The SIA 7B

Windsock Datafile 105
By Gregory Alegi
Albatros Publications, ©2004
ISBN 1-902207-63-7
Softbound, 32 Pages

Reviewed by Chris Banyai-Riepl

The latest Datafile title from Albatros Publications returns to the Italian countryside with an in-depth look at one of the lesser known WWI aircraft, the SIA 7B. The SIA 7B started its life back in 1916 when the Technical Directorate of Military Aviation (DTAM) made the decision to move away from pusher aircraft. This led to the development of the Pomilio, the SVA, and the SIA 7B. While the SIA 7B had high potential on paper, in reality it was quite a different story, and this book does an excellent job of explaining that history.

Like other titles in the Datafile series, this book, in addition to the very well written text, is packed full of great photos, all of which have almost as much information in their captions as the text itself. Both Italian and American SIA 7Bs are covered in photos, providing the modeler with plenty of modeling potential. The center spread scale drawings are in both 1/72 and 1/48, with views of both the SIA 7B1 and 7B2 that include cross sections and detail views.

This is a welcome addition to the Windsock Datafile line and should get the modeler excited about building some Italian WWI aircraft. My thanks to Albatros Publications for the review sample.