1/72 Macchi C.200, Hobby Boss 80291
I learned a few things building this Macchi C.200 from Hobby Boss (#80291). First thing as the name, Saetta translates to Lightning. Another was the initial C. stood for Castoldi to emphasize recognition of the Macchi company chief engineer, Mario Castoldi. Finally, I did not realize The M.C.200 was included in the Regia Aeronautica contribution to the Eastern Front during WWII. The contribution included sending several aircraft squadrons as the 'Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia'.
The kit was pretty much as advertised, an easy assembly with the addition the antenna and the bottom scoop on the engine cowling and inner gear doors and pitot tubes.
I decide to go with finishing the aircraft with he supplied markings of the 22° Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestri, 362ª Squadriglia. Following priming and recessed panel line highlight spray, the undersides were sprayed with Tamiya XF19 and the topsides painted with Mr. Hobby RLM82. I tried to spray the yellow camo with Mr.Hobby H34 Cream Yellow but if I continued, I was looking at multiple sprays and weird looking spots. I decided to ‘dab' the Cream Yellow with a #3 Round brush, following placement indicated on the kit photos. Finally, RLM 04 was sprayed with Tamiya XF-3 Yellow and triangles were Vallejo Premium White Primer.
The decals worked amazingly well, with some minor stenciling added from spare decals.
I actually found a photo of the 22° Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestri, 362ª Squadriglia in the Soviet Union with aircraft sitting alongside Bf-109s and that's when I realized my white tail cross was not placed correctly (dang).
Thanks for viewing.
Excellent work. Replicating that camo scheme in 1/48 is tough...
Thanks Dan (@dbdlee).
Almost had to go to the kits 88-10 scheme from the 88th sqnd and use decals for the spotting.
Great paintwork, George. Looks like a fun little kit.
Thanks John (@j-healy)
Simpler kit that got me tot he paint stage quickly.
Well done, George, and I'll add another kudos to the paint job.
Thanks Gary (@gwskat)
This one turned out excellent, George! You did a great job painting the camouflage.
Thanks Jay (@ssgt)
Excellent result out of the HB kit, George! Great camo rendition!
Thanks you Spiros (@fiveten)
Splendido. Your Macchi is a beautiful little gem. These compact little Italian fighters take a lot of work to get right and you've succeeded in bringing this one to life. Thank you for the great photos too.
I think the expression is Molto Grazie, Thomas (@strongeagle)
This is a superb looking Saetta, George @georgeswork
The applied camouflage scheme is beautifully done, especially considering the 1/72 scale.
Thanks John (@johnb)
This post made possible by my previous cataract surgery and my prescription hobby bifocal glasses.
That's very nice, particularly that you pulled it off as well as you did in 1/72.
Thanks Tom (@tcinla),
Beautiful George @georgeswork - that Camo looks really great - very very nice.
I think the expression is Molto Grazie, Anthony Ricco (@anthonyricco)
Wow, George (@georgeswork), what a great looking model, especially for a 1/72 model. The "dab" method for adding the camo worked amazingly well. I have always stayed away from Italian models because of the complex camo, but I may have to give your technique a try. Well done.
Thanks George (@gblair).
After experimenting a little, I thinned the paint down before dabbing on thin coats and applied 3 coats of dabbing on some spots.
The only thing that bugged me was the dabbed paint filled in the recessed panel lines, and when it came time to using Tamiya Panel Line Accent the accenting changed when it got the the dabbed spots.
Excellent build, great job on painting this scheme George. She's a beauty!
Thanks Bob (@v1pro)
Wow is the word that came to mind. The camouflage is really exceptional and all the more so because it is 1/72 scale.
Thank you Russell (@russjurco)
Excellent little Saetta, fantastic paintwork.
Thanks Chas (@chasbunch)
Very very nice!
Thank you Capt (@lis)
Nicely done George.
Thank you Allan (@kalamazoo).