Virtually
unknown outside Italy, the Macchi C 202 was the best fighter that the Reggia
Aeronáutica (Royal Italian Air Force, RA) had, during II the World war. This
airplane demonstrated that Italy could design and construct a fighter capable to
face the best airplanes of the world.
The
Aeronautics Macchi SpA. designed the Folgore (Lightning), based on the
experience obtained with the 200 C Saeta (Thunder). For the creation of
the Folgore, the head of designers Mario Castoldi adapted the structure of the
Saeta to the German engine cooled by oil Daimler-Benz DB 601. The first
flight of C 202 was in August of 1940 and the RA decided that, on summer of
1941, the 1st Stormo CT had to become the first unit to train ins this new
machine. For November of that year, the unit had been transferred to
Libya, where they faced British forces before they blocked Tobruk.
Although the arrival of this aircraft was late to decide faith of this theater
of operations on North Africa, The new Macchi C 202 proved clearly its
superiority against the Curtiss P40 of the USAAF the Hawker Hurricane of the
RAF. The Italian fighter surpass to all its adversaries with exception of
Supermarine Spitfire and the North American P51 Mustang. In the hands of
an experienced pilot, the agility of the Folgore was mortal for an inexpert
adversary..
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This
projects start as a request for all the members of my formal modeling club in
Caracas. Our contest of 1998 was sponsor by the Embassy of Italy and we must
make at least one model of the open category “Modeling Italy”. For
that, I decide that I want to make “Out of the Box” model, so I decide to
choose the Hasegawa 1/72 Macchi C 202 Kit No HA51302 with a desert camouflage
scheme.
The
model is easy to build, very nicely done. All the part fit together very well,
you have to do a little sanding and that all. The only set back that I found in
the model is the cockpit, is too simple. But If you like, you can improve it
with a good set of PE, but it wasn’t my choice. Beside, I choose to make my
model with a close cockpit. The detail will loose, once I close the cabin. I
airbrush first the under side of the plane with Model Master Italian Blue Gary
N0 2113. I let it dry it for a couple of hours and then I use Aeromaster Sand 4
Nocciola Chiaro No 1215 for the upper surfaces. I left 24 hours to dray and I
select to use Acrylic Model Master Dark Green FS34079 to make the patter of the
camouflage. I select the fine needle of my Badger 350 Simple action airbrush and
start this difficult process. I adjust my airbrush with low pressure and
pray that it don’t spit any water. This was a time consuming process but when
I finish it, I was very satisfied with the results. I let it dry for two days
and then apply Microscale clear gloss cote to ensure the adherence of the
decals. I let it dry for a couple of days and apply the decals. After the decals
were dry, I airbrush it with Humbrol mate cote and begin the weathering.
I
weather the propeller with steel to stimulate the sand blasting effect. I apply
a dilute light cote of acrylic flat black to accentuate the rise panels. I
carefully remove the excess with cotton. Then started using Flat White in the
paint cup to progressively lighten the color. I applied it to the upper wings,
horizontal stabilizer and upper fuselage, the areas most exposed to the sun.
After that I paint the exhaust with steel the dry brush it with rust. And then
use a little of black chalk, to simulate the smoke on the machine guns and the
exhaust.
I
also "muddied" the wheels, and dry brushed "mud spray" in
the gear well and on the lower wing and flap immediately behind the wheels.
I
was very satisfied with the model. I can’t finish it for the time of the
contest. But I was able to get one silver medal in other1998 contest and the
following year a get one Gold medal in our annual contest.
Ricardo
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