FI / Finland
Koottava pienoismallilentokone
Lisää toivelistalle
| Tuotekoodi: | 100-SH48229 |
|---|---|
| Numero: | G7008229 |
| Valtio: | Japani |
| Valtio: | Italia |
| Lentokoneen käyttövoima: | Potkuri |
The Fiat BR.20 Cicogna (Stork in Italian) was the only Italian
twin-engined bomber in service with the Regia Aeronautica during World
War II. In 1934, the Italian Air Ministry issued specifications for a
new heavy twin-engine bomber. The first BR.20 prototype took off for the
first time on 10 February 1936 and was put into service in September of
the same year. The first production batches had a Breda D.R type dorsal
turret with two 7.7 mm machine guns. Later batches received the Breda
M.1 dorsal turret with one 12.7 mm machine gun. Compared to the
competing SM.79, the Fiat BR.20 had a shorter range, but a greater
payload and more suitable bomb storage. Due to this, it achieved a much
higher bombing accuracy than other Italian bombers. Italy tested its
BR.20 Fiats in the deployment of the Aviazione Legionaria on the
Frankist side in the Spanish Civil War. A total of thirteen aircraft
were deployed in Spain. They took part in raids in the Battle of Elbro
and the bombing of Teruel and proved themselves. Some obsolescence was
already showing at the start of World War II, but Fiats still fought
over southern France in 1940, as well as over the Mediterranean,
Albania, Yugoslavia and Greece. As a reaction to the gradual
obsolescence of the Fiat BR.20, a modernized version BR.20M was designed
and put into production in 1939. BR.20 Fiats were also exported. The
only Fiat purchased by Venezuela is a marginal issue, the second export
was much more significant. At the end of 1937, Japan ordered a total of
82 BR.20 machines. Japan had been fighting in China since July 1937 and
was in dire need of heavy bombers. From February 1938, BR.20s were used
in combat. As the BR.20 operated at long range without fighter
protection, they suffered quite significant losses. The Japanese also
disliked the complexity and demanding maintenance. In the second half of
1939, BR.20s were gradually withdrawn for training and replaced by new
Ki-21s.
The kit offers decals of one machine operating in Spain, one
machine of the Italian Regia Aeronautica and one machine of the
Japanese Army Air Force. The machine returned from a raid in Manchuria
damaged by fire from Chinese fighters, which is also shown in the box
art.
- very interesting and varied colour schemes
- the only available 1/48 scale Fiat Br.20 model
- the kit contains resin cast parts and etches
