A modification of the CANT Z.1007 incorporating three 1500 hp Piaggio P.XII R.C.35 radial engines, the CANT Z.1015 made its appearance in 1939 as a long-distance mail plane, although definitely intended as an improved bomber prototype. The civil version set a record of 347.97 mph at an altitude of 14,760 ft, but the military development saw no operational use during the war. Details were as for the CANT Z.1007bis except for the length of 59 ft 6 in, the loaded weight of 29,988 lb and the maximum range of 1864 miles. The positioning of the pilot and co-pilot were side-by-side unlike the tandem arrangement of the CANT Z.1007bis. There is no record of the armament fitted.

MM.512 equipped with three Piaggio P.XII RC.35. This photo with ground crew and pilot was likely taken in 1942 during testing at Gorizia. Note the extensively faired inlet engine-nacelles to reduce aerodynamic drag. The CANT Z.1015 set a speed record of 347.97 mph in 1939 in its Civil configuration.

The CANT Z.1015 was designed by Fillipo Zappata. In 1938 at the behest of the Regia Aeronautica, a long-range mail carrier design was begun capable of being converted to a medium-sized bomber, the goal being to create an aircraft that could be manufactured comparatively easily while meeting or exceeding the speed and operational range of current designs. Zappata used the CANT Z.1007bis as a starting basis, which was structurally modified only slightly. The length was shortened and the wings were altered to accept a new engine. An Alfa-Romeo 135 RC.32 (Tornado) 18-cylinder radial engine with power output of 1,550 horsepower was planned. The prototype was completed on December 22, 1938 and first flown on January 20 at Monfalcone by test pilot Mario Stoppani. During test flights the aircraft showed good performance with a speed of 500 km/h (311 mph) and a load of 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs) of bombs to a distance of 2,000 km (1,243 miles). In the same year, the aircraft was accepted by the Regia Aeronautica and designated as CANT Z.1015B (Bellico/Military), the serial number of the prototype was MM.394. At the end of 1939 however, development was paused. After a short break, development was resumed and by the end of 1940 the plane was now equipped with the Piaggio P.XII RC.35, power output of 1,350 horsepower (1,500 hp at take-off), as well as a new three-bladed adjustable propeller Piaggio-D'Ascanio. Between June 23 and July 3, 1942 the Z.1015 with these new engines reached a speed of 563 km/h (350 mph) and flew to a distance of 2,930 km (1,820 miles). During 1942, the aircraft was flown on a few test flights and was then transferred to the Nucleo Addestramento Aerosiluranti (a torpedo-bomber training unit) located at Gorizia under the command of Ten.Col. Carlo Unia former commander of the XVIII Gruppo, 10o Stormo. There the aircraft received a new serial number MM.512 and was tested as a torpedo bomber. During test flights the aircraft demonstrated good flight characteristics and the performance of the aircraft exceeded the performance of well-known torpedo carriers such as the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79. Production was eventually abandoned due to the complexity of the design.

References:
[1] Thompson, J. W., "Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-1945", Aero Publishers Inc., Los Angeles, California, 1963
[2] Garello, G., "Un Aereo Misterioso: Il CANT Z.1015", AeroFan, 2/86, 1986

Background:
Once in a while an aircraft comes along that no one knows anything about – at least those less familiar with Regia Aeronautica birds of the Second World War. One such aircraft was the Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini (CANT) Z.1015. A sleek tri-motor torpedo bomber that was developed and tested by Italy just prior to WW2. Only one was ever built.

This is the rare Old Wings Models 1/72 resin kit of the Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini (CANT) Z-1015. Produced sometime in the 1990’s(?), not much is known of this company which no longer exists. This is the only kit of this aircraft ever released in any scale, but is not much of a kit with few parts, unclear instructions, no decals, and rough resin texturing.


The Model:
This model is of the older resin typical of the 90’s. Poor surface texture along with many surface imperfections. Large gates meant removal by both hand saws and a mini hobby table saw (done outside to avoid the dangerous resin dust).

There is only one reference on this rare bird: Aerofan Number 2, 1986 by Giancarlo Garello. My thanks to Stefano Lazzaro for his assistance in this reference and his knowledge! No interior or close-up detailed photos exist of this aircraft. The website Secret Projects (www.secretprojects.co.uk), was helpful on some background information. I would like to thank Vince Tassone as well for his help too!

The kit uniquely provided a solid resin cast fuselage hollowed-out for an "interior" to be covered by an upper fuselage spine (note the openings cut-out for the windows). This was advantageous in that there was no need to fill any top-fuselage seam given it is difficult to see much, I did not spend much time detailing the cockpit. The interior includes seats and other cockpit details from spare boxes, along with a new raised floor and rear cockpit wall, given the existing kit floor was too low. The cockpit was painted Tamiya Sky Grey (XF-19). I replaced the landing gear from a spare Italeri SM.79, along with new exhausts from evergreen tubing.

Photos of the aircraft show it with and without a torpedo. Since the underside torpedo mount was very crude, I sanded it off and did not install a torpedo. The rear tail wheel-well was non-existent and had to be cut out, with a new one from the spares box. The propellers were very delicate requiring lots of flash removal, and filler. I brushed over each blade with super glue and sanded smooth to help fill pin-holes. IMPORANT: It should be noted that the right propeller was counter-rotating!

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