1-300 WWI Italian Corpo Aeronautico Militare Variant #2

1-300 WWI Italian Corpo Aeronautico Militare – Variant #2
 
These 1-300 WWI Italian Corpo Aeronautico Militare Variant #2 decals reproduce the distinctive Italian tricolor aircraft roundel used during the later years of World War I. This version features a red center surrounded by a white ring and green outer ring, representing the reversed color arrangement adopted by Italian military aviation during approximately 1917–1918.
 
Italy entered World War I on the Allied side in May 1915, and its military aviation arm, the Corpo Aeronautico Militare, rapidly expanded from a relatively small reconnaissance force into an increasingly sophisticated air service operating fighters, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and ground-attack machines.
 
Italian national aircraft markings were far from completely standardized during the early years of the war. Aircraft could carry tricolor rudders, colored wing panels, roundels, or combinations of these markings. The familiar circular Italian cockade became increasingly standardized as the war progressed. Historical sources note considerable variation in size, positioning, and even the order of the national colors.
 
The earlier Italian roundel generally displayed green in the center, surrounded by white with red on the outside. During 1917–1918, however, Italian aviation reversed the arrangement to red in the center, white in the middle, and green on the outside. The Italian Air Force's own historical account states that this change was probably intended to reduce the possibility of confusing Italian aircraft with French aircraft, whose roundels also used red, white, and blue concentric circles.
 
Roundels became increasingly common on the upper wings and fuselage sides during the final phase of the war. A formal tricolor roundel was introduced in December 1917, although photographs demonstrate that considerable variation continued through the Armistice.
 
The reversed green-outer roundel can be seen on several important Italian aircraft of the late-war period, including examples of the Hanriot HD.1, one of Italy's most successful fighters. Italian-built and Italian-operated aircraft of the period also included the SPAD VII and XIII, Nieuport fighters, Ansaldo SVA series, Pomilio reconnaissance aircraft, and Caproni bombers, although exact markings should always be checked against the individual aircraft and date being represented.
 
Product Features
Designed for 1-300 / 6mm WWI Italian aircraft miniatures
Represents the Corpo Aeronautico Militare
Features the later-war red center, white middle ring, and green outer ring
Particularly appropriate for the 1917–1918 period
Suitable for Italian fighters, reconnaissance aircraft, bombers, and other WWI aircraft where historically appropriate
Useful for aircraft such as the Hanriot HD.1, SPAD fighters, Ansaldo SVA series, and other late-war Italian types
Complements Italian tricolor rudder and fin markings
Includes multiple sizes for different aircraft and marking positions
Printed on thin waterslide decal paper
Decals must be individually cut from the sheet before application
 
For wargamers building Italian air forces for the later years of World War I, this reversed tricolor roundel provides one of the most recognizable markings of the Corpo Aeronautico Militare during 1917–1918. Because Italian aircraft markings varied considerably during the war, both this version and the alternate tricolor arrangement are useful for accurately representing different aircraft, units, and periods on the Italian Front.