RS-14

FC.12

FC.20bis

FC.20ter

RS-14

G.8

Costruzioni Meccaniche Aeronautiche S.A.

Founded in 1922, the Societa de Costruzioni Meccaniche di Pisa built Dornier aircraft under license. It was absorbed into the FIAT empire in 1929 to become CMASA (Costruzioni Meccaniche Aeronautiche S.A). It undertook a variety of projects quite a few of which were seaplanes, such the FIAT Cr.42 idro and a series of MF (Marina FIAT) flying boats. Their most wide known aircraft is probably the RS-14 seaplane.

FIAT CMASA G.8. Designed by ing. Gabrielli, about 61 of these two seat training biplane aircraft were built. It has the Warren strut system favoured by FIAT and is available as a 1/72 resin kit from Choroszy Modelbud.

FIAT RS-14. An elegant seaplane intended as a replacement for the slower CANT Z.501. Designed by Manlio Stiavelli, it first flew in 1939 and entered service in 1941. Fully aerobatic during testing, its fragile float struts and troublesome engines prevented a completely successful entry into Regia Aeronautica service. About 186 were built and it was used mainly in the Sicily and Sardinian regions and was not retired until 1948. The 1/72 injection moulded model by the now defunct Aviation USK was the only one in this scale but it was wholly inaccurate. Also discontinued is the ambitious MassiModel 1/48 resin kit. The useful mini Ali d'Italia guide is also OOP.

Construzioni Aeronautiche Novaresi S.A.

Founded in 1913, Aeronautica Gabardini S.A. changed its name to Construzioni Aeronautiche Novaresi S.A in 1936 and became part of the FIAT empire in 1939. The majority its aircraft were built for training purposes, such as the C.5 and C.6 biplanes and the C.4 monoplane. Two more of their aircraft are described below.

CANSA FC.12. Originally designed as tandem two-seat fighter/dive-bomber trainer and was powered by a FIAT A30 engine. The prototype first flew in 1940 and 10 aircraft were built. Its role was changed to that of light ground attack but they probably never saw active combat. The now discontinued SEM Models 1/72 resin kit was rather poor quality and probably a copy (or clone) of the Alitaliane kit.

CANSA FC.20. The only CANSA aircraft built specifically for military use and first flew in 1941. This twin-engined aircraft was often mistaken with the Gloster F.9 which looked very similar. In order to keep development time to a minimum it was built around the wing of the Fiat Cr.25. The ter variant had a large bore cannon but the recoil had the effect of slowing the aircraft in flight. Only a few were built before the Armistice. Planet Models produced 1/72 resin kits of both types. The KPL 1/72 vacuform and Legato 1/72 resin kits are discontinued.