1/48 Piaggio XSP-2 “Super Veloce” (1938)
Piaggio started in the aeronautics field in 1915. As with most Italians, racing was in the blood. The 1920s served as an important time in the company’s history when, Piaggio Aero brought on Giovanni Pegna and Giuseppe Gabrielli, two aeronautical engineers, to help develop Piaggio’s aeronautic line. Together they created modern technical solutions for aviation, that brought forth the well known, Piaggio design. It was an exciting era of aircraft racing and development. The XSP-2 was under construction when Rinaldo Piaggio died in 1938, at 71 years old. Little was known of this aircraft as WWII left the company in ruins. Here it is in it’s completed form, ready to set world speed records, powered by 4, massive (8 liter+), V-8 engines . It is rumored that it’s design was later used by an American design team, and bears some resemblance to later record breaking aircraft. Perhaps, in the eye of the beholder…….
11 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Craig Abrahamson said on May 30, 2018
Looks as if Kelly Johnson may have found some “inspiration” in this design, huh…?
Nice work, Joe….I don’t think I’ve ever seen this particular aircraft before.
Nice lookin’ build, my friend.
Jaime Carreon said on May 30, 2018
Hey Joe, is that thing carbureted or fuel injected, and was this the one with the Yugo engines? I think I see a little Castoldi design influence in there somewhere….
Bogdan Ionete said on May 30, 2018
Lovely
I like it very much.
What kit did you use to make it?
Thanks
Joe Caputo said on May 30, 2018
I used an old Revell 1/72 SR-71. There were quite a few parts added, and/or, made.
Bogdan Ionete said on May 30, 2018
Oh, mamma!
bob mack said on May 30, 2018
cool as a goosed moose
Robert Royes said on May 30, 2018
You’ve done it again! Fantastico!
Tom Bebout said on May 30, 2018
Nicely done Joe, excellent Wiffer. I really like your creativity on this one.
Greg Kittinger said on May 30, 2018
Very creative – love the calliope poking out of the engine nacelles.
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on May 30, 2018
Looks…temperamental. Maybe using a SR-71 as a base is a new sub-genre in the Whif world. Nice one.
Editor said on May 31, 2018
That is really cool.
Simon Whitney said on May 31, 2018
A very nice what if Joe.
Nice build sir.
Anthony Alvear said on May 31, 2018
Very interesting model and history, congrats.
Jeff Bailey said on May 31, 2018
Fantactico! Great imagination and that sure is a great & sleek looking racer!
Well done, Joe!
Anthony Conway said on May 31, 2018
Nicely done Joe. Would sound good with four V8s.
George Williams said on May 31, 2018
Just beautiful, Joe, your imagination knows no bounds.
Richard Mcstay said on June 2, 2018
Very imaginative, and nicely executed!
I think air racers would be a really cool topic for a group build you know. There would be a whole world of different liveries for us to all put our own personal stamp on….
Joe Caputo said on June 4, 2018
Richard, I couldn’t agree more….fun stuff !
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.