Oxford 1/72 Fiat G55 Cantauro Montefusco-Bonet Squadron 1944 Diecast Model

The 1/72 Oxford replica of the G55 is from this time, decorated in the dark green and earth brown camouflage colours with light grey underside. The Italian national flag features on both sides of the fuselage and tail fins. The fuselage also sees the Squadra insignia Cantauro Serie 1 MM 91147 printed on both sides  in blue and yellow. 

One unusual detail comprises the black and white squares containing the fasces (bundle) on both the upper and underside of the wings. This is an Italian symbolic bundle which goes back to Roman times, representing wooden rods tied together with an axe in the middle.  The ANR carried on this tradition, putting the feature on their G55 aircraft during WWII. The propeller spinner is also black and white; the blades are black with yellow tips. Exhausts pipes are rusty brown and the pitot tubes silver.

The Fiat G55 was such an effective little aircraft that it caught the attention of the German Luftwaffe who had captured examples for evaluation in Germany.  They went on to manufacture some G55s but it was late in the day for them and production was small. However, later Italian production echoed the German influence.