Macchi MC.202 Folgore
A Technical Guide

by Maurizio Di Terlizzi

Valiant Wings Publishing
Airframe Detail No.3

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

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My introduction to Valiant Wings' Airframe Detail series was Richard A. Franks' excellent volume on the Dornier Do 17 Z, which I bought last year as a reference for Airfix's new mould 1/72 kit.  Browsing through the book I was struck by the wealth of technical information, in particular, and realised it was probably the only guide I needed for my build.

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I’m similarly impressed by volume three in the series, on Macchi's elegant MC.202 Folgore.  Author Maurizio Di Terlizzi has packed his 82 A4 pages with material that is aimed squarely at modellers.  The book has been divided into the following sections.

Introduction – Brief History. 

This title is a bit of a misnomer because while it might be an introduction it’s certainly not brief, and deals at length with:

• Airframe development from the first prototype flights in 1940 through to the first production machines in 1941, along with subsequent changes and improvements;

• Operational deployment with the Regia Aeronautica in North Africa, Malta, Russia, Tunisia, and Italy, and subsequent use by the post-armistice Co-Belligerent Air Force and post-war Italian Air Force; and

• Specific differences between each of the various MC.202 subtypes:

•  Serie I to III (early)
• Serie I to III, IV and V (early)
• Serie V, IV-X and XI (early)
• Serie XI and XII-XV, MC.202EC, and
• MC.202D.

• This section also contains useful tables on production statistics and airframe specifications.

Section 1 - Technical Description. 

The core of the book at 33 pages in length, this section uses both photos and drawings to take a detailed look at the MC.202 airframe.  The photos are a combination of black and white period images, and modern, full colour shots of preserved examples.  The accompanying captions are clear and brief.  The author breaks the airframe down as follows:

• Fuselage
• Undercarriage
• Tail
• Controls and control surfaces
• Wings
• Engine, Propeller, Exhausts and Cowling
• Systems (fuel, oil, coolant, oxygen, hydraulic, pneumatic
• Weapons
• Electrical equipment.

Section 2 - Camouflage and Markings. 

As this section clearly shows, MC.202s were finished in a wide variety of camouflage schemes – many of them attractive but complex variations of olive green on sand over grey.  The evolution of Folgore camouflage and markings through the type’s career is covered in detail, ahead of 26 colour profiles by Richard J. Caruana that should provide plenty of modelling inspiration.

The book concludes with five appendices, which are lists of the following MC.202-related modelling products:

• kits;
• accessories;
• paint masks;
• decals; and
• bibliography.

In common with all of the Valiant Wings publications I’ve seen, overall production quality is good.  The text is well written, and the photos and illustrations well chosen.  Paper quality is high, and the binding also seems to have been well done – something that’s not always the case, but absolutely essential when you’re constantly flicking through a book for reference purposes.

This book will be a very useful guide for anyone contemplating a Folgore kit build.  It’s not the only MC.202 reference book out there – for example, in 2014 I reviewed MMP’s Orange Series title on the Folgore – but its focus on walk around and other technical information will make it a valuable addition to your library.  So will its A4 format, which I find very user friendly and easier to thumb through, and keep open, on your workbench

Thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2016 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 19 September, 2016
Last updated 19 September, 2016

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