Macchi MC.200 "Saetta"

Sweet 1/144

The kit is a real jewel, this is the verdict. Now that you know, let’s see why.

The box contain parts to complete two different kits, including weapons, and a set of excellent decals to reproduce at least 6 airplanes. Assembling instructions are printed on the box’s inner side, while the outside is your painting and decalling reference including colour chips, so don’t throw it away!

There are only two real shortcomings with this kit: first, the cockpit is closed and a solid styrene canopy is provided, so you will have to represent the glass somehow with paint. Second, the wheel wells are closed, this can be good if you wish to represent the model in flight but is quite wrong if you stand the model on its landing gear.

An experienced modeler with a good airbrush will achieve better results. I did my best.

There are very few parts (you could really assemble them in ten minutes) with thin engraved panel lines and a nice overall detail. The fuselage is one piece as well as the wings, this means you have less joints to hide. The join of all parts is perfect and neither filling nor sanding is required, just peel the few seam lines away and you’re done. You may want to thin the wheel well inner doors just to add some realism; other modifications are unnecessary according to me.

I intended to make two new machine guns from steel wire, so left the kit's pieces apart and... I'm still considering the matter, the kit is finished and the guns are missing! Sooner or later I'll put them on.

I primed the models with acrylic white, then pre-shadowed with dark grey, then came the real paint job: the real challenge is painting the mottling, but if you don’t feel confident with your airbrush then choose the overall green version. I like challenges and not only sprayed the mottling, but painted operation theatre markings also! Well, it was pure fun.

Once painted and decaled the models received a coat of future to help the acrylic matt finish stand the dark oil wash. The wash follows the panel lines easily and in conjunction with pre-shading gives the model a nice "real" look. A coat of Aeromaster semi-gloss clear is the final touch.

It took me 15 hours to complete two models, working in parallel.

A very special model, and a good chance to relax making an out-of-the-box model.