ANGELO LODETTI

Aircraft Scale Models

No parts of this work may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means - graphically,electronically or mechanically,including photocopying or information storage and retrieval system,without written permission from the copyright holder.

Macchi MC 205 Veltro - Italian Co-belligerent Air Force- Brindisi,Italy, October /20/ 1943

1. History

The Macchi M.C. 205 Veltro is often considered the best Italian fighter of World War II. It kept the excellent aviation design of its predecessor, the M.C. 202 “Folgore”, and adopted the German engine Daimler-Benz DB 605. Thanks to the powerful V 12 cylinders engine, produced under license by the Italian manufacturer Fiat, the “Veltro” was able to reach the max speed of 640 Km/h. Fast, manoeuvrable and well armed with the adoption of two 20 mm guns fitted in the wings and two 12,7 mm machine guns located in the nose, the M.C. 205 was able to provide the same fighting performances of the best Allied fighter such as the American P-51 Mustang.

Operational history

The Veltro reach the front line on the first months of 1943 when it has been adopted by Regia Aeronautica fighter squadrons. After the armistice between Italy and the Allied forces, it continued to equip the Aeronautica Nazionale Rebubblicana and the Italian Co-Belligereant Air Forces.

2. The Kit

This kit is based on the ex HASEGAWA now ITALERI 1/48 WITH SUPER DECALS SHEET FOR 6 VERSIONS, Hasegawa made one of the best kits of its time as far as fit and finish with their MC.202 & MC.205 line of aircraft. It captures all the complex shapes accurately and the fit and finish are excellent. One of the weak points of this kit is the interior of the cockpit, and the interior of The wheel wells , also the surface is without rivets, so I have provided accessories to fill this void, with 1/48 scale drawings to rivet all parts, the clear parts to be very crisply detailed.

The Cartograf decals were excellent, , I used the parts to create the model preserved and restored on display at the Museum of Vigna di Valle in Italy, employed by the Italian Co-Belligereant Air Forces.

I have used the following accessories:

Eduard MC.202 undercarriage bay 1/48 Cat.No.: 648278
Yahu Models A4810 Macchi 205 (Hasegawa)
SBS Model 48012 Macchi C 205 Veltro cockpit set
Montex SM48009 Macchi C202 Hasegawa
Quickboost 48951 Macchi MC.205 correct exhaust HASEGAWA/ITALERI

3. Cockpit and Seat

The cockpit has been replaced with the resin one from SBS Model 48012 Macchi C 205 (excellent in fitting and detail); The instrument panel has been replaced with the very realistic panel from Yahu Models A4810 Macchi 205. In order to increase the level of detail, various cables and tie rods in sprue and copper wire have been added. added.

3. Cockpit and Seat

The cockpit has been replaced with the resin one from SBS Model 48012 Macchi C 205 (excellent in fitting and detail); The instrument panel has been replaced with the very realistic panel from Yahu Models A4810 Macchi 205. In order to increase the level of detail, various cables and tie rods in sprue and copper wire have been added.

4. Fuselage

The fuselage complete with negative panels is dimensionally scaled, but requires some minor adjustments. I just went over the panels with the addition of other rivets

5. Wing and Tailplane

The wings look good. Here too I have added over the panels of other rivets.

6. Canopy

After assembling the model I installed the canopy. This was masked with paper, then painted. This painting included the frame of the internal. When the canopy is finished it can be positioned and secured with cement.

7. Painting

This is the sequence of the surfaces that I painted.

1. Clean the whole with alcohol

2. Paint with a Yellow Green Tamiya color acrylic XF-4

3. All the lower surface with a mix 80% Mr. Hobby H306 + 20% Mr. Hobby H67

4. All the panel lines with flat black and some panel more clear with flat white

5. The upper surface with a mix 80% Mr. Hobby H310 + 20% Mr. Hobby H85

6. The rings with color Mr. Hobby Dark Green H330

7. Final semi-gloss with Johnson's Pledge Revive it - floor glass

Mr. Hobby H50 Interior green ( Interior )

8.Landing Gears and Wheels

The undercarriage looks good, but a deep modification was made by inserting of Eduard MC.202 undercarriage bay 1/48 Cat.No.: 648278
I replaced the wheels with the Aires 4493 Macchi MC 202/205 wheel & paint masks

9. Weathering

The wear of the model can certainly not be carried out randomly, especially in the case of the Macchi MC 202 , which must respond to a precise logic. Let's see how: first of all we need to highlight the paneling lines. There are different techniques for this purpose: Personally, I use dry brush strokes with aluminum-colored powders in various shades and acrylic and oil colors for soft effects.

To complete the work it is necessary to pass a coat of semi-gloss with Johnson's Pledge Revive it - floor glass transparent on the whole model.