Italeri 1283 - 1/72 SM.81 Pipistrello WWII  [IT-1283S]

Period: Second World War

Country: Italy

Model Dim.: 25 cm

SM.81 PIPISTRELLO

The Savoia Marchetti SM 81 began service in the bombing devices regarding the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) round the center of the 1930’s. It operated inside campaign in Ethiopia, in the Spanish Civil War and during World War II. It had three machines with low wings and a set undercarriage. It was propelled by 3 Alfa Romeo 125 RC 35 engines with 650 Hp each, or, successively, by stronger Piaggio P. X RC.35 700 Hp engines which brought it to a maximum rate of 340 Km/h. Armed with 6 7.7 mm Breda-Safat machine guns, it had an offensive payload of 2,000 kg in bombs. During its entry operating, it was the most contemporary bombers on the planet, but from the beginning of World War II, by then surpassed, it absolutely was predominantly employed for nighttime missions. With this reason it had been nicknamed “bat”. Nevertheless over 300 SM 81’s prepared the Regia Aeronautica squadrons on various fronts, through the Aegean Water to North Africa.