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SEM Model 1/72 FIAT G.12T Transport by Richard Mendes |
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The Fiat G.12 was designed in 1939 for civil transport on international routes. The aircraft was designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli. It was a low-wing three-engine monoplane with composite structure and covering and a retractable undercarriage. Power was provided by three Fiat A.74 RC 42 engines, generating 800 hp each. The plane was requisitioned at the outbreak of war, along with other Italian commercial aeroplanes. The early civil transport version could accommodate 14 passengers, but the military version was subsequently enlarged and could carry 22 fully-equipped soldiers. The prototype of the military version (G.12T) made its first flight in May 1941. Variant models were developed in the course of production, and these had increased cargo capacity and great power. In late 1942 and early 1943 came the G.12RT and G.12RTbis prototypes, both extremely long-range transports powered by 895 h.p. Alfa Romeo 128 R.C.18 nine-cylinder radial engines. These two aircraft, although operating at lower altitudes at reduced speeds, were by far the heaviest and longest-ranged of the entire G.12 series. The G.12RT, weighing 21,197 lb. empty and 43,802 lb. loaded, had a ceiling of 15,580 ft. and a range of 4968 miles. The G.12RTbis carried an even greater fuel load, empty and loaded weights being 22,143 lb. and 46,640 lb., and had a ceiling of 14,100 ft. and a range of 5590 miles exceeding that of all other wartime Italian aircraft and not greatly inferior to that of the Boeinq XPBB-l flying boat, which at the time was considered to have an exceptional endurance of seventy-two hours and a maximum range of 6300 miles. After the war, they G.12 was used by the Italian Air Force (AMI) as transport and communication aeroplanes. |
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The 2018-vintage 1/72 scale SEM Model 72020 FIAT G.12T resin kit based on the Aerodim 72-03 kit are the only ones available in any scale of the FIAT G.12. Adequately detailed with elevator, tailfin and rudder options for various model build versions the resin castings are quite heavy particularly the massive one-piece main wings, through-fuselage reinforcement with quarter-inch plastic dowels being necessary to securely anchor them to the fuselage; no parts for navigation lights and pitot tubes were provided these I'd fabricated. The fuselage castings were inwardly warped to where a massive amount of under fuselage puttying/filing/sanding work was necessary complicated by there being a structural ridge element along most of the fuselage it being better reproduced with a separately molded glued-on kit part. Fuselage and main wing engine nose mounting areas were poorly molded necessitating having to guess where to mount the FIAT A.74 engine parts on them relative to the engine cowlings. Main landing gear and tires required significant pre-assembly planning insofar as making sure they'd not break apart from the weight of the model, through-wheel to landing gear assembly weight-bearing bars are recommended though luckily was able to get by without them – for now. The SEM Model comes with decal options for RAI (two), Hungarian and Avio Linee Italiane versions I choosing to build MM.60673 "606-2" 606 Squadriglia, 148 Gruppo Transporto Ciampino, Italy c. February-March 1942 using Humbrol, Testors and Model Master enamel paints. Editor - Please note the following corrections: 1) Camouflage scheme should be CMPR C1B 2) Upper-surface underbase color should be Vito Chart "10 - Colore 4 in variante sabbia" FS.595b 33303 or GM1. |
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Aircraft: Fiat G.12 Manufacturer: Fiat S.A. Type: Transport Year: 1941 Engine: Three Fiat A.74 RC 42. 14-cylinder radial, air-cooled, 800 hp each Wingspan: 93 ft 10 in (28.60 m) Length: 65 ft 11 in (20.10 m) Height: 16ft 1 in (4.90 m) Weight: 33,100 Ib (15,000 kg) (loaded) Maximum Speed: 242 mph (390 km/h) at 16,400 ft (4,998 m) Ceiling: 27,900 ft (8,500 m) Range: 1,430 miles (2,300 km) Armament: 2 x 12.7mm (0.5 in) SAFAT machine guns Crew: 4 |
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