1/72 & 1/48 scale

 

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number, Description and Scale:	Alitaliane Decals: 1/72 and 1/48 scale - Italian Spad VII (part 1), Italian Nieuport 17 (part 1), Italian Hanriot HD.1 (part 1)
Contents and Media:	Double-sided full colour letter-sized instructions plus notes sheet; 1 x full-size decal sheet
Price:	1/72 scale decals 10 Euro each 1/48 scale decals 12 Euro each from Misterkit website
Review Type:	FirstLook
Advantages:	Perfect register, thin yet strong carrier film, often neglected subjects
Disadvantages:	Minor slip-up on Hanriot sheet.
Recommendation:	Recommended

Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner
 

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FirstLook

Decals for Italian aces are not exactly in abundance so it is with great pleasure to see that Alitaliane are willing to fill the gap. 

Three sheets are offered, one each for the Nieuport 17, Spad VII, and Hanriot HD1.

The sheets are produced in both 1/72^nd scale and 1/48^th, with the only difference being additional roundels, fin stripes and generic stencils in the smaller scale. 

Where white is needed for a decal, this has been printed separately and follows the “sandwich” method of application.

Printing has been done on Inkjet/Clear waterslide decal paper so the modeller will have to cut around each image to free it from the one-piece carrier film. 

There was no problem at all with registration on any of the sheets. The carrier film proved to be both thin and flexible when a test item was put through its paces. 

Nieuport 17 (Part 1)

A massive 10 subjects are catered for with this release.

a)      Nieuport 17, N 3139 flown by ten. Fulco Ruffo di Calabria of 70/90 Squadriglia, 1917.

This aircraft sported one of the many variations of the “skull and crossbones” that Ruffo used on his aircraft. It is believed that when this aircraft arrived from France, the roundels on the top wing were over painted without the remarking of  Italian replacements.

On the 28^th February 1917, Ruffo used this aircraft to shoot down a two seater from Flik 34, which was involved in a photoreconnaissance mission.

b)  Nieuport 17, Ni 3592 flown by s.ten. Giovanni Ancillotto of 80 Squadriglia, 1917.

This is one of the Italian built aircraft and wears the 80 Squadriglia star painted over     the fuselage roundel.

 Ancillotto ended the war with 11 confirmed victories.

c)   Nieuport 17, Ni 2614 flown by cap. Francesco Baracca of 70/91 Squadriglia, 1917.

Baracca received the Squadriglia’s first French produced Nieuport 17, and soon decorated it with the famous prancing horse, in remembrance of his cavalry unit.

Being a French built machine, it would retain the serial number and data from that country on its rudder.

He died 19 June 1918 with 34 enemy aircraft to his credit.

d)   Nieuport 17, Ni 2142 flown by cpr. Attilio Imolesi of 79 Squadriglia, 1917.

It is thought that Imolesi scored his first victory in this aircraft, which was marked   with a horseshoe for good luck. If he was flying Ni 2142 on 26 April 1917, then it was believed to have been armed with both a Vickers and Lewis machine gun.

e)   Nieuport 17, flown by s.ten. Flavio Torello Baracchini of 81 Squadriglia, 1917.

      Baracchini marked this machine with his personal emblem of a black shield on the    fuselage.

Baracchini finished the war with 31 claimed victories of which 21 were confirmed.

f)    Nieuport 17, flown by serg. Cosimo Rizzotto of 77 Squadriglia, 1917.

Rizzotto was an ace that that had 6 of his 7 claimed victories confirmed. The red     heart painted on the fuselage side was the emblem of the 77 Squadriglia.

Rizzotto survived the war and died in 1963.

g)   Nieuport 17, Ni 2614 flown by serg. Guido Nardini of 78 Squadriglia, 1917.

Nardini was credited with 6 confirmed victories out of his total of 11 claims. His    aircraft wore what is thought to be a red pennant.

h)   Nieuport 17, Ni 2614 flown by maresc. Ernesto Cabruna of 80 Squadriglia, 1917.

Only the red unit star is seen on the fuselage of this French built Nieuport. The shortage of Vickers guns at the time meant that this aircraft was “only” armed with an over wing Lewis gun. Cabruna’s final score would be 8 confirmed victories from a total of 9 claims.

i)    Nieuport 17, Ni 2614 flown by serg. Antonio Reali of 79 Squadriglia, 1917.

The striking marking on the side of the aircraft was that of a “fez”. This is a soft cloth cap that was worn by the Bersaglieri troops. Reali was an ace with 11 confirmed victories.

j)    Nieuport 17, Ni 2614 flown by s.ten. Carlo “Frances” Lombardi of 77 Squadriglia, 1917.

When the Macchi built Nieuport 17 was supplied to 77 Squadriglia, the unit badge of a red heart was applied over the position occupied by the fuselage roundel. To cover the roundel, a white circular background was used.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

SPAD VII (part 1)

Eight aircraft are supplied in this sheet.

a)      Spad VII, S.4691 flown by s.ten. Ferruccio Ranza of 91 Squadriglia, 1917.

The owl was Ranza’s personal insignia. The lower part is conjecture as no photographic evidence is known showing the full image.

b)      Spad VII, S.4695 flown by ten. Bartolomeo Constantini of 91 Squadriglia, 1917.

Constantini’s emblem was a modest black pennant. He scored 6 victories and after the war became a successful racing car driver.

c)      Spad VII, S.4699 flown by ten. Luigi Sabelli of 91 Squadriglia, 1917

Sabelli scored five victories before being shot down in this aircraft on 25 October 1917.

d)      Spad VII, S.1544/4707 flown by ten. Giuliano Parvis of 91 Squadriglia, 1917.

There are two serial numbers on the rudder of this aircraft. It is probably a replacement where instead of scrapping off the old 1544, the new 4707 was written underneath.

e)      Spad VII, flown by ten. col. Pier Ruggero Piccio of 91 Squadriglia, 1917.

Piccio had 24 confirmed victories out of a total of 24 claimed. The Spad depicted is speculative based on a single photo of Piccio in the cockpit. It would appear that there may have been a personal marking also carried but it is unknown at this time. The griffon was the unit insignia of 91 Squadriglia.

f)        Spad VII, flown by cap. Fulco Ruffo di Calabria of 91 Squadriglia, 1917.

This 20-victory ace scored a treble on 25 October 1918 in a Spad VII but it is not known in which one. He used a number of different Spad aircraft, usually because it was not uncommon for Russo to return from combat with much battle damage.

g)      Spad VII, flown by s.ten. Carlo “Frances” Lombardi of 77 Squadriglia, 1917.

In common with most of the aircraft of 77 Squadriglia, there was no personal       marking on the fuselage sides. Here we see the red heart of the unit applied over the painted out roundel.

h)   Spad VII, flown by ten. Ferruccio Ranza of 91 Squadriglia, 1917.

Ranza adopted the ladder insignia after the death of his friend Sabelli. It was the latter’s personal emblem and after Sabelli’s death, Ranza decided to use it as a sign of remembrance.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Hanriot HD.1 (Part 1)

There are four aircraft represented on this sheet.

a)      Hanriot HD.1, Hd 18-6614, flown by serg. Guido Nardini of 78 Squadriglia, 1917.

Both French and Italian numbering appears on this striking aircraft. The devil insignia was painted over the fuselage roundel, which bore a red outer circle. Thus it is logical to expect the upper wing roundel to be finished in the same way. Only green outer-banded roundels are supplied so the modeller will have to look elsewhere for these.

b)      Hanriot HD.1, Hd 21-6647, flown by ten. Mario Fucini of 76 Squadriglia, 1917.

This is another machine that Italy received as one of its batch of early arrivals from France. If building this aircraft or indeed any Hanriot from 78 Squadriglia, check the modifications that were made to the cowling. Chances are you will have to open up additional holes.

c)      Hanriot HD.1, Hd 515, flown by Flavio Torello Baracchini of 76 Squadriglia, 1918.

Notice that this aircraft has a rudder with a red instead of a green leading edge. There is a theory that the French misinterpreted the Italian instructions when it came to painting these items when the Italians switched to green outer roundel circles. The order of the four playing card aces was “handed” as photos of 515 clearly show but sadly those on the decal sheet are all in the same sequence. Modellers will be in for some deft touching up for those on the starboard side when if they try to change the order of the supplied items.

d)      Hanriot HD.1, flown by cap. Giulio Lega of 76 Squadriglia, 1918.

Lega had the collar tabs of his unit “Grantatieri di Sardegna” as his personal emblem. Inside this was a grenade with a propeller superimposed on it. As was unit practice, this most likely appeared on each side of the tailplane so smaller versions are supplied for this purpose.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

 

If you want to model an aircraft in a scheme you don’t see very often, look no further.

The manufacturers have chosen well with a colourful array of aircraft and an interesting selection of pilots.

 With many of the aces appearing on more than one sheet, it is a perfect opportunity to build a series of  aircraft types relating to your favourite flyer.

This is a great collection of  subjects that will inspire many, and the good news is that each of these sheets is only “Part 1”.  

Recommended

Review Text Copyright © 2004 by Robert Baumgartner
Page Created 24 November, 2004
Last updated 23 November, 2004

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