1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Fiat BR.20M COMPLETED

[Flyingbabydoc]

Hello dear friends,

So I have decided to start a sort of "on-going" Topic for some of my attempts with WWII Italian aircraft (my true Passion in modelism) and share them with you outside the campaigns.

The first one is a classic and probably the best biplane ever built - yet way too obsolete for WWII. Still, it was so maneuverable that Hurricane pilots could only hit it with dive and shoot passes, never in a tight dogfight. This is the Fiat CR.42 Falco (Hawk), the last Project of Celestino Rosatelli. I am building the Italeri 1/72 with PE from Eduard, representing an airplane of the 161° Gruppo based in Rhodes during 1941.

First Pictures and PE:

Cheers

Alex

 

[moon puppy]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

 

[phantom II]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Hi Alex ! You are a building machine

Excellent choice . I built that one a couple years back . A real dream of a kit.

Lots of color schemes

Cheers, Christian B)

 

[lupanzer]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Very nice!...following

Abraco!

Luiz

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Thanks guys, you are ever so kind.

The Falco is one of my favorite Italian birds. I really tried a few times, never got it right. Let's see now. The PE worked out fine, the assembly was uneventful. I decided to leave two parts of the cowling open for a Diorama with a few mechanics. This was as always the most difficult part, somehow I never manage to get the engine and the cowling to fit right. A lot of cursing and finally it worked. I hope the glue is not too thick there.

This is the progress thus far:

Cheers,

Alex

P.S: Luiz, forte abraco para ti também!

 

[phantom II]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

One of my favorites as well

I do have to admit though that I like the CR.32 as well but there's only one kit and it's difficult to build.
Maybe now, I know enough to get one done. :idonno

Cheers, Christian B)

 

[jknaus]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Cool Beans

James

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the comments and Support.

Christian, do you mean the old Supermodel kit? There is a new one from Italeri, released 2 years ago, which has a Major update compared to the old Supermodel. This is actually the next one in line on my bench together with a Fiat BR.20. You should try this new one, it is a great kit. There is even excellent Eduard
PE available for it. Go for it!

http://www.italeri.com/scheda.asp?idProdotto=2245&idCategoria=1&idSottocategoria=0

Cheers

Alex

 

[moon puppy]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

That's cool, Alex you ever look at the Wing Nut Wing aircraft?

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Hey Bob

I can't say that I have seen. AFAIK Wingnut Wings produces only WWI aircraft in 1/32 scale. The Fiat Cr.32 is an early 30s aircraft, I don't think the chaps in NZ would be interested. I will check it out though. In any case, I only build 1/72...

Cheers

Alex

 

[phantom II]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the comments and Support.

Christian, do you mean the old Supermodel kit? There is a new one from Italeri, released 2 years ago, which has a Major update compared to the old Supermodel. This is actually the next one in line on my bench together with a Fiat BR.20. You should try this new one, it is a great kit. There is even excellent Eduard
PE available for it. Go for it!

http://www.italeri.com/scheda.asp?idProdotto=2245&idCategoria=1&idSottocategoria=0

Cheers

Alex

Exactly ! It's all good till you try to assemble the struts and upper wing .

Back before 1980 I did not have enough knowledge to do that .

I have seen three that were assembled since then . Two rather poorly but the one in the magazine in 2015 was quite good

I have one in the stash awaiting courage but I believe I could do it now

Cheers, Christian B)

 

[moon puppy]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Exactly ! It's all good till you try to assemble the struts and upper wing .

Tell me, that's how I lost the Hawk.

 

[phantom II]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Hey Alex. I missed that part about I should assemble it . You're right of course . I even have the PE, which means that if I live long enough I probably will.

Right now I have such a back log of good kits to build it's tough to justify building what I know will be another fight in progress.

Instead, I get distracted with this Junkers kit which was probably not made by a rocket scientist :idonno

Oh well, there is a certain charm to it. Sort of looking at a Bulldog and saying it's cute

Cheers, Christian B)

 

[lupanzer]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Beautiful plane...and you are doing a great job!

Forte abraco meu amigo!

Luiz

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Morning everyone!

Luiz, many thanks! Valeu mesmo.

Christian, you sound like a 100 y.o. ldguy I am sure you have plenty of time for a small Cr.32.

Bob, I suck royally in painting and finishing a model, but assembling has never been a problem. I built 3 Cr.32 before joining MA and learning all These new tricks of the trade, but I did not have any problems with the wings or struts. Here are a few pics:

As for the Falco, here is the progress so far. I hope I can finish before my vacation. We'll see.

Cheers everyone,

Alex

 

[SA Dave]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Nice progress mate hope you get her done before you go away on holiday

 

[phantom II]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Hi Alex . Good to see some of those together . It makes it look more doable . Very nice mix .

Pretty funny Alex. Well, I am not 100 year old but there are more than a hundred more models waiting in the pile . As a matter I have not taken the time to count them .

When I was 50 , I though I would certainly build for another 100 more years .

Since then I have come to realise that the usefulness of a body declines and the ability to do these tiny things become harder . At some point those two lines on the graph will cross each other.

Although I could surely build the CR.32 , there is a long line of models that seem to be more important.

Very doubtful I will ever see them all built. That Fiat may or may not see daylight .

Cheers, Christian B)

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Hey guys

Christian, I am sure you will keep on modelling for many years to come. You can always manipulate the data on the graph so that the lines cross in infinity.. BTW is that a Wallonian rooster on your Avatar?


So there is a bit of Progress to report. The base Giallo Mimetico 3 and the first camo (Verde Mimetico 2) are in place. It took a bit of effort without the airbrush but very satisfying nonetheless. Enjoy and thanks for looking!

Cheers

Alex

 

[phantom II]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Nice progress Alex The paints look quite nice

Indeed it is . We may have come from a long line of chicken pluckers

Cheers, Christian B)

 

[SA Dave]

My 1/72 Regia Aeronautica: Plane 1 (Fiat CR.42)

Love that cammo mate