Caproni Ca. 101 Ala Littoria -Converted FLY 1/72nd injected plastic kit

Here is a conversion to a civil passenger transport type of a plane usually known for more obscure deeds. The transformation involved some surgery and the substitution and addition of components. It is seen here now as a beautiful and peaceful sight in the guise of an Ala Littoria airliner in the 30s, thanks to a wonderful decal sheet from Arctic Decals.

It's indeed satisfying to present a design of Italian aviation under a better light, that somehow counteracts the darkness of its sad fascist period.

The conversion involved:

-Substitution of the three engines for appropriate aftermarket types for this civil version

-Providing the new windows, cabin door and cargo hatch

-Full passenger interior, including restroom and luggage bay

-New scratched wind-driven generator in the correct position for the civil type represented

-Addition of the aft wing strut-to-fuselage secondary strut (missing in the kit)

-New oil coolers

-New hand-carved wood props rotating in the corresponding direction

-Addition of tail rigging, control cables, and exterior control bars on the right fuselage side

-Addition of nav lights

The particularities of the kit and the account of the modifications con be consulted here in the step-by-step building post:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2021/06/civilizing-caproni-ca101-modified-fly.html

Carrying its day-dreaming passengers lulled by the droning of the three engines over the blue Mediterranean waters, the silhouette of this somewhat lumbering Italian plane fades into the distant, hazy horizon of history.

If anything all these years of modeling have taught me, is to forget things. I added the Pitot, fuel tank curly vents and stirrup that I had left in some random container: