1/32 ICM Fiat CR.42

[s00ntir]

As soon as I finished Fiat G.55 I decided to build another Fiat - this time 1/32 ICM Fiat CR.42. This kit is just fantastic. Overall precision and fit of the parts is as good as Tamiya - in my opinion. Two evenings - and cocpit interior is finished and fuselage halves glued together. I have used Eduard PE detail set - although it's really not necessary due to ICM suberb work on details. Camo is still to be decided.

[s00ntir]

And so it goes

[s00ntir]

Instrument panels with imitation of wires, gunsight and compass

[davenport49]

Detail is gorgeous! I really like the seat harness! I only built 1/48th scale, but I find ICM kits are as well done as this one obviously is. I look forward to watching this build.

[s00ntir]

Day three

[s00ntir]

So far it is really easy and pleasure build. All goes together like Lego blocks .

[Editor]

Beautiful job on the engine, it looks great.

[s00ntir]

Life can't be too easy - that's where problem occured. Nothing serious but requiers some amount of careful work.

[s00ntir]

Day four. Overall fit is really good - no putty required. Only engine cover needs some work because it's been obviously designed to be opened. I've decided to sand down all the joints and then recreate panel lines with scribing tool.

[davenport49]

Continues to be exciting to watch.

[s00ntir]

Powerpack ready I've used self adhesive aluminium foil stripes - it's much easier and faster than rescribing lines

[s00ntir]

The same method was used to recreate inspection panel hatch under the fuselage

[s00ntir]

Day five. I've made cocpit coaming and gun sight reflector. But it starts looking like a plane Next stage - priming - hopefully tomorrow.

[s00ntir]

Decision taken - this will be Fiat CR.42 flown by Capt. Eduardo Molinari, CO of 83a Squadriglia 18 Gruppo Autonomo. Decals for this scheme are provided by ICM in this kit - but I've decided to modify it. ICM scheme represents CR.42 in Ursel, Belgium in November 1940. After returning from this not-so-successuf (so to say) Channel expedition this unit was sent to North Africa - I've found the same airplane on picture taken in Tauorga, (Libya), February 1941 - both schemes are described in "Reggia Aeronautica Caccia&Assalto 1940-1941 Part I" book by La Bancarella Aeronautica. Obviously it was modified to fighter - bomber role. At this stage my concern is proper color for underside of the plane. Some sources claim it should be Grigio Mimetico but I've found one article by Maurizio di Terlizzi - due to his opinion lower surfaces shoud be silver. Please advise...

[davenport49]