Cantiere Navale Triestino (CNT) was founded in 1908 by the Cousilich family The Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini (CANT) aircraft division was set up in 1923. CNT then merged with Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino in 1929 and renamed Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico (CRDA) and retained the CANT division. From 1933 onwards Filippo Zappata (1894-1994) was their renowned chief aircraft designer until he joined Breda in 1942. His 500 series were all water based and the 1000 series were land based. One notable feature of their aircraft was their all-wood construction due, in part, to the ship building origins of the company. All aircraft production had ceased by 1944 but the shipbuilding continued and is now part of the Fincantieri group.

CANT Z.501 Gabbiano. This was Zappata's initial 500 series design. This large single-engined reconnaissance aircraft broke many distance records after its debut in 1934. It had a long range thanks to good fuel economy from its Isotta Fraschini Asso XI engine. Despite being slow and vulnerable, it served throughout WWII and was not retired until 1949. The 1/72 Italeri kit, which gets re-issued now and again, is a popular model although the Ali d’Italia guide does show up various errors to its shape, such as the ailerons, canopy and engine cowling. White Ensign Models produced a comprehensive etch set for this model with many structural parts for detailing its rather sparse interior.

CANT Z.504. 1934 single engined two-seat prototype built in response to a Regia Marina request for a reconnaissance seaplane. But with the IMAM Ro.43 selected for this role no orders were placed. Choroszy Modelbud produce a decent 1/72 resin kit of this aircraft.

CANT Z.506 Airone. First built in 1935, this was Zappata's most successful seaplane design. Originally used as an airliner for Ala Littoria, it was redesigned as a bomber which required an all new fuselage. It was very popular with its crew for having very stable handling in rough seas and had a variety of other roles including search & rescue, hospital/ambulance duties and reconnaissance. The last known Z.506 was retired as late as 1959. There is an surviving WWII example preserved in the air museum at Vigna di Valle near Rome. In 1986, Supermodel released a rather basic 1/72 kit which has since been upgraded by Italeri with improved internal & external details and an impressive decal sheet. Broplan also produced a vac-form conversion kit to build the original airliner variant. Now OOP, the limited run 1/48 Alphaflight Z.506B resin kit is a challenging build should you be lucky enough to track one down.

CANT Z.511. The design of this large elegant 4-engined seaplane was initiated in 1937 but its first flight was not take place until 1940. Originally designed for commercial flights to Latin America during wartime it was adapted for long range maritime transport and patrol. Only 2 were built. No kits are known but it would make an impressive model.

CANT Z.1007 Alcione. Perhaps the most widely known CANT designed by Zappata. Despite its all wood structure being effected by temperature extremes, it was considered the best bomber in Regia Aeronautica service and it performed very well on long range reconnaissance missions as well. The initial trimotor was powered by Isotta Fraschini Asso engines. A bis variant was introduced with more powerful Piaggio radial engines and was the most numerous type with 450 built. A twin-tail bideriva version was introduced during production and a ter variant, with uprated engines, was used as a night bomber. Both the 1/72 Supermodel and 1/48 Alphaflight resin kits are discontinued. The Broplan 1/72 vac-form kit of the early Asso engined version is in limited supply but it is reasonably accurate. The Supermodel kit, however, has many outline faults particularly around the forward section of the fuselage with an oversized canopy and incorrect engine cowls.

CANT Z.1011. This rather boxy design was the second land based bomber designed by Zappata. Just 5 of these twin-engined aircraft were built though as the Regia Aeronautica had already selected the Z.1007 trimotor for the role. The Z.1011 therefore was used for transport. There are no known kits.

CANT Z.1012. A 1930 three-engined monoplane used by the diplomatic corps. Both Mussolini and Italo Balbo were thought to have flown in this aircraft. There are no kits known of this aircraft.

CANT Z.1015. A prototype of a modified Z.1007 that was initially thought to be for long distance mail delivery duties but possibly intended as a fast bomber. It had uprated Piaggio engines which gave good performance figures with a top speed of 347 mph recorded. Italian Wings produced a 1/72 resin kit in the past but it is OOP.

CANT Z.1018. An elegant twin-engined bomber that was to be Zappata's last  design for CANT. Although the project had started in 1939, it suffered a protracted development with all kinds of engine issues and complaints about the high cockpit position and narrow fuselage. In 1942, Zappatta accepted an offer to join Breda and he put forward 4 more proposals based around the Z.1018. Of these, only the BZ.301 and BZ.303 were progressed. Series production of the CANT Z.1018 was hampered by Allied bombing and eventually all factory remnants were demolished during 1944, with only a few pre-series machines ever making it into service. Now OOP, there is a mini Ali d'Italia guide that gives a brief outline of the rather tragic history of this fine looking aircraft. Only kits are known to have been produced, KPL's 1/72 vacuform kit and the Legato 1/72 resin kit. Both are OOP.

Z.501

Z.504

Z.506B

Z.511

Z.1012

Z.1018

Z.1011

Z.1015

Model images are links to a build article