Pre-order - Kinetic 48166 - 1:48 AMX A-11 Ghibli Italian Air Force 30th Anniversary Special Limited Edition

Pre-order item! Your order will be fulfilled once the manufacturer releases the model. Estimated availability: late August 2026. The delivery date is approximate and may change for reasons beyond our control.

Plastic Model Kit of the AMX A-11 Ghibli Ground-Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft 30th Anniversary Special Limited Edition in 1:48 Scale

Kinetic 48166 is a unique limited-edition plastic model kit representing the Italian-Brazilian AMX International A-11 Ghibli ground-attack and reconnaissance aircraft in Italian Air Force service. This special anniversary release commemorates 30 years of AMX service in the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI), featuring decals for the commemorative paint scheme unveiled on September 13, 2019. Limited edition: only 1500 kits produced worldwide.

The 1:48 scale model captures the characteristic appearance of the AMX — a compact single-engine light attack aircraft designed for strike and reconnaissance missions on the European battlefield. Distinctive features include its relatively short wingspan, compact single-seat cockpit, and large ventral air intake feeding the non-afterburning Rolls-Royce Spey 807 turbofan engine. The Italian A-11 variant differs from the Brazilian A-1 by carrying a single 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon in the left side of the nose instead of twin 30 mm cannons.

Inside the box you will find:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing, and tail components
• Cockpit interior details including instrument panel and ejection seat
• Wide selection of external stores: AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, bombs, and fuel tanks
• Photo-etched parts sheet
• Clear canopy parts
• Water-slide decals for the special 30th Anniversary Aeronautica Militare Italiana commemorative scheme
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model technical details:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalog number: 48166
• Manufacturer: Kinetic
• Completed model length: approx. 276 mm, wingspan approx. 185 mm
• Difficulty level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints, or modeling tools. The model requires assembly and painting.

Building the model:

The kit requires careful assembly of the cockpit interior, including the instrument panel and ejection seat. It is recommended to paint and detail the cockpit before joining the fuselage halves. Due to the nature of this special edition, extra attention should be paid to surface preparation before applying the large commemorative decals, which cover significant portions of the fuselage and vertical stabilizer.

The 30th Anniversary scheme features a dark blue base color with elaborate graphics in the colors of the Italian national flag. Suitable paint choices include dark blue shades from AK Real Colors, Mr. Hobby Aqueous, or Tamiya ranges. Applying the decals is the most critical stage — the standard technique is to place them over a glossy clear coat to prevent silvering, then seal the model with a satin finish typical for jet aircraft. With such large decals, it is recommended to work section by section and use decal-setting solutions such as Micro Set and Micro Sol to conform them to complex surfaces. For enhanced realism, modelers may consider adding a metal Pitot tube and metal cannon barrel available separately in our store.

Essential tools:

• Model sprue cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Modeling knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for smoothing mold attachment points
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for photo-etched parts
• Precision modeling tweezers
• Paint brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Decal-setting solutions (Micro Set, Micro Sol)
• Masking fluid or masking tape for the canopy

About the aircraft – AMX International A-11 Ghibli:

The AMX (Italian designation A-11, Brazilian designation A-1) was a multinational strike and reconnaissance aircraft project jointly developed by the Italian companies Aermacchi and Aeritalia together with the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. Development work began in the late 1970s, and the prototype first flew on May 15, 1984. The aircraft entered service in 1989 — first in Italy, later in Brazil. The type was intended to replace older aircraft such as the F-104G Starfighter and G.91 in Italian strike roles while supporting the Brazilian Air Force in attack and reconnaissance missions.

A distinctive feature of the AMX is its specialization: the aircraft was designed primarily for tactical strike missions at low and medium altitude and reconnaissance duties rather than high-intensity air combat. The Rolls-Royce Spey 807 engine is a non-afterburning turbofan, making the aircraft subsonic. Its compact size and relatively small dimensions facilitate operations from austere airfields and low-level flight. The Italian A-11 version carries a single 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon in the left side of the nose, AIM-9L Sidewinder short-range missiles on the wingtips, and underwing and centerline pylons capable of carrying up to approximately 3800 kg of ordnance.

The AMX served in the Italian Air Force for 35 years — entering service in 1989 and officially retiring on April 5, 2024. In total, the AMI operated 110 single-seat A-11 aircraft and 26 two-seat AMX-T trainers. The aircraft served among others with 13°/32° Stormo based at Amendola and 51° Stormo at Istrana. The final operational unit flying the AMX was 132° Gruppo. The special 30th Anniversary paint scheme commemorating AMX service in the AMI was unveiled on September 13, 2019.

Technical data of the original aircraft (AMX A-11 Ghibli):

• Length: 13.23 m (or 13.57 m for the A-11B version)
• Wingspan: 8.87 m
• Height: 4.55 m
• Empty weight: approx. 6700 kg
• Maximum takeoff weight: approx. 13,000 kg
• Crew: 1 pilot
• Powerplant: Rolls-Royce Spey 807 turbofan engine (without afterburner), approx. 49.1 kN thrust
• Maximum speed: approx. 914 km/h (subsonic)
• Service ceiling: approx. 13,000 m
• Gun armament: 1 × 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon (A-11 version)
• External stores: up to approx. 3800 kg including AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, guided and unguided bombs, and fuel tanks
• First flight: May 15, 1984; service entry: 1989; AMI retirement: April 5, 2024

About the manufacturer – Kinetic:

Kinetic Model Kits is a Hong Kong-based plastic model manufacturer active since the early 21st century and specializing mainly in modern military aircraft kits in 1:48 scale. The company is known for carefully engineered tooling representing contemporary Western combat aircraft, including various F-16, F-104, A-4, AMX, and carrier-based aircraft variants. Kinetic also regularly releases special and anniversary editions dedicated to commemorative paint schemes and individual squadrons — the limited AMX 30th Anniversary edition is an excellent example of this publishing strategy. Kinetic kits are especially popular among modelers looking for unusual export variants of well-known aircraft as well as collector editions enhanced with special decals.