Paul,
As I helped Vince in his research, I need to explain you how we're quite sure why 74-2 is a Breda-built Serie VIII.
In the rear cover of above cited
In Action book there is a profile of this aircraft. His MM reads 6306, that’s inexistent. When Osprey’s book on Italian aces was published, a profile by Richard J Caruana depicted it, and the caption stated the MM was probably 7913. I had a contact with Mr Caruana, and he kindly told me that, before drawing the profile, he saw the original photo (or a sharp copy of it) of 74-2, and the MM, although not readable, seemed to be like 8088 or so. Later, he had an info from the Authors Apostolo and Massimello, that one of aircraft flown by Solaroli probably had MM 7913.
Now, a study of the same Giovanni Massimello in an old issue of
Aerofan dealt of Folgore camo. As told by Vince, Serie I (7859-7958) and VI (8081-8130) had snakelike green spots over sand, while Serie VIII (8339-8388) had ramified mottles. So, it is likewise our aircraft belonged to the latter. Which MM? It is still not known. It could have been 8066, 8068, 8086 or 8088, etc. The 23° Gruppo received from Breda brand new MC.202s in May-June 1942, before transferring to North Africa in July. I thought that MM 8088 for 72-4 could be credible, trusting in the sharp eye of Mr Caruana, but other options are valid too, apart 8086 which had been lost during transfer.
However, in late
Ali d’Italia no. 27 (MC.205) is announced that a book dealing every single Macchi fighter produced is to be published. Let’s hope that 74-2 will be identified.
To know more about Solaroli, take a look here:
http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_solaroli.htm
Two more things: first, not all aircraft by Serie I had short mast, as shown by this image (MM 7944, ex-168-?, then 86-8, then 164-1, by Emiliani-Ghergo-Vigna,
Regia Aeronautica – Il Settore Mediterraneo, Intergest, 1976):
Second, a suggestion which can improve the realism of your model: for strange it could seem, Breda-built Folgores were painted solid dark green uppersurfaces,
then a coat of sand yellow was applied, leaving small areas of green, that were actually “negative” spots.
At last, again a couple of images of this aircraft (by Lucchini-Leproni,
Dai Biplani agli Aviogetti, Gino Rossato Editore, 1990):
Best Wishes
Stefano
