DONE +++ DB601-powered Macchi C.200A escort fighter (CAI, Belgium, late '40)

Dizzyfugu · October 12, 2015, 01:14:03 AM

To become #9. It was originally planned as a re-engined Fiat G.50 with a DB601 (which actually existed as a prototype!), but now I ended up with a Macchi C.200 (Hobby Boss) that will receive a new nose. Not as sophisticated as Zenrat's pre-production Macchi C.202, just a fictional variant of the older aircraft. In late 1940 an Italian expedition corps took part in attacks on the British Isles (based in Belgium), and that's where my conversion will be placed, maybe as a long range derivative as a bomber escort?

zenrat · October 12, 2015, 02:03:43 AM

Sounds good. The more exotic Italian Sports ~~Cars~~ Fighters the better.
Nothing too sophisticated about my build though. Just a paint job.

Did Ferrari not make aero engines? I know Alfa Romeo did.

PR19_Kit · October 12, 2015, 02:23:51 AM

Quote from: zenrat on October 12, 2015, 02:03:43 AM

Did Ferrari not make aero engines? I know Alfa Romeo did.

Ferrari didn't get into actual manufacture until after WWII, although the Modena factory was built during the war itself. Enzo ran a number of race teams that used mostly Alfa Romeo vehicles and engines until that period so I guess the answer would be no.

Dizzyfugu · October 12, 2015, 02:32:29 AM

I think this is a worthwhile topic for the BoB GB - and totally exotic, IMHO. Who'd expect Italians over the Channel?

hence, I love the C.202 project, a really good idea.
An Italian entry for the GB is still missing from my side, and with the rather blunt nose from a Bf 110 engine I am really curious how the conversion turns out? My whif will certainly not look as elegant as the Fiat G.50V:

I have also already found a (real world) paint scheme in two green tones that might fit.

zenrat · October 13, 2015, 02:32:24 AM

Thanks Kit.

Dizzyfugu · October 15, 2015, 11:36:20 PM

Good news here: the kit basis, a Hobby Boss C.200, has arrived, and as far as I can tell my idea of mating the Matchbox DB601 to it should be feasible. Both sides of the "mating zone" have the same shape and diameter, I will just have to fill an bridge the gap. The result will probably look like a C.202 with a rather blunt nose...

Dizzyfugu · October 20, 2015, 09:52:25 AM

While the Wildcats are either waqiting for beauty pics of decals for final touches, I just start with the C.200 conversion. The funny thing is that I work on something outwardly very similar to Zenrat's early C.202 - but it has a different basis and background. In this case, the aircraft is to become a pre-production series of a C.200 long range derivative, an escort fighter for the bomber raids of the CAI from Belgian airfields againts British forces. Slipper tanks will become a part of the package, and the nose will probably look more blunt.

Since the Hobby Boss kit as basis is very simple (basically, an upper and lower part with all wings already attached...), construction goes quickly. Biggest issue is the integration of the ex Matchbox Bf 110 engine instead of the radial. I found a nice solution through a large diameter styrene tube that goes thorugh the new engine and the fuselage fornt end - it fill a rather big hole in the engine front and will later hold the axis for the propeller. The huge gap between fuselage and engine is filled with 2C putty. The cockpit interior is painted in a pale, bluish green - an odd color!

1:72 Macchi C.200A, aircraft &#x27;83-9&#x27; of the Corpo Aero Italiano (CAI) 83° Squadriglia, 18° Gruppo, 56° Stormo, Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica); Ursel Airfield (Belgium), Autumn 1940 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

nighthunter · October 20, 2015, 10:16:47 AM

Looks cool, Thomas. I can not wait to see how this progresses!

JasonW · October 20, 2015, 10:22:41 AM

What is 2C putty? I googled, I was coming up with auto body putty that was $100 USD a tin!

Spey_Phantom · October 20, 2015, 11:12:33 AM

based at Ursel Airfield? i live 10km from there

maybe a good adversary for the Belgian Spitfire Mk.I im working on

keep up the good work

Dizzyfugu · October 20, 2015, 11:44:47 PM

Quote from: JasonW on October 20, 2015, 10:22:41 AM
What is 2C putty? I googled, I was coming up with auto body putty that was $100 USD a tin!

Two component putty - actually a sticky household repair stuff that comes in a two-colored strand. Knead it, apply it, and it is hard enough for cutting withing 30 minutes and bony dry after 2 hours.

zenrat · October 21, 2015, 12:23:51 AM

I've got something similar in my shed. I save it for those really BIG putty jobs. Part of the hull of the Ta 154 based flying boat is made of it.
Can't remember the name though.

Dizzyfugu · October 21, 2015, 12:59:59 AM

I use stuff from Henkel, Pattex brand - but it's not available everywhere:

The stuff is cheaper than the Tamiya 2C stuff, but not as fine. But for rough constructions it's my weapon of choice.

Dizzyfugu · October 21, 2015, 10:14:20 AM

Finer bodywork with nitrous compound putty under way...

1:72 Macchi C.200A, aircraft '83-9' of the Corpo Aero Italiano (CAI) 83° Squadriglia, 18° Gruppo, 56° Stormo, Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica); Ursel Airfield (Belgium), Autumn 1940 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dizzyfugu · October 22, 2015, 09:25:31 AM

As already mentioned, things move fast (while the Ukrainian decals are still in the pipeline - I feel inclined to improvise, but when I do so I am CERTAIN that the sheet turns up in the letterbox the next day...). Body work has been finished, I also engaved some new panel lines onto the new cowling, and I added two bumps for the machine guns. The exhausts are resin parts - I think they were left over from the Pavla Defiant I built/converted some months ago, and they fit perfectly. I also implanted a new canopy that covers the cockpit completely, and the machine receives a pair of fixed extra tanks under the wings (from an old KP Yak-23, actually wingtip tanks).
Concerning the kit itself: typically Hobby Boss. Goes together well, fine surface details, but it lacks some basic details like pitots, some landing gear covers, the venturi tube on the right flank. But otherwise...

1:72 Macchi C.200A, aircraft '83-9' of the Corpo Aero Italiano (CAI) 83° Squadriglia, 18° Gruppo, 56° Stormo, Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica); Ursel Airfield (Belgium), Autumn 1940 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Painting has also started: since the CAI C.200 and G.50 were prone to chipping paint in the more humid northern climate (and due to the practice to cover the cockpits with tarpaulins under which the humidity found a nice place to gather and linger), I added a coat of aluminum acrylic paint as a kind of primer around the cockpit and the leading edges. The camouflage will only be painted lightly in these sections, and maybe even treated with sand paper.

1:72 Macchi C.200A, aircraft '83-9' of the Corpo Aero Italiano (CAI) 83° Squadriglia, 18° Gruppo, 56° Stormo, Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica); Ursel Airfield (Belgium), Autumn 1940 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr