Fiat G.55 Italian Aces Part II

Stormo Decals, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

The FIAT G.55 Centauro was thought to be one the three best Italian fighters of WWII , along with the Macchi C.205 Veltro and Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario First taking to the air at the end of April 1942, and  then introduced into squadron use in July 1943, only 274 were built in war-time, although another 75 were constructed afterwards.

The primary user was  the Regia Aeronautica , and some served in the  Argentine Air Force and the Royal Egyptian Air Force as late as the 1950s. Equipped with a RR Merlin  engine as the G.59, the airframe was also used by post-war Italian and Syrian Air Forces.

Most of its  Italian career was with the ANR, with whom it clashed with Spitfires and Mustangs, giving  good account  of itself. The Luftwaffe used a couple of dozen as well and claimed it to be one of the best Axis fighters. ( info from Wikipedia)

This decal company with an Italian name and specialising in lots of Italian subjects is, in fact, based in  Canada and this sheet gives the modeller nine examples of FIAT G.55 aces from the ANR with a variety of  attractive schemes and emblems. As usual the contents come in a zip-lock bag and include a four A4 page  full colour set of nstructions. Each aircraft is illustrated by both a port or starboard profile and there are upper and lower elevations  of each scheme with decal placements as well.

Decals are perfectly printed as  we have come to expect from Stormo. Gloss finished with almost no carrier film extending beyond the  images and in perfect register, they are on a pale blue background which makes finding the white  markings easy. There is also a detailed colour guide for the plants used in these planes, with their Italian 
names and FS numbers.

Each example is given a detailed description of the scheme and the pilot’s achievements along with  references for the scheme - a good idea I reckon. The nine examples are as follows and appear in a  number of interesting schemes. All aircraft are G.55 Serie I, except 4, which is a Sotoserie 0, presumably  a prototype used in service.

• MM91089 yellow ‘5’ of Amilio Sanson, 2a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo, Bresso, 4/1944 in green over light grey,

• MM91084 yellow ‘8’of 1a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo, Bresso, 4/1944 in the splinter pattern of sand and 
  chestnut over the original green with grey underparts,

• Blue ‘5’ of 1a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo, Lonate Puzzola, 4/1944 in the splinter pattern of sand and chestnut 
  over the original green with grey underparts,

• Blue ‘11’ of 1a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo, Lonate Puzzola, 5/1944 in the splinter pattern of sand and 
  chestnut over the original green with grey underparts,

• MM91077 black  ‘7’, of 1a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo, Cascini Vaga, 5/1944 in the splinter pattern of sand and 
  chestnut over the original green with grey underparts,

• Yellow ‘7’ of 2a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo, Cascini Vaga, 5/1944, the first aircraft in the RLM colours of a 
  dense speckled 74/75/76 with 74/75 splinter on the upper wings, and yellow lower nose

• Yellow ‘5’ of 2a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo, Cascini Vaga, 5/1944 in the RLM colours with the less dense 
  speckling on the lower fuselage in 74/75/76 with 74/75 splinter on the upper wings, and yellow lower 
  nose

• Black ‘6’ of  1a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo, Cascini Vaga, 5/1944 in the RLM colours with the smaller 
  speckling on the lower fuselage in 74/75/76 with 74/75 splinter on the upper wings, and yellow lower 
  nose, and

• White ‘1’  of 3a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo, Cascini Vaga, 5/1944 in the RLM colours with the less dense 
  speckling on the lower fuselage in 74/75/76 with 74/75 splinter on the upper wings, and yellow lower 
  nose.

All in all, a great set of choices and the sheet comes highly recommended to modellers of this powerful  and attractive Italian aircraft.

Thanks to Stormo Decals for the sample.

Text and Images Copyright © 2021 by Graham Carter
Page Created 3 February, 2021
Last updated 3 March, 2022

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