Italeri
Italian scale model manufacturer known for unique subjects and detail.
Italeri S.p.A. is an Italian company that makes plastic scale model kits of aircraft, military vehicles, helicopters, ships, trucks, and cars. The business was started in 1962 by Giuliano Malservisi and Gian Pietro Parmeggiani. As children, both were passionate about airplanes and military vehicles but found the models available at the time unsatisfactory. They began building their own models as a hobby, which later grew into a commercial venture.
The company was first called "Italstamp," and its initial kit—a 1:72 scale model of the Italian Fiat G.55 fighter—was released under the brand "Aliplast." The firm was later renamed "Italaerei," and after ten years, the name was shortened to "Italeri" for easier pronunciation in languages other than Italian. The logo features an airplane silhouette set against one red and one green stripe.
Based near Bologna, Italeri focused on product lines with a certain uniqueness, especially a wide range of Italian subjects. Over time, the company acquired the Supermodel and Protar brands.
Italeri’s portfolio includes many famous Italian aircraft used by the Regia Aeronautica in World War II, from the small Fiat CR.42 Falco biplane fighter to the three-engine Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 bomber. In 1:72 scale, they also produced the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79, known as the "gobbo maledetto" (the cursed hunchback). The company paid close attention to WWII Italian Army vehicles as well, such as the AB armored car series, the small L6 reconnaissance tank, and the rare P-40 heavy tank.
In 1:35 scale, Italeri produced a series of World War II motor torpedo boats, including the American PT-596, the metre-long German Schnellboot S-100, and the Italian MAS. Their small assault boat series in 1:35 scale includes the Italian Barchino and Maiale, as well as the German Biber. The company also makes 1:24 scale model trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers.
In recent years, Italeri introduced the Photographic Reference Manual (PRM) for some kits, providing extensive historical information and modeling details about the subject. The first kit to include a PRM was the U.S. Navy patrol torpedo boat.
Quick Facts
- Founder
- Giuliano Malservisi / Gian Pietro Parmeggiani
- Hq Location City
- Bologna
- Hq Location Country
- Italy
- Products
- Plastic scale models of airplanes, military vehicles, helicopters, ships, trucks, and cars
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The company was founded in 1962 by Giuliano Malservisi and Gian Pietro Parmeggiani. Since childhood, they had loved airplanes and military vehicles, but were not satisfied enough with the scale models on the market available at those times. They began to produce models themselves, first as a hobby, and later turning it into a business. The first name of the company was 'Italstamp' and the first scale model kit was released with the brand 'Aliplast', a 1:72 model of the Italian fighter Fiat G.55. The company name changed to 'Italaerei' and, ten years later, it was contracted into 'Italeri', easier to use and to pronounce not only in Italian language. The logo consists of an airplane silhouetted over a red and a green stripe.
The company, located close to Bologna, started to produce product lines characterized by a certain 'uniqueness' on the subjects. In particular Italeri used to have a wide range of Italian subjects. During its lifetime Italeri has also acquired the Supermodel and Protar brands.
Italeri has a wide portfolio of scale models. It has designed famous Italian aircraft used by the Regia Aeronautica during the Second World War, from the small biplane fighter Fiat CR.42 Falco to Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 three-engine bomber. Italeri has also produced, in 1:72 scale, the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79, nicknamed 'gobbo maledetto', which translates as 'the cursed hunchback'. Italeri also put great attention to WWII Italian Army military vehicles such as AB armored cars series, the small L6 recon tank, and the rare (produced in few numbers) P-40 heavy tank. They have also produced a series of 1:35 scale motor torpedo boats of World War II such as the American PT-596, the metre-long model of the Schnellboot S-100 of the German Kriegsmarine, and the MAS of the Italian Regia Marina. The small assault boats 1:35 series also includes the Italian Barchino and Maiale and the German Biber. Italeri also produces of 1:24 scale model trucks, trailers and semi-trailers.
Reader's Guide
Italeri's significance lies in its consistent focus on subjects that were often overlooked by other manufacturers, particularly Italian aircraft and military vehicles of World War II. By producing models of aircraft like the Fiat CR.42 Falco, Savoia-Marchetti SM.82, and the distinctive SM.79 'gobbo maledetto', as well as Italian army vehicles such as the AB armored cars, L6 recon tank, and the rare P-40 heavy tank, Italeri filled a gap in the scale modeling market. The company's expansion into 1:35 scale motor torpedo boats and assault craft, including American, German, and Italian designs, further broadened its portfolio. In recent years, Italeri introduced the Photographic Reference Manual (PRM) for some kits, starting with the U.S. Navy patrol torpedo boat, providing modelers with detailed historical and modeling information. The acquisition of the Supermodel and Protar brands also contributed to its legacy, consolidating its position as a notable Italian manufacturer in the global scale modeling community.
Did You Know?
- The company's first name was Italstamp, and its first kit was released under the brand Aliplast.
- The name Italeri is a contraction of the earlier company name Italaerei.
- The first kit to include a Photographic Reference Manual was the U.S. Navy patrol torpedo boat.
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