FIAT G.55 “Silurante” “Centauro” – the Italian heavy fighter-torpedo aircraft

FIAT G.55 “Silurante” (sometimes written as “Aerosilurante”) – a proposed version of the FIAT G.55 “Centauro” torpedo-fighter aircraft. By the time of the Italian capitulation work on it had not progressed beyond the design and preliminary testing stages, but there was quite detailed conceptual documentation. In 1944 at the request of the ANR, work on the project was resumed under the direction of engineer Sergio Stefanutti. The serial production G.55 (MM.91086) was selected for the conversion. The aircraft, designated G.55S, was fitted with an improved engine radiator, redesigned tailplates and the two 12.7 mm fuselage machine guns were removed. The work was completed in early 1945, after which the aircraft was handed over for tests, conducted by pilot Adriano Mantelli. For testing purposes a torpedo mock-up was prepared, the weight of which corresponded to the actual armament. The first flight took place in March 1945. A 750-meter runway was required for take-off and landing. The test was successful, including the successful drop of a torpedo mock-up over the Gulf of Ticino. The successful tests led the ANR to place a pre-series order for 10 torpedo - fighters. However, FIAT showed little interest in further development of this project, especially after the end of the war and the disappearance of the need for torpedo boats. Until 1949 G.55S was used in various tests, after which it was rebuilt, according to the G.55-1A standard (with a new number MM.53037).

A small and well-designed and richly detailed model of a small fighter-torpedo aircraft is intended only for a medium and experienced modelers. However, a simplified model without cockpit equipment, torpedo, with opaque cockpit windows and retracted landing gear can be perfectly assembled by a beginner and modeler of little experience, working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague. You just need not rushing, and do the cockpit equipment, torpedo and extended landing gear only as a test. If You succeed - GREAT!!! – we are making a full version of the model, it will not work – we will have to be content with a model with opaque windows and a retracted landing gear. The model has perfectly reproduced cockpit equipment, landing gear, its niches, control surfaces can be glued together with the main surfaces, as well as separate parts, excellent exterior detailing, a torpedo model, perfectly reproduced wing mechanization, which can be made “working”, beautiful camouflage of interesting spots. There is a considerable supply of colors. The publication is completed with printed on transparent thin plastic details of the cockpit canopy and instrument panels and other panels, as well as laser-cut details of the engine exhaust manifold pipes. Where necessary, the details are printed double-side printing. There is no textual instruction, the graphical ones are considerable, quite detailed, informative and easy to read. From the publication You can make a model of the prototype fighter - torpedo aircraft FIAT G. 55 “Silurante” from Italian AF.