Italeri 1/48 Fiat CR.42AS
|
 |
Overview
The Fiat CR.42, along with the Gloster Gladiator and Polikarpov I-153,
represents the last of the true fighter biplanes. Designed at a time when
monoplanes were not quite as successful as they would become, the CR.42
was truly a pilot’s airplane. Very maneuverable, the CR.42 was a
joy to fly, and against similarly armed aircraft, it was a potent fighter.
However, by the time it entered combat, faster, more powerful monoplanes
had found their way into the air forces of the world, and the inadequate
firepower of the CR.42 quickly negated its better maneuverability. Still,
the CR.42 fought on throughout the Second World War, first as a front-line
fighter and later as a dedicated night fighter and ground attack aircraft.
In addition to the Regia Aeronautica, the CR.42 found its way into the
air forces of Belgium, Hungary, and Sweden, and captured examples served
with the Luftwaffe as well. The sturdiness of the aircraft is apparent
in the fact that after the war, several examples soldiered on  in
training roles.
The Kit
The Italeri 1/48 kit of the CR.42 is, quite simply, the best 1/48 CR.42
kit on the market. Molded in light gray plastic, the kit features a nice
combination of recessed and raised detailing that will look perfect under
a coat of paint. The decal sheet provides markings for four aircraft,
as well as some general details such as seatbelts. Overall, you could
not ask for a better kit of this famous Fiat fighter.
 Starting
with the interior, this kit has a separate multi-part tub. The sidewalls
are separate, and there is a separate front bulkhead/instrument panel.
A separate section of tubing fits on top of the sidewalls/instrument panel,
completing the structure and making a rather nice subassembly. This is
sandwiched between the fuselage halves, and with the small cockpit opening,
there really is no need for extra detail here. Equally impressive is the
engine, which is actually the better of many aftermarket resin A74 engines.
Separate pushrods, exhaust collector, and multi-part cowling makes this
assembly a real treat to build up. The finished engine then fits into
a positive mounting point on the fuselage, guaranteeing perfect alignment.
 Beyond
these generic assemblies, there are several options, depending on the
decal choices. These include two sets of landing gear (one spatted, one
unspatted) and two different spinner arrangements. With these variations,
one could build just about any CR.42 they wish. The remaining assembly
is quite straightforward, although there might be some issues with attaching
the upper wing. The complex strut arrangement could have some alignment
issues, so be sure to test fit often.
 The
marking schemes are all Italian in this release, with three options all
finished in the same camouflage scheme of green with large brown spots,
over light gray. These include aircraft from the 20 Squadriglia, 46 Gruppo,
15 Stormo d’Assalto and the 387 Squadriglia, 158 Gruppo, 50 Stormo
d’Assalto. All three of these aircraft are from the North African
theater and carry white theater bands around the rear fuselage. The final
option is finished in the ‘smoke ring’ scheme of overall sand
with green rings. The decals are well printed and should have no problems
in application.
Finally, this release has an additional item that really makes this
release well worth getting: a reference booklet. In this booklet is a
short history of the aircraft, along with quite a few detail photos and
drawings. A handful of color profiles illustrate the varied schemes worn
by the CR.42 and will more than whet the appetite for building more.
Conclusion
This is an outstanding release that is very welcome for modelers of
1/48 Italian subjects. My thanks to MRC
for the review sample. |
|
