STORMO! SEM Model 1/72 IMAM Ro.58 by Richard Mendes

SEM Model 1/72 I.M.A.M. Ro.58
Long Range Heavy Fighter
by Richard Mendes

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The Industrie Meccaniche e Aeronautiche Meridionali (IMAM) Ro.58 was a light metal alloy and duralumin constructed two-seat twin-engine heavy fighter similar in concept to the 1936-vintage German Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer. In 1939 the Regia Aeronautica Italia (RA) issued a specification for a heavy fighter several Italian aircraft manufacturers subsequently being invited to submit design proposals IMAM in response submitting the Ro.58 jointly designed by Pietro Callerio, Arturo Ferrara (1914-2009) and Giovanni Galasso (1897-1984) powered by 1,085hp Daimler-Benz DB 601A-1 12-cylinder inverted V inline liquid-cooled engines based on the obsolescent single-seat Ro.57bis fighter-dive bomber.

The Ro.58 retained the Ro.57s general layout but with a redesigned elongated fuselage to accommodate a gunner firing a 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun between twin tails, three nose-mounted Mauser MG 151 20mm cannon plus two more in an external (presumably detachable) pod underneath the central fuselage (presumably) as an operational option easily becoming the most powerfully-armed Italian aircraft of the mid-WWII period though never seeing combat. Impressed with the design the RA ordered two Ro.58 prototypes serials MM.431 and 432 but following years of delay the sole prototype MM.431 finally flew during May 1942 piloted by Adriano Mantelli (1913-1995) then following structural modifications to the mainwing flaps flown to RA Guidonia Montecelio for flight testing.

Whilst the Ro.58 prototype was under construction the RA began showing interest in the German Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse one subsequently loaned to the Italians for comparative flight testing between it and the Ro.58. Comparative flight testing of the two (presumably late 1942 into 1943) revealed both types near equal in performance though due to high wing loading the Ro.58’s medium and low altitude performance was inferior, unwilling nor able to invest any more into Ro.58 development in light of dire need to get more single-engine cannon-armed fighters operational the RA cancelled the aircraft project c. spring 1943 stripping MM.431 of its engines for reinstallation in other aircraft subsequently scrapping the airframe.

Construction

Resin 1/72 scale models of the IMAM Ro.58 have been marketed by SEM Model for some years, the only kit of this aircraft in this scale. On March 2, 2017 I purchased one building it late December 2018 - early January 2019.

A sturdy, simple kit with 39 resin, 2 molded brass et. al. parts including fully glazed crew canopies molded from pliant clear plastic the Ro.58 was a relatively easy build though puttying and sanding of fuselage halve joins, fuselage-main wing, one-piece tailplane-fuselage seams required great deal of work. The fuselage interior is Spartan though a highly detailed third-party instrument panel kit part was provided; a San Giorgio Tipo C gunsight was needed fabricated one from styrene sheet plastic. The crew seats needed belts fabricated them from painted-over Scotch Magic Mending Tape pieces gluing them in place. The clear pilot canopy was glued in place prior to spray painting it that for rear gunner separately for placement after painting and gluing in a Breda-SAFAT machine gun retrieved from the spare parts bag the resin kit provided one being too small and brittle. The kit lacked main landing gear retraction struts, fabricated them from Italeri Savoia-Marchetti S.79 torpedo rack parts; kit lacked a pitot tube assembly as well as 20mm cannon barrels, fabricated from scrap plastic.

The SEM Model kit did not come with under fuselage gun pod parts for the 20mm cannons, having nothing whatsoever to fabricate them from build it "bare bottomed" though possibly the gun pod on MM.431 was installed sometime after it was built. Period photos of MM.431 don't clearly show where 20mm forward fuselage shell and gas ejection ports are located, "educated guessed" where they might had been.

Painting the SEM Model kit was straightforward; main wings, fuselage halves and flight crew interior parts Humbrol 78 Matt Cockpit Green + Testors Flat White shading replicating Verde Anticorrosione, exterior topsides Humbrol 91 Matt Black Green + 36% Testors Flat White enamel shading replicating Verde Oliva Scuro 2 undersides Testors 1726 Flat Light Sea Gray + 36% Flat White enamel shading replicating Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 enamels, white fuselage identification band and Distintivo di Guerra rudder crosses Testors Flat white enamel, Testors Flat White, Aluminum, Black, Bronze, Olive Green, Red, Rubber, Rust et. al. flat enamels employed as detailing colors.

The SEM Model kit decals were well made though tad thick few problems encountered whilst applying them the entire model subsequently over-sprayed with 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: Meridionali Ro 58
Manufacturer: S.A. Industrie Meccaniche & Aeronautica Meridionali (I.M.A.M.)
Type: Fighter
Year: 1943
Engine: Two FIAT R.A.1050 R.C.58 Tifone, 12-cylinder vee, liquid-cooled, 1,175 hp each
Wingspan: 43 ft 11^1/2 in (13.40 m)
Length: 32 ft 5^3/4 in (9.90 m)
Height: 11 ft 1^7/8 in (3.52 m)
Weight: 13,448 lb (6100 kg) (Loaded)
Maximum Speed: 376 mph (605 km/h)
Ceiling: 31,170 ft (9500 m)
Range: 932 miles (1500 km)
Armament: 5 x 20mm MG 151/20 canons
Crew: 2

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