Just received my Re.2000 kit from Erik
@airbum
The Re.2000 kit was released in 2020, loosely based on the old Classic airframes kit. Basically, the designers decided to keep the wings, but everything else got a new tool design. In this updated Special Hobby kit no photoetched or resin parts are included.
However, it seems there was a problem with the wing tools, and they had to design a completely new wing. I received one of those updated kits - let´s see what is in the box.
The Falco was an Italian, all-metal monoplane fighter, designed shortly before the outbreak of WW2. It was a capable fighter back then, but the quick development of technology made it obsolete within a very short time. The main users were the Swedish and Hungarian air forces, with a few examples used by the Italians.
This box gives you the option to build one of those exported planes, either with Swedish or Hungarian markings. The Swedish and Hungarian planes were slightly different, the main visible clue was an additional frame on the canopy behind the pilot. The batches were mixed as well, and that´s why a few Hungarian planes were actually from the Swedish batch, with all of the small differences.
Let´s go through the main parts.
The new wing
-the Re.2000 had a lot of small access panels on the bottom side of the wings. These were wrongly shaped and located on the original CA wing, on the updated one the size and shapes are good, but they look aweful. For some reason SH decided to make them protrude from the surface. Ailerons are better than the CA version. Outline matches scale drawings perfectly
-No rivets at all - the Falco had mixed counter flush and domed rivets all over the wing and fuselage
-a few small items need to be scratch built, lights, pitot tube, etc
Fuselage and stabilizers
-Good surface detail, but no rivets at all. The fuselage was full of domed rivets
-Fits scale drawings, a few small access panels are missing
-missing signaling rocket tube need to be scratch built
-the vertical stabilizer had a 2 degrees pitch to the right - it is correctly shown
Landing gear
-looks a bit simple, but a good starting point. Needs braking wires, and checking details around the wheel hub
Cockpit
-All essentials are in, except seat belts.
-Only one version of the seat provided
-instrument panel is a bit simple
-additional details can easily be added, for example lot of cables on the side walls, ans also on the control stick
-no radio provided behind the pilot - check your references, not all planes had one
Engines and propeller
-Good base, needs cables
-Propeller diameter ok, the shape is maybe a bit narrow
Canopy
-Original pursuit version, not the Swedish export. Both Hungarian planes were from the Swedish batch, but the kit only provides the original canopy. The missing frame need to be added to the canopy
Markings
-Very minimal stencils provided– Hungarian planes were delivered with Italian ones, at least V4+21
-Large Hungarian markings – better to mask and paint them
-V4+21, well-documented machine, flown by the son of regent. Originally the tactical bn umbers were all black, but later on the front the last two digits were repainted. The camouflage pattern is close to reality, but not exactly as the original was. Propeller front was bare metal / light gray with probably green patches, only the back was black. Dongo squadron insignia had a sand yellow background, not blue. The green band of the tricolor had different width on the rudder and vertical stabilizer - this was made after a field repair. Many photos and profiles are published in the volume 2 of Hungarian Fighter Colours.
-V4+52 Not too many photos are known, one photo and color profile are in the volume 2 of Hungarian Figther Colours. The plane seems to be green/blue.
My plan is to build the V4+21, since it has the best reference material. It was flown by the deputy regent (without digging into the history too much, Hungary was basically a kingdom without a king after WW1). The plane was almost brand new, still wearing its original Italian camouflage. Most probably it was a blue bottom, 3-colored top version, with green and brown patches on a sand base. More about the colors later...
Istvan Horthy flew 25 missions on the eastern front, with one kill. On his very last mission before his return to the country and politics, he crashed shortly after takeoff. The most probable cause was an accidentally induced spin at low altitude. He did the correct steps to recover the plane but had no chance to get back into a normal flying position because of the low altitude.
I plan to make the model with full riveting. For dome-headed rivets I might try one of those riveting decals, the other type will be handed by my trusty old riveting wheel. I need to source a seat belt, do something about the instrument panel, and add a few small details, but that´s all.
I am considering MRP paints, it seems they make proper Italian colors, and everyone is very satisfied with the quality of those paints.
I could not resist and made a dry fit run - also wanted to compare its size and shape to a distant relative, the P-47 Thunderbolt (both planes share the same roots, the Seversky P-35). Well, the P-47 was a huuuuge plane, the 1:72 version is almost as big as the 1:48 Falco.
That´s all for today, I will add more details here before the build, as usual.
5 additional images. Click to enlarge.
