1/48 Hasegawa Ju-87R Picchiatello

by Leonardo

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After the spectacular failure of the SM.85 dive bomber, the Regia Aeronautica turned to Germany for a replacement.  In early 1940, the Italians recieved a number of Ju-87B and Ju-87R Stukas.  The type was called 'Picchiatello' in Italian service, the name coming from a slang expression for 'screwball'.  This was a reference to the steep dive used during attacks, and possible to the sanity of anyone who would dive an airplane at the ground like that on purpose.  The Italians deployed their Picchiatelli against Greece and Malta from late 1940 to 1942. 

The kit was the standard Hasegawa Stuka, with Aeromaster after market decals added, as well as Eduard Luftwaffe seatbelts, and exhausts from Ultracast.  The Italians received Ju-87s from the Germans and painted out the Balkankreutzen and Hakenkreutzen with their own colors (Verde Oliva Scuro on the upper surfaces and Grigio on the lower surfaces).  I duplicated this by cutting out templates of the German markings from the kit decal sheet and attaching them to the model slightly raised off the surface for a softer edge.  The Italian colors were applied over the standard Luftwaffe 65/70/71 scheme. 

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The aircraft here represents that of the commander of one of the two Gruppi Autonomi that operated the Ju-87 in four Squadriglie, totaling around 40 aircraft.  I particularly like the Gruppo crest of a big-nosed bird diving on the shape of a ship sailing along the bottom of the wheel spat.  In my opinion, the Italians had the most colorful unit crests of WW II.

Leonardo

Photos and text © by Leonardo