This was built from a
Fairy Kikaku (no really!) resin kit bought from
HLJ in Japan. A fairly basic kit, it went together quite well after cleaning off a fair bit of flash. The paint job was complemented by some markings from the decal box - the markings in the kit looked a bit rough.
Designed for the ground attack role, the Ba.65 was quite an important aircraft, seeing service during the Spanish Civil War and WW2. As well as serving with the Regia Aeronautica, some were sold abroad - Portugal, Chile and Iraq. Apparently it did quite well in Spain - one shot down a Republican SB-2 - but like at lot of Italian kit, the Breda was somewhat past it's best by the time it encountered 'proper' opposition over North Africa.
I first came across the Breda 65 at an impressionable age in one of the splendid (for the time at least) Purnell 'Specials':
At around £8 (1,000 Yen) this isn't a cheap kit, but then nor is it prohibitively pricey. The same company makes a selection of other unusual aircraft, including the
He112 and
Myrsky. Tempting.
At last my Italians have a ground attack capability - my Brits are trembling. With silent laughter.
Incidentally, I came across this
film clip showing Ba.65s in action over Spain, complete with excitable commentary.
8 comments:
Thank you for displaying this grotesque flying coffin.
Nice to learn a bit of history as well.
I have this copy of Purnells but seemed to have missed this aircraft, so I will have to review it again.
By god this plane is ugly.
Paul
I think of it as a sort of Fairey Battle with rather less style.
I quite liked the Purnell 'Specials' - especially the Desert War one shown. The account of the Crusader Operation was an eye opener when I first read it. Speaking of which, if you ever see on sale the Official New Zealand History account of the Relief of Tobruk (a bit of a 'special' itself, but part of the official NZ regimental histories) - at any rate if you spot it on sale, grab it. It is extremely good. Make sure it has the big colour maps still attached.
Centres upon the New Zealand Division (naturally), but you can't have everything.
Archduke Piccolo
Thanks - I'll look out for it. Those Kiwis seem to get everywhere...
A quick elint search finds this:
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Tobr.html, which I think is the history referred to. There are links to the maps, but the one I tried seemed to be broken. I suspect a bit more investigation (later) will turn them up.
Dave Carter
A convincing conversion Tim. I recognised it instantly. Mine, when it is built will probably be converted from a Zero.
Regards, Chris
Dave C
Thanks - I'll have a look at the link later.
Chris Kemp
Given that it's an £8 kit it should be convincing!
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