Fiat G.50 bis

AML 1/72

Reviewed by Glen Porter

AML's 1/72 scale Fiat G.50 bis is available online from Squadron.com

This is the third 1/72 scale Fiat G.50 that AML have produced and each has progressively been an improvement over the one before.

Most model companies will use moldings from earlier models on later Marks even though this will mean some inaccuracies and copying faults from the earlier model. Full marks to AML for recognizing earlier faults and trying to fix them. Some parts that were done in resin are now done in plastic and some parts that were done in etched brass are now done in plastic or resin. On the previous models, the fuselage halves did not match each other in section forward of the cockpit. They’ve corrected this by cutting this section out and replacing it with a top deck from half way up the nose to aft of the spine hump. Many other areas have also been improved in a similar fashion.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

They have also added parts, which allow you to do more with the kit. By adding extra flaps and ailerons the modeler can drop the flaps and [or] deflect the ailerons. Four fuselage halves are supplied, two are correct for the G50 bis and two for the standard G50. Many parts on the earlier kits were unusable because they were so badly molded. On this one, there is plenty of flash, but not so much that the parts can’t be cleaned up and used. Earlier G50 kits just had a cutout for the wheel-well, which meant you could see up into the fuselage. On this one a wheel-well is molded into the lower wing. 

The two page colour and marking diagrams are a gigantic improvement with computer generated colour were all colours are called out and the position of all decals are clearly shown. Both sides of each aircraft are shown as well as top and bottom so there is no guessing about cammo schemes. The instructions, on the other hand, I believe are not as good as earlier ones. Some parts are a bit vague and no attempt is made to indicate which parts should and should not be used on which mark.

The decals as usual are very good. It doesn’t say who they are made by but the register and colour density is as good as any I have seen. Four marking options are offered, two Italian, one German and one Croatian, with one Italian machine being a G.50 and the other three G.50 bis models.

The canopies are, of course, vacuum formed but you get two of them for us nungers who build with our feet.

If you think I’m impressed with this kit, you’re probably right [or should that be rite, or wright, or write] never mind, I am. I’ve always thought AML were not quite as good as short run companies like Pavla but with this kit I think they have well and truly caught up. Well done AML, keep up the good work. Well and truly recommended.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Squadron.com for this delightful review sample.

Review and Images Copyright © 2004 by Glen Porter
Page Created 27 September, 2004
Last updated 28 September, 2004

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