Fiat G.50 bis/AS

Flying Machines, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green
with additional material supplied by
Steven "Modeldad" Eisenman

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Flying Machines, a brand from Misterkit from Italy, continues their range of Italian aircraft with a Fiat G.50 bis/AS in 1/48 scale.

A Japanese company called Secter released a Fiat G.50 (early Series) kit in Regia Aeronautica markings in the early 1990s. This kits was later taken up and marketed by Hasegawa as a Finnish aircraft. Typical of modern Japanese long-run models, these Fiat G.50s featured smooth plastic with crisply recessed panel lines. Unfortunately, the kits suffered from shape problems, plus very shallow wheel wells and nonexistent cockpit detail. Some years ago Misterkit released a corrected wing (I bought that one myself) to improve the Secter / Hasegawa kit, but this was clearly not a satisfactory solution for this Italian company.

Flying Machines has now released an all-new tool 1/48 scale Fiat G.50bis (late Series) which shares no parts in common with the Secter / Hasegawa offerings. The kit also provides the sand filter to make an AS aircraft.

One thing modelers who have the old Secter kit will notice is that the wings in the Flying Machines kit are longer (Note: early and late Series aircraft had the same wing span.). According to the references, the wing span was 10.99 meters / 36.05 feet. The Flying Machines kit seems to measure out exactly. But, when compared to the Ali D’Italia drawing, they are longer; yet the Sector kit wings match the drawings. It appears that the drawing, while stated to be 1/48, are small, measuring out to 10.86 meters / 35.66 feet.

The other important improvement in the Flying Machines kit is the resin wheel well insert. This fixes the major problem of the Secter’s too, too shallow wheel well. The new kit has a well nearly a foot in depth when finished.

In common with their earlier 1/48 scale Reggiane Re.2005 and the recent Piaggio P.108B, Flying Machines' Fiat G.50 has been produced by one of the limited run companies in the Czech Republic.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The plastic parts are good with a satin texture and crisply recessed panel lines. However, I don’t believe that some aspects of the kit are quite up to the highest level of Czech-sourced kits. A noticeable area requiring attention is the fairly thick wing trailing edges. The trailing edges are a particular problem with regard to the rudder and tailplanes, as they are all made up of two halves. Also, while the cockpit is a marked improvement over the Secter kit, most of the cockpit detail is molded onto the inside of the fuselage. This may not, however, be of much consequence to most modelers, as the cockpit opening is quite small.

The kit also exhibits some of the predictable hallmarks of a limited run kit including the absence of locating pins. The modeler should take some extra time to remove any ejector pins prior to assembly, and test fit thoroughly before committing parts to glue.

The small photo-etched fret includes the engine ignition harness, the rather painful looking strap and chain harness, the upper instrument panel (completed with acetate instruments – the lower instrument panel is in resin) and other cockpit details.

Transparencies are also supplied as injection molded parts. They are very thin, clear and free of distortion with well defined raised framing. You will need to check pictures to determine weather the side windows were used (it appears that the side windows were not in place for the two markings supplied with the kit).

The clear parts include an option for the early version with the enclosed cockpit, but this is marked "not for use" in this boxing. Given the separate fore and aft fuselage decking, one could expect, or at least hope for, a 1st Series G. 50. The other clear part with the scalloped side window appears to be used in the experimental G. 50bis A (extended wing assault variant).

Resin is provided for the engine, wheel wells, alternate intakes and cockpit details. The engine is especially impressive, and should look terrific with the photo-etched ignition harness installed. The engine will play an important role in mounting the cowl. As there is virtually no positive attachment points between the cowl and fuselage, the cowl will need to fit securely on the cylinders.

 

Engine cowls are also supplied in resin. Two styles are included - smooth and molded on rocker arm clearance bumps These are very nice one-piece castings. However, a steady hand and a sharp razor saw will be helpful in removing the full circumference casting ring on the front of the nose. I would recommend not cutting directly against the face of the cowl. Leave about 1/16 inch, and do the final clean up with a sanding stick or sand paper. Care must be taken in cutting and sanding, as the resin is quite thin.

The packaging of delicate resin parts in a bag with larger parts highlights a recurring problem. The aileron counter balance weights are molded in delicate resin, and three of the four had the attachment points broken off. An annoyance, if nothing else.

Now for the kit’s options – which cowl to use and which intake to use. I

Intakes

Dealing with the intakes first, the kit has the standard intake and longer and deeper sand filter. It was the application of the sand filter, and other internal modifications, that gave the G. 50 the AS designation. Both markings in the kit are for aircraft with the sand filter. However, you can use the regular intake if you have other makings, such as those in the Sky decal sheet for the G. 50.

Cowls

It appears that the cowl with the bumps was used on aircraft manufactured by AERITALIA, a Fiat subsidiary, and a few Series VII aircraft manufactured by CMASA, another, but more distant, Fiat subsidiary. Either a serial numbers or a picture would help in identifying aircraft with cowl bumps. Although the paint and decal guide shows both aircraft having cowl bumps, pictures do not show this to be the case. The G. 50bis AS marked 150-11 is a Series VII aircraft, but it had a smooth cowl. Aircraft 151-2 is also a Series VII aircraft, but the only picture of this aircraft shows it as a derelict, without its cowling, so it is unknown.

Markings for two aircraft are provided:

1. 151-2 / MM6385: G. 50bis AS Series VII of 151 Squadrriglia, 20 Gruppo. Nocciola Chiaro (Hazelnut) with Verde Oliva Scuro (Dark Olive Green) splotches. Gregio Azzurro Chiaro (Light Blue-Gray) underside. The directions show the crest of the House of Savoy on the tail, but a photo does not show it.

2. 150-11 / MM6393: G. 50bis AS of 150 Squadriliglia, 2 Gruppo. This aircraft was flown by Tullio De Prato, commanding officer of 150 Squadriglia. Giallo Mimeteco 3 (“orange toned” Yellow Sand) with Verde Mimetico 3 (Dark Green) and Marrone Mimetico 2 (Red-Brown) very dense top-side mottle. Griggi Mimetico (Light Gray) under-side.

The decals are produced by Aviprint, and look thin, crisply printed, opaque and in perfect register.

Flying Machines' 1/48 scale Fiat G.50 is a more accurate, better detailed offering than the 1990's vintage Secter/Hasegawa kits. Granted, it will take more time and some more modeling skills to build than the mainstream Japanese kit, but the result will be worth the effort to Regia Aeronautica modelers.

This is a very complete package too, with its resin and photo-etched parts

Finally, if you have the Sky decals for the G. 50, the kit allows the modeler a few options for the G. 50bis model. Note, this kit cannot be used to make an early Series G.50 , including a Finnish G. 50, as those aircraft had a noticeably different fin and rudder.

Recommended

Thanks to Misterkit for the review sample.

References:

• ALI D’ITALIA 6; La Bancarella Aeronautica – Torino, 1997

• Profile No. 188, The Fiat G.50; Profile Publications
  
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Flying Machines and Misterkit kits and accessories are available online from Misterkit's website.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2004 by Brett Green and Steven "Modeldad" Eisenman
Page Created 14 October, 2004
Last updated 07 November, 2004

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