Macchi MC202 Blitzstrahl

zenrat · October 28, 2015, 04:51:16 PM

Macchi MC202

The start of the German air assault upon the United Kingdom in August 1940 provided the perfect opportunity for manufacturers in the Axis Powers to test under battle conditions against the inferior (according to fatty) RAF those aircraft currently being developed. In a fit of enthusiasm Macchi rushed 6 pre-production examples of the MC-202 (painted by the factory in their interpretation of the then current RLM camouflage scheme) to the Pas De Calais where they were handed to the pilots of JG26.

The only visual difference from later production models was the forward canted radio mast. A field modification carried out in an attempt to improve the radio reception by lengthening the aerial wire. An attempt which didn't work as the problems were with the radios themselves.
The aircraft were extremely popular with the Luftwaffe pilots proving to be superior to all Allied fighters despite the problems with the radio and only being armed with two machine guns ("if two guns were good enough for the Red Baron then two are good enough for me. A good pilot needs nothing more." - Adolph Galland September 1940).

Indeed, when Galland was asked what he needed to win the Battle he famously replied "a squadron of Blitzstrahl".
Early on problems were experienced with the oxygen systems failing but this was resolved by stripping out and replacing all the Italian made valves and regulators with German equipment.

The model – Italeri 1/72 Macchi MC 202 built OOB (apart from the radio aerial). Painted in Mr Color acrylics (RLM 02 over RLM65 with RLM04 theatre markings). Smoke rings are home made decals & markings are from a Tamiya Bf 109 E3 (apparently JG26 Adolph Galland but none of the online references i've found match Tamiyas painting instructions or decals).

Army of One · October 28, 2015, 05:10:45 PM

Oh cool.......i like this.....

JasonW · October 28, 2015, 05:57:34 PM

Really like this one! Great work, like the custom smoke ring decals.

Rick Lowe · October 28, 2015, 08:47:56 PM

Nice job.

Hotte · October 28, 2015, 11:57:13 PM

looks nice

Hotte

The Chaos · October 29, 2015, 12:18:35 AM

Good work

Dizzyfugu · October 29, 2015, 12:41:32 AM

Nice one! Strangely, the RLM02 looks in the final set of pics almost like a sand brown, as if it was a desert camouflage? Or is it the suggestive power of the smoke rings? Way cool, anyway!

dumaniac · October 29, 2015, 01:30:11 AM

Man - those colours are fabulous

zenrat · October 29, 2015, 01:59:36 AM

Thanks folks.
Dizz - I see what you mean. It could be due to the flooring maybe?

comrade harps · October 29, 2015, 03:58:35 AM

Neat!

Dizzyfugu · October 29, 2015, 06:24:13 AM

Quote from: zenrat on October 29, 2015, 01:59:36 AM
Dizz - I see what you mean. It could be due to the flooring maybe?

Certainly. Light and indirect reflections have an immense impact on how a color is represented on a digital photo. Therefore, a white balance check with a photo editing software is highly recommended.

zenrat · October 30, 2015, 03:58:16 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on October 29, 2015, 06:24:13 AM
Quote from: zenrat on October 29, 2015, 01:59:36 AM
Dizz - I see what you mean. It could be due to the flooring maybe?

Certainly. Light and indirect reflections have an immense impact on how a color is represented on a digital photo. Therefore, a white balance check with a photo editing software is highly recommended.

Not using the "Auto Levels" adjustment in the editing software might help as well $:-\$
I deliberately painted the canopy framing tan to represent an original Italian paint scene.