Fiat Br.20 Cicogna ‘Bomber over Two Continents’

Special Hobby has rereleased its impressive Fiat BR.20 in 1:48 scale with decals featuring Spanish Civil War colour schemes, Regia Aeronautica color schemes and Japanese color schemes.
The Fiat BR.20 Cicogna, or Stork (in Italian), was the sole Italian twin engined bomber that served with the Regia Aeronautica in World War II. The Italian Air Ministry published specifications in 1934 for a heavy twin engine bomber. On 10 February 1936, the first BR.20 was launched for the first flight. It entered service on 9 September that same year. First production batches were equipped with a Breda D.R dorsal-turret type, which had two 7.7mm machine guns. Later production batches were equipped with the Breda D.R dorsal-turret, which had a 12.7 mm machinegun. Fiat BR.20 was shorter in range than the SM.79 but had a larger payload, and better bomb storage. It was able to achieve a higher accuracy in bombing than any other Italian bomber. Italy deployed its BR.20 Fiats on the Frankists’ side during the Spanish Civil War. Thirteen aircraft total were stationed in Spain. The aircraft took part in bombings of Teruel, and in raids at the Battle of Elbro. They proved their worth. Fiats were already showing signs of obsolescence at the beginning of World War II. However, they still flew over Southern France, the Mediterranean, Albania and Yugoslavia in 1940. In response to the gradual obsolescence, a new version BR.20M of the Fiat BR.20 was developed and produced in 1939. BR.20 Fiats also were exported. Venezuela’s only Fiat purchase is of marginal importance, but the second Fiat export is much larger. Japan purchased 82 BR.20s at the end of 1937. Japan was fighting in China from July 1937, and heavy bombers were urgently needed. In February 1938, BR.20s began to be used for combat. The BR.20 suffered significant losses as they operated without protection at long distances. They also did not like the complex and difficult maintenance. The kit contains resin cast parts and etches. The machine returned from a raid in Manchuria damaged by fire from Chinese fighters, which is also shown in the box art.