STORMO! SEM Model 1/72 FIAT CANSA FC.12 by Richard Mendes

SEM Model 1/72 FIAT CANSA FC.12
Trainer/Ground Attack
by Richard Mendes

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The Construzioni Aeronautiche Novaresi S.A. (CANSA, a FIAT subsidiary from July 1, 1937 onwards) FC.12 was a mixed wood, metal and fabric constructed fighter and dive bomber aircrew trainer with ground attack capability. Designed by CANSA’s Giacomo Mosso (1903-1988) in 1939 as a private venture in response to the Regia Aeronautica Italia’s (RAI) growing need for “modern” aircrew trainers it performance was deem unsuitable other training aircraft types being available to fulfill RAI needs.

In the late 1930s CANSA initiated development of the FC.12 as a low-cost aircrew trainer built from non-strategic materials, surplus new or rebuilt components offering an operational performance on par with the British Rolls-Royce Kestrel-powered Miles M.9 Master it first flying on March 31, 1939. Modern appearing with short wings and sleek lines the sole FC.12 prototype with open crew cabins powered by a 600hp FIAT A.30 R.A. 12-cylinder upright V liquid-cooled engine enclosed in a FIAT CR.32 cowling first flew on October 16, 1940 by CANSA test pilot Fausto Moroni at the CANSA factory in Cameri, Italy, not assigned an RAI Matricola Militare CANSA alternatively painted “FC.12 No.1” on the fuselage sides underneath the tailplanes.

Many months prior to the FC.12 prototype’s first flight on June 19, 1940 CANSA officials met with Ministero dell' Aeronautica officials and RAI General Staff to convince them of the type’s superior performance capabilities over other crew trainers then in service, unconvinced they deferred further consideration pending formal flight testing of the prototype the RAI already having decided to employ obsolescent FIAT CR.32s as pilot trainers. Still hoping for productive use of the FC.12 as a dive bomber and ground attack trainer CANSA subsequent to making its first flight in October 1940 modified the prototype’s mainwings equipping each with dive brakes and a 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun in addition to the two fuselage nose-mounted ones as well as a rear-firing weapon (five machine guns total), pilot and rear gunner now in a fully enclosed glazed canopy.

Civilly registered I-TUFF the modified FC.12 No.1 prototype was flown to Campo della Promessa Lonate Pozzolo, Italy by Moroni for initial flight testing then by Arturo Ferrarin (1895-1941) at RAI Guidonia Montecelio, Italy whilst still civilly registered for formal tests both declaring its general performance excellent the RAI nevertheless remaining disinterested in the type. Lacking any further RAI interest CANSA subsequently attempted to market the FC.12 abroad albeit unsuccessfully, a contemporaneous development the FC.14 powered by a 430hp FIAT A.20 12-cylinder upright V liquid-cooled engine presumably as a lightweight aircrew trainer was considered but subsequently abandoned.

There remains uncertainty as to whether the RAI had authorized CANSA FC.12 production. Johnathan W. Thompson in Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-1945 (Aero Publishers Inc. 1963) page 47 claims 10 were built, while Wikipedia says with certainly only the FC.12 No.1 prototype was built, whether any others were indeed built, there exists no photographic evidence of them either in print or on the Internet has yet come forth.

Construction

Resin 1/72 scale models of the CANSA FC.12 No.1 marketed by LB Wings and SEM Model have been in “limited” production for some years, the only ones of this aircraft in this scale. On April 16, 2017 I’d purchased the SEM Model kit building it contemporaneously with their Industrie Meccaniche e Aeronautiche Meridionali Ro.63 during November and December 2018.

A sturdy, simple kit with 31 resin parts including fully glazed crew canopies molded from pliant clear plastic the FC.12 was a relatively easy build though had some effort trimming and sanding parts for placement gluing well as extensive puttying and sanding around underside fuselage-mainwing joins. Interiors were painted Humbrol 78 Matt Cockpit Green + Testors Flat White enamels 50/50 mix + 36% White shading replicating Verde Anticorrosione all model topsides per Internet photos of FC.12 No.1 Humbrol 63 Matt Sand +10% Testors Flat Yellow replicating Giallo Mimetico 3 followed by closely-packed mottles of Humbrol 117 Matt U.S. Light Green replicating Verde Mimetico 3 and Humbrol 118 U.S. Matt Tan + 10% Testors Flat Red replicating Bruno Mimetico enamels all model undersides then painted Humbrol 140 Matt Gull Grey replicating Grigio Mimetico each color shade lightened 36% with Testors Flat White Testors Aluminum, Black, Bronze, Olive Green, Red, Rubber, Rust et. al. flat enamels employed as detailing colors.

All spray work was accomplished with Testors Aztek A320 Single and A470 Double Action airbrushes, 9304CX 0.30, 9305CX 0.40, 9306CX 0.50 mm spray nozzles. Large-area spraying was accomplished with 0.50 and 0.40 mm nozzles, mottling spraying alternatively with 0.40 and 0.30 mm. Considerable effort was involved in spray painting much of it clearing off nozzle tip paint cakes and cartridge clogs each paint having distinctive behaviors requiring different solutions to achieve smooth flow with as few “spits” possible – ever persistent issues associated with RA mottle camouflage painting!

The SEM Model kit decals of CANSA FC.20 No.1 with civil I-TUFF markings were exceptionally well made though tad thick, after successfully applying them the entire model was over-sprayed Testors Model Master Semi-Gloss Clear Lacquer Finish thinned 50% with Klean Strip Lacquer Thinner (WAY cheaper than Model Master thinner and just as good), prefer semi-gloss finish over flat, detail “pops out” better plus aesthetically more pleasing in appearance.

Technical Data

Aircraft: C.A.N.S.A. FC.12
Manufacturer: Construzioni Aeronautiche Novarcsi S.A. (FIAT)
Type: Trainer/Ground Attack
Year: 1940
Engine: One Fiat A.30 R.A. upright V-12 liquid-cooled, 600 hp
Wingspan: 32 ft 10 in (10.00 m)
Length: 24 ft 8 in (7.52 m)
Height: 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)
Weight: 5,115 lb (2,320 kg) (Loaded)
Maximum Speed: 281 mph (452 km/h)
Ceiling: 23,350 ft (7,120 m)
Range: 832 miles (1,339 km)
Armament: 5 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns, two in the wings, two in the fuselage and one rear firing
Crew: 2

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