WOW549 SM.81 Pipistrello Anti Shipping Variant

Description

Savoia Machetti SM.81 Pipistrello

The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello  was the first three engine bomber/transport aircraft to serve with the Italian Air Force. When it appeared in 1935, it represented a real step forward in Italian military aviation: it was fast, well armed and had a long range.
It proved particularly effective during the war with Ethiopia and also during the Spanish Civil War.
When Italy became involved in WW2, around 300 SM.81s were in service with the Regia Aeronautica.

The first Italian aircraft to enter action in East Africa were a pair of SM.81s. On 11 June 1940, one of them attacked Port Sudan and the other flew a reconnaissance flight over the Red Sea. That same night, three SM.81s took off to bomb Aden, but one turned back, and one of the other two hit a hill near Massawa while trying to land. A further flight was concurrently deployed against Anglo-Rhodesian defensive positions in British Somaliland immediately before the decisive Battle of Tug Argan, presaging its limited role as a tactical bomber.

Despite being too slow to remain competitive as a daylight bomber in the later years of WW2, it was one of the most flexible, reliable and important aircraft of the Regia Aeronautica from 1935 to 1944, and adapted to second-line duties in a wide range of tasks as the war progressed, these included transport of supplies and paratroops.
However at night it was an effective bomber, particularly in the North African theatre where it also carried out anti-ship actions against British ships.

We have 2 x 1/30 scale versions of the Pipistrello measuring 80cm wide by 61cm lomg as follows:

WOW549 operating with 218a squadriglia in green mottled camo pattern operating in the anti shipping role – 2 available

WOW548 from Squadriglia 202a, 40 Gruppo, 38 Stormo in Mediterranean theatre camouflage scheme 1941 – 2 available

All variants priced at $1399 plus shipping, the TG/K&C/JJD figures and accessories are shown for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.