April 03, 2025

Preview: Six releases from Italeri in April...

Two War Thunder kits, a Hurri of the Aces, a Falco, a Chaffe & Bugatti (plus a Tonka) are Italeri's releases for April. We have the sprues, art, colours, & decals in our preview...

Preview: Six releases from Italeri in April...

M1A1 Abrams - WAR THUNDER
From Italeri
No #35108 
1/35th scale
Model Dim. 27.9 cm
The 3rd generation American main battle tank, the M1 Abrams, is the backbone of the United States Army and United States Marine Corps armoured divisions. The Abrams is characterised by its heavy armour (it is one of the heaviest combat vehicles in the world) and also its powerful multifuel turbine engine. The tank first entered service at the beginning of the 1980s to replace the ageing M-60.

The decals supplied in this kit.
The marking choices in this kit
It houses a sophisticated computerised fire and control system within its modern, armour-plated hull. The Abrams offers greater crew protection than many of its predecessors , specifically in the design of the separate and heavily protected ammunition storage area within the main body of the tank. It was initially armed with a 105 mm main gun, which is to be updated and replaced by a more modern and powerful 120 mm smooth-bore cannon. The Abrams has been extensively and successfully deployed on operational service in several theatres of war, including recent conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The parts of the kit
- Special in-game bonus code 
- Super decals sheet for 4 versions 
- Color instruction sheet


Bugatti Type 35B—Targa Florio 1928—Monaco GP 1930
From Italeri
1/12th Scale
Kit #4716
Two colour choices included in the box
Italeri has released images and information of their adaptation of the 1/12th scale Bugatti Type 35B into the famous 1928 & 1930 winning racer. See the new colours parts & built-up kit in our preview

The Subject: The Bugatti Type 35B
The Bugatti Type 35B is one of the most iconic and revered racing cars in motor racing history, both technically and competitively. Ettore Bugatti's masterpiece was a unique mix of engineering skill, design, elegance, speed, and its relatively lightweight. Produced during the 1920s, it won an incredible number of races in both “road” and “on-track” competitions. The Bugatti was, in fact, specifically designed for the world of racing, which included the introduction of technical and mechanical solutions for the car that made it ideal for the racing circuits of the period.

Eliška Junková-Khásová, a Czech automobile racer in the 1928 Targa Florio, Bugatti. The Type 35B dominated. This is one of the car options in the colours of this kit.
Aesthetically, it was universally known and recognisable by the unmistakable shape of the horseshoe-shaped radiator, which was a key design feature of Bugatti as a car manufacturer. Due to its 2,263 cm³ 8-cylinder engine with a four-speed mechanical gearbox and equipped with a volumetric compressor, the Bugatti Type 35B was able to attain a top speed of 210 km/h. It was produced in limited numbers until 1930.

The second choice of markings was this blue-coloured car. The 1930 Monaco Grand Prix was a prestigious Formula One motor racing event held at the iconic Circuit de Monaco. Notably, French driver René Dreyfus secured a remarkable victory in a privately owned Bugatti, outpacing the factory Bugattis of Louis Chiron and Guy Bouriat. The competition was, however, tainted by controversy surrounding allegations of race-fixing.

The new kit from Italeri:
We have already seen the Type 35B built up in the previous release, but now we will look at the new parts, decals and the two colour schemes built and painted up.

Here some key features of the new Bugatti Type 35B—Targa Florio 1928—Monaco GP 1930 in 1/12th scale:
Steerable front wheels
Opened engine cowling option
Highly detailed engine (below, you can see it made up and painted).
Rubber tyres
2 spare wheels
You can see the car partially built with an instrument cluster and chassis below...
Chromed parts 
Photo-etched parts

Screws and tubes
Artificial leather
Die-cut mask sheet (as an alternative to decals, if you like).
Decal for two versions
There are two marking choices supplied in this kit. We have the colour profiles of the two versions, both in striking colours. Here they are made up by the modellers from Italeri.
Vinyl tyres are included
The parts of the kit


Tornado GR.1/IDS Gulf War - WAR THUNDER
From Italeri
1/48th scale
Length 38.1 cm
Model #35107
The Multirole Tornado is a twin-engine combat aircraft with a variable-sweep wing. This kind of aircraft is the result of a joint development project carried out by British, German, and Italian companies. Although during its lifetime it has been used for several purposes (ground attack, electronic combat/reconnaissance, interceptor), its main role has always been to perform low-altitude penetrating strike missions. Tornado can load and use a powerful and varied set of offensive weapons. 

The decals supplied in this kit.
The marking choices in this kit
Thanks to its two powerful afterburning turbofans, the Tornado can reach the max speed of Mach 2.2. The Tornado baptism of fire took place in 1991 during the Gulf War. More in detail, the air campaign of the Gulf War, in which the Italian Tornados IDS took part, began on 17th January. The goal of the aerial bombing campaign was the suppression of military targets and infrastructure.

The parts of the kit
- Special in-game bonus code 
- Super decals sheet for 3 versions 
- Color instruction sheet


Hurricane Mk.l "Aces"
From Italeri
No #2838
1/48th scale
Model Dim. 20,5 cm
The Hawker Hurricane was the most widely produced and utilised fighter aircraft of the British Royal Air Force at the beginning of World War II. The Hurricane was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled inline engine delivering over 1,000 HP, enabling it to reach speeds exceeding 500 km/h.

The decals.
Its armament of eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns provided a solid firepower capability. Although it was slower and aerodynamically more outdated than its famous counterpart, the Supermarine Spitfire, with which it shared operational duties during the Battle of Britain, the Hurricane was more robust, cost-effective, and easier to maintain and repair. Additionally, it was simpler to fly, allowing for faster pilot training, which played a crucial role in securing victory during the Battle of Britain. Renowned RAF aces such as J. Johnson, W. Vale, and R. Stanford Tuck flew the Hurricane in combat.

The parts of the kit
6 RAF ACES VERSIONS: S/L Douglas R.S. Bader, S/L Robert R.S. Stanford-Tuck, S/L Michael L.Robinson, F/O W.L. Mc Knight, S/L L. John W:C: Simpson, P/O William "Cherry" Vale


M24 CHAFFEE
From Italeri
1/35th scale
Model #6761
The M24 Chaffee tank was distributed to American Army units starting in 1944 to provide a lightweight tank on the battlefield capable of replacing the outdated M3/M5 Stuart. The M24’s configuration was significantly different from its predecessor, and its design proved to be highly effective, to the point that it is considered one of the best light tanks ever built.

The decals.
The marking choices in this kit
Agile, robust, and reliable, it was well-armed for a “light tank,” featuring an M6 75mm cannon with 48 rounds available. The tank's armament was complemented by two 12.7mm Browning machine guns. It was also effectively employed in close infantry support missions and advanced reconnaissance operations. During the conflict, effective cooperation was developed between M24 units and more heavily armed armoured vehicles, such as the Sherman in its various versions.

The parts of the kit


FIAT CR.42 CN "Falco" Night Fighter
From Italeri
No #1485
1/72nd scale
Model Dim. 11.4 cm
Starting from the great success of the C.R. 32 “Freccia” biplane, which proved its reliability and operational efficiency during the Spanish Civil War, Fiat developed the new C.R. 42 “Falco” at the end of the 1930s. The new single-seat biplane fighter retained the fixed landing gear and open cockpit of its predecessor but introduced several innovations, such as an entirely aluminium and steel structure covered with metal and fabric. Its air-cooled radial engine, the Fiat A.74, allowed the C.R. 42 to reach a top speed of 400 km/h. 

The marking choices in this kit
Decals of the kit
The aircraft was characterised by exceptional manoeuvrability, highly appreciated by pilots, but suffered from the inherent limitations of the biplane configuration, which hindered its operational performance compared to more modern and powerful monoplane fighters. A dedicated Night Fighter version was produced, featuring extended exhausts to reduce visibility to the enemy during nighttime operations.

The parts of the kit

These should be in shops this month. For more on Italeri's kits, check out their website...