Macchi C.202 Folgore
Limited Edition

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/48 scale Harreir GR.7/9 is available online from Squadron.com

The Macchi C.202 Folgore (Italian "thunderbolt") was a World War II fighter aircraft built by Macchi Aeronautica and operated mainly by the Regia Aeronautica (RA; Royal (Italian) Air Force). Macchi aircraft designed by Mario Castoldi received the "C" letter in their model designation, hence the Folgore is referred to as the C.202 or MC.202. The C.202 was a development of the earlier C.200 Saetta, with an Italian-built version of the Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa engine and a redesigned, more streamlined fuselage. Considered to be one of the best wartime fighters to serve in large numbers with the Regia Aeronautica, the Folgore operated on all fronts in which Italy was involved.

The Folgore went into service with the Regia Aeronautica in July 1941 and immediately proved to be an effective and deadly dogfighter. The Australian ace Clive Caldwell, who fought a wide variety of German, Italian and Japanese fighters during 1941–45, later stated that the C.202 was "one of the best and most undervalued of fighters". The C.202 also had its defects: like its predecessor, the Macchi C.200, it could enter a dangerous spin. It was insufficiently armed, with just two machine guns that easily jammed. The radios were unreliable, forcing the pilots to communicate by waggling wings. The oxygen system was inefficient, causing up to 50/60 per cent of the pilots to break off missions, sometimes even causing fatal accidents.*

Hasegawa's Macchis in 1/48 scale

Hasegawa released their 1/48 scale Macchi C.202 and C.205 kits in the mid 1990s. Although they have been re-released occassionaly since, neither kit has been available since at least 2006.

The kit was well received upon release and is fairly typical of Hasegawa's kits of that era. Surface textures were up to Hasegawa's excellent standards with crisp but fine recessed panel lines, but detail was pretty sparse.

In recent years, Eduard has been supplementing their own original kits with limited edition packaging of other companies’ products plus BRASSIN resin, Eduard photo-etch, masks and colourful new decals.

The latest of these is Eduard's Folgore package based on Hasegawa's kit. This is a marriage made in heaven with Hasegawa's crisp surface detail now supplemented by Eduard's gorgeous resin and photo-etch.

Hasegawa's plastic sprues are light grey. There are just 76 grey plastic parts, and of these 16 are marked not for use.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Surface detail of the shiny Hasegawa plastic is crisp and finely recessed with some fasteners, scoops and other structural features as appropriate.

The six BRASSIN resin parts include the main wheels, two choices of tail wheel, two styles of supercharger intake (filtered and plain) plus what is I think an optional DF loop for the lower fuselage.

Most of the coloured photo-etched parts are destined for the cockpit, including instrument panel, harness straps and other small details. These provide a big boost in detail.

The brass fret adds yet more detail for the intake mesh, the undercarriage legs, bays, exterior and interior.

In summary, the Eduard resin and photo-etch provide a much needed boost, especially to the sparse cockpit and undercarriage, bringing the kit up to 21st century standards.

The canopy is provided in two parts and they may be posed open or closed. Photo-etched parts are supplied for the mirror and canopy's sliding handles too.

Self-adhesive die-cut masks are provided for the canopies and the wheels.

Markings

Markings are provided for six varied machines with colourful camouflage and markings. If you don't feel confident painting mottles and smoke rings and fried eggs freehand, there is one simpler scheme of green over grey.

One large decal sheet is included, which also contains stencil markings.

The decals have been perfectly printed by Cartograf.

Hasegawa's kits are still the best Macchi C.202 and C.205 kits available in 1/48 scale, following the earlier Tauro releases.

Eduard's Limited Edition package adds meaningful resin and photo-etched parts to Hasegawa's sprues to deliver a best-of-both-worlds result.

If you want a Folgore with crisp, petite surface features AND a high level of detail, Eduard now gives you a solution in one box.

I do hope that Eduard continues the theme with Hasegawa's Macchi C.205 as well!

Highly Recommended.

* Historical summary courtesy of Wikipedia

Thanks to Eduard for the sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2016 by Brett Green
Page Created 30 November, 2016
Last updated 1 December, 2016

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page