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Dayglo Models Resin Kit is to realase in 2026-2027 a 1/48th Piaggio-Douglas PD-808 3D printed kit. Source: https://www.facebook.com/100009901142419/posts/buonasera-a-tutti-i-followers-della-dayglo-modelsvi-presentiamo-i-primi-shot-di-/2549730278700319/ "Good evening to all the followers of DayGlo Models, we present the first shots of one of the two projects that we hope to be able to market in 2026/27. It is an aircraft, to tell the truth not very well known to non-Italianophiles, which has crossed the skies of all of Italy with different and captivating liveries, it is the Piaggio-Douglas PD-808 that we will propose in 1/48 scale completely printed in 3D. The difficulties, linked above all to the shape of the bubble and the relative transparent part, will be the object of particular attention and evaluations, especially regarding the material to be used. The versions that we will propose should cover the entire period of service, therefore including the Electronic Warfare, Radiomeasurement and V.I.P. versions. Keep following us for further news." V.P.

Piaggio Avanti P.180, ‘A’ Model kit, 1/72 Having built a totally different Piaggio ‘plane, the P.c.7 prototype racer of 1929 (on an earlier RFI post), the Piaggio P.180, of the present day, caught my imagination, not least because of its highly unusual form. Low pass.....! The kit offers two options, a Spanish civil aircraft, and a Marina Militare Italiana (Italian Navy) Version, which was the one I decided on. The 180 is also operated by several other Italian air wings: coast guard, finance police, air force, etc. In small numbers. Twins across the decades ? (Piaggio Pegna 1929 at left) The 180, made by Piaggio Aero, from 1986 to the present day, is a small, fast prestige type Passenger (or utility) ‘plane, of capacity 9 passengers/2 crew. Interesting aerodynamics, including small fixed forewings (not canards), and a constantly varying curve of the fuselage, which gives it an almost porpoise like streamlining, assisting laminar flow characteristics, and, apparently, providing 20% of the total lift. Interior noise is reduced due to the pusher turbo-props being well to the rear of the cabin, while exterior noise Is generally increased by contrast. As of 2019 the Italian Navy were listed as operating 3 x 180s. The kit itself, I actually found to be one of the trickier ones I’ve built recently, partly the kit, partly me, and partly the unusual form of the ‘plane. When dry-fitting wings/engine nacelles my brain kept saying ‘point forwards’, so it was counter Intuitive thinking frequently brought into operation to avoid a serious configuration error. I opted to build it in flight. I guess it’s a short-run kit, so had to be extra careful with alignments and repeated dry-fit at every stage. There was plenty of cosmetic filing and smoothing as the pieces had very fine, almost imperceptible flash all round, and the actual connecting nibs of sprue-to-part Invariably intruded on the surface of parts, so always extra filing involved. Having said that, most parts were a pretty good fit, though some filling necessary around engine nacelles. I didn’t fit all the more numerous interior cabin seats of the military version, as they’d never be visible in the finished piece. Fixing all the clear individual porthole pieces, each no bigger than a contact lens, was always going to be a game, and, as a brush painter, I decided to fully prime and paint the fuselage prior to fixing the portholes as masking later would be a tortuous and probably not successful task. In the event, and after trying numerous methods, the fixed portholes were not a pretty sight, and so set about some careful painting of these to a gloss black finish! The kit has a plethora of antennae in various forms, which make subsequent handling for later works fiddly, though all fortunately remained intact and attached throughout. The whip aerial on the tail end was made from a single wire strand from a drummer's brush beater. Researching greys from numerous online photos, which in any case vary considerably, as per the photographic parameters, I opted for Revell Aquacolor Matt Grey no. 57, following Mr Surfacer 1000 grey as primer, and two coats of Polyvine wax finish matt varnish to finish. Finally a simple wire cradle stand on a vignette base to display it in flight. There are a few things I'm not happy about with the build, but it's another notch on the learning-curve... Thanks for looking, cheers & ciao ! Photos below:

Special Hobby is to re-release its 1/72nd Piaggio P.108B "Quadrimotore" under ref. SH72406 Source: http://www.specialhobby.net/2020/01/sh72406-piaggio-p108-172-boxart.html V.P.

FSC Dujin has just released 1/72nd Piaggio P.149 resin kits. Source: https://www.jfrteam-neufgrange.fr/ Three references: FSC 013, FSC 013LUFT & FSC 013CIV https://www.jfrteam-neufgrange.fr/pages/maquettes-fsc/fsc-dujin/piaggio-149d.html Instructions: https://www.jfrteam-neufgrange.fr/medias/files/plan-de-montage-piaggio-149-avec-photodec.pdf V.P.

After the 1/48th kit in 2019 (link), AMP is to release a 1/72nd Piaggio-Pegna Pc.7 kit - ref. 72015 Source: https://www.facebook.com/mikro.mir.dnepr/posts/3472203792857332 Sprues V.P.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3404475482906155&id=117380071615729 V.P.

MikroMir AMP is to release a 1/48th Piaggio-Pegna Pc.7 hydroplane kit - ref. 48011 Source:https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2021057591305300&id=1416295571781508 V.P.

Seen on display at Brovary model exhibition 2018 the test model from one of the next A&A Models projects a 1/72nd Piaggio Aerospace P.1HH Hammerhead kit. Source: http://www.greenmats.club/topic/4277-мікромодель-2018/?tab=comments#comment-60157 V.P.

Special Hobby is a bit harder to work with but this model is despite its complexity with resin parts, no location pins etc is actually very easy to build. One should study instruction sheet and online build logs, dry fit a lot and the build will be enjoyable. Great plus for this model is phenomenal transparent parts and very quality decal sheets. Downside of the model is some mould marks on some parts of the tail surfaces, as well as uncomplete moulding on several cowling halves (luckily there is enough cowlings for 8 engines, so no worries). For painting, I use STORMO site and forum for references. Kit represents famous MM2003 from 274. squadriglia on which Bruno Mussolinni died. Painting is done with H&S Evolution airbrush in the following steps: Base color was Humbrol 81 Pale yellow matt as Giallo Mimetico 2-3 Then, a mix of Gunze H7 and H17 to represent Marrone Mimetico 53193 was spreyed in the following pattern: Then, at the end I believe it was Gunze H302 as Verde Mimetico 2 Later, I used Tamiya gloss and Tamiya flat base for the final clear coats.

Cunarmodel has just released a 1/72nd Piaggio P.166 M Militare resin kit - ref. CM7225 Source: http://www.italiankits.it/cunarmodel.html V.P.