AML 1/72 Fiat G50 Series II

The Fiat G50 was the first all-metal fighter in Italy that was fitted with a retractable undercarriage. At the time it was regarded adequate for the fighter intersceptor role and it had proved itself in combat when rushed to Spain where the G50 series 1 fought in the Spanish Civil War alongside the MesserschmittBf-109B of the Condor Legion. In spite of all, the conflict exposed major shortcomings principally being lack of adequate visibility. The view from the cockpit was inferior to that of the Bf-109 and even the Polikarpov I-16. The G50 was also lightly armed with 12.7mm machine guns at a time when fighters then in service were fitted with the more powerful cannons. Still the G50 had its share of fame where a G50 series 1, FA-25 shot down 4 enemy aircraft and a G50 Series II, FA-1 shot down 9 aircraft besides other ace G50s while in service with the Finn AF during the war.

Fiat G50s, ‘series II’ (72-007) and the earlier release ‘series I’ (72-005) are neat kits issued by AML. It is a small fighter aircraft that I often associated it with the Finn AF more than those of the Italy or Spain. There is little difference between the Series I and II and while the earlier G50 series I, I have completed in Finn AF markings, this kit build concerns the more recent release i.e. Series II, which is made in Reggia Aeronautica markings. The kit is molded in light gray plastic just like the earlier Series I and there are resins and brass etch detail parts. Basically it is a similar kit to the series I but with additions to the kit so that an accurate Series II-IV can be made. The windscreen is vacform in clear acetate.

The first stages go with assembling the cockpit area. The sidewalls detail structure is molded into the fuselage halves while the cockpit floor; rear bulkhead and seat are in cream-colored resin. The three-piece instrument panel is in brass, as also are the trim wheel, throttle and rudder pedals. These items are all carefully painted up making the cockpit look very close to what it should be in scale. Once the assembly is inserted in the fuselage there will not be much visible. I found best to assemble the fuselage halves together, the bulkhead is fitted to the fuselage top part and the assembled cockpit is inserted in place from the mid fuselage bottom opening. 

The 2-part radial engine is injected in rows of cylinders, which made the required cleaning from excess fining an easy task. The exhaust stabs are drilled before affixing them to the cowling. Two spinner types are provided to suite the variant selected. Propeller blade shape is accurate but required cleaning of each blade at their periphery. The kit also has alternative tail fin and rudder units depending if one makes the Italian or Finn version. Two measured hollow metal tubes were cut and fixed to the nose deck.

Tail planes have a pair of dowels to slot inside the fuselage. The holes needed to be chased with a 2mm drill. I like the fabric texture on the elevators and care was made to preserve it. The main planes come in three pieces, a one piece lower and two upper halves. Ejector pin stabs on the inner face have to be removed first as these interfere with fixing the wing parts together. The leading edges of the wings are also on the thick side, which required a little scraping with a flat E-xacto blade to improve the overall thickness in this area. Wheel wells lacked detail and it is left to one’s research and reference to enhance this area. Merging the wing to the fuselage is not a straightforward job and some adjustment was needed followed by careful fairing with a little filler.

I elected to do the Italian scheme for the G50. Markings are those of 320 Squadriglia.  The aircraft is ochre with verde and terracotta mottle on upper surfaces and grigio azzurro undersurfaces while the codes 352-13 are black. The cowling is yellow. This I gave a white undercoat and then airbrushed the yellow over it. After masking the cowling and the front of engine and the open cockpit, I applied the Italian yellowish brown to all upper surfaces then added mottle in red brown and olive green in all cases using Humbrol brand. The undersurfaces were light blue gray and the upper camouflage overlapped slightly like the full scale G50. The fin insignia of 51 Sturmo depicting a black cat trapping three mice superimposed on a white background disc, are a separate decal item which is attached to the fin after fixing the white cross in place first. The white rudder cross is by no means standard in shape and size. This had an arm extended to reach the leading edge of the fin. The decals are printed by Propagteam and are thin and excellent register. AMT certainly did a great job by including a wide selection of decals with this kit.  Besides the Italian scheme there are six Finnish Air Force G50s wearing different camouflage patterns with respective registrations, Finn roundels and other details included such as markings on prop blades. Decals were sealed with a coat of Klear and finally an overall semi matt coat of varnish was airbrushed nce all masking was removed.

This was my fourth G50 built, two of which are AML kits and the others an earlier release by Airfix that are now showing the age. Overall the AML G50 is a most reasonable kit with a marked improvement attained when compared with earlier releases. I look forward to a possible release of a G50 bis which will continue to fill my Italian WWII aircraft dispersal shelf.

 Carmel J. Attard