Kit: 48005
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Flying Machines, from Mister Kit, www.misterkit.com
Price: $53.04
Comments: Multimedia, 159 parts (87 injection-molded, 14 resin, 58 photoetched-metal), decals
Pros: Fascinating, hard-to-find subject
Cons: A few badly-molded parts

In 1942, the Fiat G.55 represented a new generation of Italian fighters, competing with the MC.205 and Re 2005 for production orders. It was good enough to serve through World War II and into the postwar years.
The G.55 has been available in plastic kits before, but not accurately portrayed. So, I was pleased to see the all-new Flying Machines kit. It lets you choose between the production fighter model and the experimental torpedo fighter prototype.
It’s a multimedia Kit: main components are neatly presented in flash-free gray plastic with some of the best surface detail I’ve ever seen. Detail parts are resin and photoetched-metal; many of these parts are also in plastic. For the torpedo version, a second, lower full-span wing is provided, along with the dual radiator housing, extended tail wheel and torpedo. I built the production fighter, which I find more interesting historically.
Past experiences with short-run kits, prompted me to immediately check the fit of the main components and determine an appropriate assembly sequence. After several dry runs, I found there would be a large step at the wing root if the top wings were attached to the bottom wing and then the fuselage. Gluing the top wing to the fuselage sides produced a good fit. I added a small tab of strip styrene to help align the wing and keep it in place while gluing.
The cockpit is extremely well-detailed, receiving the royal treatment with resin and photoetched-metal parts. The seat belts and instrument panel are precolored – very nice! Rather than build the cockpit floor and walls as a unit (according to the instructions), I attached the side walls to the fuselage sides and achieved a nice, flush fit. I added the cockpit floor after gluing the fuselage together.
The one-piece canopy is well-molded and very clear. If you want to show off the cockpit, you’ll need to carefully separate the canopy from the windscreen.
I painted my model with Gunze Sangyo Hobby Color acrylics matched to the appropriate Regia Aeronautica colors. Decals are provided for two fighter aircraft and the prototype torpedo plane. They applied well with a bit of decal solution over a gloss undercoat.
I finished my G.55 in a quick 16 hours, and the completed model compares well with photos and plans. It takes a bit more work than a name-brand kit, but the end result is just as good. If you like World War II fighters, I highly recommend the Flying Machines kit.
– Jim Zeske