Special Hobby 1/72 FIAT G.55B
Biposto (Two-Seat Trainer)
by Richard Mendes


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The Fiat G.55 Centauro (Centaur) designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli (1903-1987) arguably was the best World War II Italian fighter flown by the Regia Aeronautica Italia (RAI) and Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR). During its short wartime operational service primarily with the ANR this powerful, robust and fast cannon-armed aircraft clashed on equal terms with RAF Supermarine Spitfires, U.S.A.A.F. P-38s, P-47s and P-51s engaged in bomber escort and ground attack missions over Northern Italy during 1944-45 though only a few dozen were operational at any time.

No G.55 trainers were available during the war but soon thereafter Gabrielli designed the G.55B (Biposto lit. twin-seat) and G.55A single-seat advanced trainers the former first flying on February 12, 1946 latter September 5th. Utilizing left over stocks of incomplete G.55 fighter airframes, parts and 1,475hp FIAT RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone (Typhoon) inverted V-12 license-built Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 engines presumably as well as converting surviving wartime G.55 fighter aircraft FIAT produced 19 G.55A and 10 G.55B trainers for the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) as well as 30 G.55A and 15 G.55B for the Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA - Argentine Air Force) during 1946.

 











Construction

The 2007-vintage Special Hobby SH72104 1/72 scale FIAT G.55B injected-plastic kit with vacuform plastic, resin, etched brass parts and water decals for AMI and FAA versions is the only one available in that scale, interior detail is rich and is relatively easy to build despite noticeable poor fuselage-upper main wing root fits well as no pitot tube nor radio antenna masts for the type these I had to scratch-build. The kit decals depict AMI G.55B MM.91170, presumably a rebuild of the G.55 Serie I single-seat fighter one of 144 originally ordered by the RAI in 1943, as it appeared on "rollout" per surviving photos in 1946, Humbrol and Testors enamel paints were used for the build.





Technical Data

Aircraft: Fiat G.55A
Manufacturer: Fiat S.A.
Type: Fighter
Year: 1946
Engine: FIAT Tifone RA 1050, 12-cylinder V, liquid-cooled 1,475hp
Wingspan: 38 ft 10 1/2 in (11.85 m)
Length: 30 ft 9 in (9.37 m)
Height: 12 ft 4 in (3.77 m)
Weight: 8,200 lb (3,720 kg) (Loaded)
Maximum Speed: 385 mph (620 km/h) at 24,300 ft (7,400 m)
Ceiling: 41,700 ft (12,700 m)
Range: 1,025 miles (1,650 km)
Armament: 4 x 12.7mm (0.5 in) SAFAT machine guns
Crew: 1

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August, 2019
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