Italeri 1/48 Macchi C.200 Saetta
Italeri's 1/48 Macchi 200 Saetta (serie VII) is a welcome release. Previously, there was the old Artiplast (later SMER) kit in 1/50, and Czech short-run derivatives such as Pacific Coast Models (which is also good, but resin and PE fiddly). This kit, and the more recent Serie II release with full canopy, gives modelers of Regia Aeronautica planes some more mainstream choices. Kit decals were used except for the wing fasces, which were for some reason quite small. Really enjoyed doing this one, with its challenging paint scheme and copper cowl lip.
This is a it I'd like to get, but i was rather put off by the fairly negative reviews. You seem to have done a really nice job with it. I take it you have not used much aftermarket apart from the wing upper decals?
I have 2 Special Hobby 200's and the old Classic Airframes kit as well, all in varying states of incomplete. I'm slowly working my way through them.
They are... problematic and kind of difficult but so far I'm actually getting somewhere with them all - just not very quickly...
I really like the Italian paint schemes and you did a great job on this kit. I don't have any Italian kits in my stash but am so tempted. I would love to do one with the smoke rings. The schemes are just fun. Good job!
Like Walt said, I don't have any Italian planes in my collection even though they have always appealed to me. This one looks great, and that paint job is a knock out. Would you please share more info with us about just how you painted that?
Gary
Thanks for all the nice comments. Once the basic airframe was assembled and seams smoothed, I painted the white area on the aft fuselage. After it was dry, I masked it in the correct dimensions of the stripe. Then I painted the underside with Model Master Italian blue-gray. Once that was dry, did the upper surface in Model master RLM 79 Sandgelb. Then the little spots were applied in a semi-staggered pattern with MM Italian brown and MM dark green (forget the FS number). And that's about it...