CANT Z.1007bis Alcione 1/72 Supermodel

The CANT Z.1007bis was an Italian medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s and used throughout World War II. I’ve always been fond of the tri-motor configuration, and I believe the “Alcione/Kingfisher” was one of the most graceful-looking Italian aircraft.

Supermodel first produced this model in 1973, and, naturally, the challenges of obtaining decent results from it were apparent. It’s a simple kit with very few parts, so the true test was to somehow replicate the Italian camouflage of that era with a decent paint scheme. After a rather lengthy struggle, I didn’t feel that my result was very impressive. Reluctantly, I relegated the model to the “Shelf of Doom.”

Enter my good friend, Vladimir, and his fantastic line of Airone Hobby 3D-printed products. After sharing some photos of my version with him, he encouraged me to continue the build. With the addition of his upgraded propellers, bombs, and Breda-SAFAT machine guns, things started to come together, yielding encouraging results. I used AK pencils to accentuate some panel lines, Tamiya weathering sticks, applied some washes, and finally, incorporated Albion Alloys brass tubing for a pitot tube and a counterbalance for the dorsal turret, and my “Kingfisher” was ready to take flight.

Even at 50 years of age, I realized that the venerable Supermodel kit, when combined with 3D-printed aftermarket parts from Airone Hobby, can still yield very pleasing results.