and engine of the Falco (Cr.42) are ready. Here are the pictures. I hope you like. Your input is always welcome!

Cheers

Alex

 

[moon puppy]

Nice job Doc!

 

[Gator]

 

[Duke Maddog]

Beautiful work Alex! Thanks for the memories too; I built those same models a couple decades ago.

 

[mustang1989]

Will be looking in on this one. Good progress so far.

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Thanks guys, appreciated.

I really like building these little buggers. they are such an anachronism, first flight in the same year of the P-38 and FW 190! Still, they performed as well as they could given the circumstances and were absolutely excellent for aerobatics.

This is a little progress to show you, things are taking shape. Now on to painting, I will be using the Grigio Azurro Scuro (similar to FS 36237). Some books insist on a black camouflage but that has never been confirmed.

Still waiting on the PE for the Cr. 32, will be delayed apparently.

Cheers and thanks for looking

Alex

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Duke Maddog]

Love it!! Looking great Alex! Keep 'em coming!

 

[SA Dave]

coming together nicely

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Thanks a lot dear friends (yes I mean also you dave... )

Unfortunately I have not yet received the PE for the CR.32 and I think it does make a huge difference in the model, so I will be waiting for that. In the meantime here is some progress on the little Falco.
Assembly and Painting are done, now on to decals and final touches. I love these little guys, I am planning on building a Swedish one in Skies next.

Cheers and thanks for looking

Alex

 

[moon puppy]

Nice job Doc

 

[Duke Maddog]

Excellent work! Keep it coming Doc!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Coming along well Alex!