The Ship Model Forum

Hi,

Does anyone have any picutres of this class of light cruiser, or know where I can get a good source of photos and references?

I have obtained a plan of this class, and think they are a handsome class of cruiser, and not one you see a model of often.

Thanks
John

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John in New Zealand: Always open to new ideas:)

There is a JSC 1/400th card model of Scipione Africano that gives a good basis for a waterline model quite cheaply:

http://www.hobbyfactory.com/Ships-Warsh ... _info.html

BS Press Profile Morskie #43 covers RN Scipione Africano with some drawings, colour profiles and photos. You can buy it from WEM, NNT or Pacific Front Hobbies.

Cheers

Gilbert

If you are looking for general information on Italian cruisers try

Gli Incrociatori Italiani 1861-1964, by A. Nani and G. Giorgerini

This book is usually about $100 - $150 on abebooks but you might find a cheaper copy.

Published only in Italian, but very useful all the same.

If you ever need an interpreter, let me know, I would be willing to translate (short) excerpts for you.

Rob

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IPMS Fine Waterline Special Interest Group

I have the Niko 1/700 Scipione Africano but have little info on the ship other than the class entry in Whitley's WW2 cruiser book and the Wikipedia entry. According to the book, they were to have 6 single 65mm AA guns, 3 each side of the forward superstructure. The kit comes with them but the book says they weren't actually fitted because of issue with the gun and to save weight. I've googled the ship to look for pics but it's hard to make out what was or wasn't fitted in those positions (I've discounted ship profiles as they are not much help). So if anyone who has more info about the ship can help on this one, please reply.

Also there is only some etch ladders and anchor chain in the kit but there is a crane which resembles aircraft handling crane only smaller. If anyone can suggest a suitable etch replacement for it that would be good too. I could rummage through my etch sets and see if there's anything close but obviously something more accurate would be better.

thanks
Mike

AFAIK none of the ships that were to get the 65mm got them as Ansaldo was unable to get them in production, the Capitani Romani that were completed before the end of the war had 8 single Breda 37/54 instead. There is a decent side drawing in Brescia's Mussolini's Navy book .

Thanks

Niko has Scipione Africano fitted out with eight single 37mm guns and 4 quad 20mm guns, which is slightly conflicting with the small amount of info that I have in the book but I've found a few more snippets from another google search which suggests Niko could well be correct. I just need to see about a small etch aircraft style handling crane.

thanks
Mike

There is a very good Italian book about the class:

Incrociatori leggeri classe Capitani Romani by Elio Andò

The ships completed during the war had eight single 37mm guns and four twin 20mm guns as AA armament. The twins had their barrels above each other, therefore they can be probably confused with quad mountings.

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The Andò book is hard to find, don't have that one but others he did were quite good so if you can get it it will probably provide all the details you need. A more recent source could be the article on the class by Bagnasco and Cernuschi in number 257 of Storia Militare (February 2015) and likely still available from their back copies service. Still in Italian but good quality pictures, a nice plan and side view and even some details about the differences between the ships that were completed.

they are some russian book on the class and a profile morskie (N°43 - polish)
- Morskaya_Kampaniya_2010-04
- BKM_Super_Light_Cruisers
- capitani romani
ciao peppe

There is coverage of the Capitani Romani Class - in War Machine ( Orbis ) Magazine 1984 -
in Cruisers of World War 2 - issue number 41 on 1/2 page