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Hello gents, I've long had an interest in the activities of the Corpo Aereo Italiano during the Battle of Britain, so I was very pleased when I heard that ICM were adding to their range of 1/32 scale kits with a Fiat CR.42 Falco and doubly pleased when I got one and found that one of the markings options is for 83-1 of the 83a Squadriglia, 18o Gruppo of 56o Stormo CT based at Ursel in Belgium in autumn 1940. Although it is not noted in the instructions, 83-1 was the aircraft flown by the CO of 83a Squadriglia, Capitano Edoardo Molinari. Molinari was already an experienced pilot at this point, having served in the Spanish Civil War and the Regia Aeronautica's campaign against France. He had been commander of the 83a Squadriglia for over a year when they transferred to Belgium as part of the Corpo Aereo Italiano and would survive the war as a Maggiore in the Regia Aeronautica. Here's the kit: ... and here's what you get: The little decal sheet is a correction for the serial number of Molinari's CR.42, as only one was provided on the main decal sheet and three of the other option, instead of two of each. I got this to go with the kit: A masking set from HGW for both the inside and outside of the windscreen. It's lovely, and a little cheaper than the Eduard set (which does not include masks for the inside of the windscreen) but I have to say that the amount of packaging used for a piece of tape a couple of inches square is just wasteful. I also got these: ... with the intention of populating the cockpit with the Italian pilot, in the middle here: Finally, I got my paints sorted, of course: Giallo Mimetico 3, Verde Mimetico 3, Marron Mimetico 2 and Grigio Mimetico for the underside, though I may go with Aluminium if the mood takes me or I get some positive evidence that all of the CAI CR.42's had Aluminium undersides. For the interior, judging from the photo's of preserved Falco's (and there aren't many) it was grey primer inside but it does appear to have been a different type for the wood/fabric areas and the metal parts. I'll be using these: Right I think that's enough to be going on with... Cheers, Stew

SEM Model is to release a 1/48th Fiat CR.42DB Falco resin conversion set for the Italeri CR.42 kit (link). Source: https://www.facebook.com/717692698282140/photos/a.717703521614391/2394742273910499/ V.P.

The Corpo Aereo Italiano - the Regia Aeronautica's expeditionary force sent to assist the German Luftwaffe in bringing Great Britain to terms - probably owed its origins to two factors, the first being RAF air raids on Italian cities in June and September 1940 which stung Mussolini's sensitive pride and the second being the potential for Italy to make gains in the Mediterranean and North Africa at the expense of the British Empire once Britain had been forced to a negotiated surrender. Sadly for Mussolini and fortunately for the British, it didn't quite pan out that way. The CAI was beset with problems from the outset which limited its impact on the battle and resulted in it losing a number of aircraft and crews to accidents as well as to enemy action. Not least of its difficulties was that the aircraft and equipment provided was not up to the standard of that of the Luftwaffe and the RAF; also in terms of tactics and combat training the CAI pilots were 'newbies' entering a game being played between two opponents who had several months of combat experience. Despite this the Italian pilots and crews put in a creditable effort, fighting bravely and attempting to carry out their objectives, but ultimately they achieved little and were withdrawn to Italy starting in December 1940. The Fiat CR.42 equipped the 83., 85. and 95. Squadriglia of the 18. Gruppo Caccia (Fighter Group) commanded by Maggiore Feruccio Vosilla and based at Ursel in Belgium. This is the kit I will be building: It's the Italeri kit dating back to 2006, this edition includes a well-illustrated reference booklet: ... with lots of colour pictures of the CR.42 built by Fiat in 2005 and now on display in a museum near Rome: It should be a useful reference. The sprue shot: It looks a nicely designed and moulded model. I'll be using this in addition - the instrument panels and the seatbelts at least: For additional reference I have this: ... and the aircraft I intend to represent is the second one down in the profile from this book: ...because I like the yellow band around the cockpit basically - my understanding is that the CAI Fiats were in fact painted in the more usual three-tone upper camouflage with aluminium-painted undersides so I will be painting mine thusly rather than the yellow-green scheme shown here. Fortunately for me, that is one of the options provided in the DP Casper 'Forgotten Battles' transfer set 'Operation Cinzano': Finally, these are some of the colours I will be using - these are from the new Colourcoats range for the Regia Aeronautica and chosen as advised by the Stormo! Colour Guides here: They are (top row): Giallo Mimetico 1, Giallo Mimetico 4 (I'll be mixing a little of the second into the first, as it looks a little pale to me) and Verde Mimetico 3 (bottom row) Grigio Mimetico, Grigio Azzuro Scuro (I think the former for the interior colour but possibly the latter, more research required...) and finally Marron Mimetico 2. For the Alluminio underside I will use Alclad Semi-Matt Aluminium. Right, I think that's everything covered, well done if you managed to stick with me through that lot Cheers, Stew

Italian Kits Wings ( http://www.italiankits.it/itkitswings72.html) is to release 1/72nd Fiat CR.42B two-seats Falco (post-WW.II) resin conversion set for the Italeri kit - ref.IKW7218 Source: http://www.master194.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=88535 V.P.