In Box Review of Classic Airframes 1/48th Scale
Fiat CR 42 “The Italian Falcon”
Kit no. 95-402 2995
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $22.50 to $36.90 (depending on where you shop)
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $22.50 to $36.90 (depending on where you shop)
HISTORY:
The Fiat CR.42 Falco ("Falcon", plural:Falchi) was a single-seat sesquiplane fighter that served primarily in Italy's Regia Aeronautica before and during World War II. The aircraft was produced by Fiat Aviazione, and entered service, in smaller numbers, with the air forces of Belgium, Sweden and Hungary. With more than 1,800 built, it was the most widely produced Italian aircraft to take part in World War II.[4]
The Fiat CR.42 was the last of the Fiat biplane fighters to enter front line service, and represented the epitome of the type, along with the Gloster Gladiator
RAF Intelligence praised its exceptional maneuverability, further noting that "the plane was immensely strong",[5] though it stood little chance against faster, more heavily armed monoplanes. It performed at its best with the Hungarian Air Force on the Eastern Front, where it had a kill to loss ratio of 12 to 1.
The CR.42 was an evolutionary design based on the earlier Fiat CR.32, which was in turn derived from the Fiat CR.30 series created in 1932.
The Regia Aeronautica had employed the CR.32 during the Spanish Civil War with great success, which led to Fiat proposing a more advanced fighter based around the supercharged Fiat A.74R1C.38 air-cooled radial engine geared to drive a metal three-blade Fiat-Hamilton Standard 3D.41-1 propeller of 2.9 metres (9 ft 6 in) diameter and a robust, clean, sesquiplane design.
The rigidly braced wings covered with fabric were constructed from light duralumin alloy and steel. It reached a top speed of 438 km/h (272 mph) at 5,300 m (17,400 ft) and 342 km/h (213 mph) at ground level. Climb rate was 1 minute and 25 seconds to 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and of 7 minutes and 20 seconds to 6,000 m (19,700 ft).
In spite of the biplane configuration, the CR.42 was a modern, "sleek-looking" design based around a strong steel and alloy frame incorporating a NACA cowling housing the radial engine, with fairings for the fixed main landing gear.
The CR.42's upper wing was larger than its lower wing, a configuration known as a sesquiplane.The aircraft proved exceptionally agile thanks to its very low wing loading, although at the same time, the CR.42 lacked armour and radio equipment.
During evaluation, the CR.42 was tested against the Caproni Ca.165 biplane fighter, and was judged to be superior, although the Ca.165 was a more modern design which boasted a higher speed at the cost of maneuverability. Although the age of the biplane was coming to an end a number of other air forces expressed interest in the new fighter, and a number of early Falcos were delivered to foreign customers.
Soon after its combat introduction, Fiat developed a number of variants.
The CR.42bis and CR.42ter had increased firepower, the CR.42N was a night fighter, The CR.42ASwas optimised for ground attack, and the CR.42B Biposto was a two-seat trainer.
The Biposto was the most extensively modified, with a longer fuselage allowing a second seat to be placed in tandem. About 40 aircraft were produced by Agusta and Caproni Trento. Its length was increased by 68 centimeters over the standard fighter, to a total of to 8.94 m; the height was 23 centimeters less. Empty weight was only 40 kilograms (88 lb) more, as the wheel fairings had been removed.
Overall weight was 2,300 kg. Top speed was 430 km/h at 5,300 meters, only 8 km/h less. Up to 1945, two machine guns were fitted.[9]
Experimental configurations included the I.CR.42 (Idrovolante= seaplane) and the CR.42DB. Beginning in 1938, Fiat had worked on the I.CR.42, then gave the task to complete the project to CMASA factory in Marina di Pisa on the Tirreno sea coast.
The only prototype was built in 1940. Tests started at the beginning of 1941, at the Vigna di Valle base, on Lake Bracciano, north of Rome. Top speed was 423 km/h, range was 950 km while ceiling was reduced to 9,000 m. Empty weight went from 1,720 to 1,850 kilograms (3,790 to 4,080 lb), full weight from 2,295 to 2,425 kilograms (5,060 to 5,346 lb).
The CR.42DB was an attempt to improve the type's performance by installing a Daimler-Benz DB 601 V12 engine of 753 kW (1,010 hp). This prototype, MM 469), was flown by test pilot Valentino Cus in March 1941, over Guidonia Montecelio, near Rome. This variant could reach a top speed of 518 km/h (323 mph), with a maximum ceiling of 10,600 metres (34,777 ft) and a range of 1,250 kilometres (780 mi). The project was cancelled as the biplane configuration did not offer any advantages over contemporary monoplane fighter designs. Although it never went into production, to this day the variant has the distinction of being the fastest biplane ever flown.
It is still not certain how many CR.42s were built. The most likely estimate is 1,819 in total, including the 63 (51 according to some sources) produced under Luftwaffe control and the 140 produced for export.
CR.42 Falco
Role
Fighter
National origin
Italy
Manufacturer
Fiat Aviazione
Designer
Celestino Rosatelli
First flight
23 May 1938
Introduction
1939
Retired
1948 Spanish Air Force[1]
Primary users
Regia Aeronautica
Spanish Air Force
Produced
c. February 1939 - Late 1943
Number built
1,817-1,819[2][3]
Developed from
Fiat CR.32
Classic Airframes was based in Chicago, IL. I believe they went out of business. Their kits were all made in the Czech Republic.
The Fiat CR.42 Falco ("Falcon", plural:Falchi) was a single-seat sesquiplane fighter that served primarily in Italy's Regia Aeronautica before and during World War II. The aircraft was produced by Fiat Aviazione, and entered service, in smaller numbers, with the air forces of Belgium, Sweden and Hungary. With more than 1,800 built, it was the most widely produced Italian aircraft to take part in World War II.[4]
The Fiat CR.42 was the last of the Fiat biplane fighters to enter front line service, and represented the epitome of the type, along with the Gloster Gladiator
RAF Intelligence praised its exceptional maneuverability, further noting that "the plane was immensely strong",[5] though it stood little chance against faster, more heavily armed monoplanes. It performed at its best with the Hungarian Air Force on the Eastern Front, where it had a kill to loss ratio of 12 to 1.
The CR.42 was an evolutionary design based on the earlier Fiat CR.32, which was in turn derived from the Fiat CR.30 series created in 1932.
The Regia Aeronautica had employed the CR.32 during the Spanish Civil War with great success, which led to Fiat proposing a more advanced fighter based around the supercharged Fiat A.74R1C.38 air-cooled radial engine geared to drive a metal three-blade Fiat-Hamilton Standard 3D.41-1 propeller of 2.9 metres (9 ft 6 in) diameter and a robust, clean, sesquiplane design.
The rigidly braced wings covered with fabric were constructed from light duralumin alloy and steel. It reached a top speed of 438 km/h (272 mph) at 5,300 m (17,400 ft) and 342 km/h (213 mph) at ground level. Climb rate was 1 minute and 25 seconds to 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and of 7 minutes and 20 seconds to 6,000 m (19,700 ft).
In spite of the biplane configuration, the CR.42 was a modern, "sleek-looking" design based around a strong steel and alloy frame incorporating a NACA cowling housing the radial engine, with fairings for the fixed main landing gear.
The CR.42's upper wing was larger than its lower wing, a configuration known as a sesquiplane.The aircraft proved exceptionally agile thanks to its very low wing loading, although at the same time, the CR.42 lacked armour and radio equipment.
During evaluation, the CR.42 was tested against the Caproni Ca.165 biplane fighter, and was judged to be superior, although the Ca.165 was a more modern design which boasted a higher speed at the cost of maneuverability. Although the age of the biplane was coming to an end a number of other air forces expressed interest in the new fighter, and a number of early Falcos were delivered to foreign customers.
Soon after its combat introduction, Fiat developed a number of variants.
The CR.42bis and CR.42ter had increased firepower, the CR.42N was a night fighter, The CR.42ASwas optimised for ground attack, and the CR.42B Biposto was a two-seat trainer.
The Biposto was the most extensively modified, with a longer fuselage allowing a second seat to be placed in tandem. About 40 aircraft were produced by Agusta and Caproni Trento. Its length was increased by 68 centimeters over the standard fighter, to a total of to 8.94 m; the height was 23 centimeters less. Empty weight was only 40 kilograms (88 lb) more, as the wheel fairings had been removed.
Overall weight was 2,300 kg. Top speed was 430 km/h at 5,300 meters, only 8 km/h less. Up to 1945, two machine guns were fitted.[9]
Experimental configurations included the I.CR.42 (Idrovolante= seaplane) and the CR.42DB. Beginning in 1938, Fiat had worked on the I.CR.42, then gave the task to complete the project to CMASA factory in Marina di Pisa on the Tirreno sea coast.
The only prototype was built in 1940. Tests started at the beginning of 1941, at the Vigna di Valle base, on Lake Bracciano, north of Rome. Top speed was 423 km/h, range was 950 km while ceiling was reduced to 9,000 m. Empty weight went from 1,720 to 1,850 kilograms (3,790 to 4,080 lb), full weight from 2,295 to 2,425 kilograms (5,060 to 5,346 lb).
The CR.42DB was an attempt to improve the type's performance by installing a Daimler-Benz DB 601 V12 engine of 753 kW (1,010 hp). This prototype, MM 469), was flown by test pilot Valentino Cus in March 1941, over Guidonia Montecelio, near Rome. This variant could reach a top speed of 518 km/h (323 mph), with a maximum ceiling of 10,600 metres (34,777 ft) and a range of 1,250 kilometres (780 mi). The project was cancelled as the biplane configuration did not offer any advantages over contemporary monoplane fighter designs. Although it never went into production, to this day the variant has the distinction of being the fastest biplane ever flown.
It is still not certain how many CR.42s were built. The most likely estimate is 1,819 in total, including the 63 (51 according to some sources) produced under Luftwaffe control and the 140 produced for export.
CR.42 Falco
Role
Fighter
National origin
Italy
Manufacturer
Fiat Aviazione
Designer
Celestino Rosatelli
First flight
23 May 1938
Introduction
1939
Retired
1948 Spanish Air Force[1]
Primary users
Regia Aeronautica
Spanish Air Force
Produced
c. February 1939 - Late 1943
Number built
1,817-1,819[2][3]
Developed from
Fiat CR.32
Classic Airframes was based in Chicago, IL. I believe they went out of business. Their kits were all made in the Czech Republic.
THE KIT:
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box are shows a Fiat CR 42 in combat with a British Hurricane.
The CR 42 is in a base of sand FS33434 with blotches of green FS34096 and brown FS30109 over it. The undercarriage is light grey FS36307. It has a yellow propeller spinner and cowling.
A Fascist insignia is below the cockpit on the sides, fuselage number 13, then a squadron logo, 95 in yellow numerals outlined in black. There is a white cross with the House of Savoy symbol on it on the rudder.
This aircraft is with the 83rd Squadriglia, 18th Gruppo, 3rd Stormo, Belgium, Autumn 1940.
Both of the side panels have a small color repeat of the box art, followed by “an unassembled 1/48th scale plastic kit.
Contains detailed plastic, polyurethane and photo etched parts. Complete cockpit interior. Detailed engine, markings for 2 aircrafts, complet assembly and decorating instructions”.
Classic Airframe’s European Division P.O. Box address in the Czech Republic is shown and the kit was made there. It contains small parts and is not suitable for children..
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box are shows a Fiat CR 42 in combat with a British Hurricane.
The CR 42 is in a base of sand FS33434 with blotches of green FS34096 and brown FS30109 over it. The undercarriage is light grey FS36307. It has a yellow propeller spinner and cowling.
A Fascist insignia is below the cockpit on the sides, fuselage number 13, then a squadron logo, 95 in yellow numerals outlined in black. There is a white cross with the House of Savoy symbol on it on the rudder.
This aircraft is with the 83rd Squadriglia, 18th Gruppo, 3rd Stormo, Belgium, Autumn 1940.
Both of the side panels have a small color repeat of the box art, followed by “an unassembled 1/48th scale plastic kit.
Contains detailed plastic, polyurethane and photo etched parts. Complete cockpit interior. Detailed engine, markings for 2 aircrafts, complet assembly and decorating instructions”.
Classic Airframe’s European Division P.O. Box address in the Czech Republic is shown and the kit was made there. It contains small parts and is not suitable for children..
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contained a light grey tree of parts, a light grey upper wing part, 2 decal sheets, a vacuformed clear sheet all in a stapled shut cello bag.
A PE fret and photo negative sheet, both backed with a sheet of stiff cardboard to keep them from being bent are in another stapled shut cello bag.
A further stapled cello holds light tan resin parts.
The instructions and a sheet of marking and painting instructions complete the kits contents.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that is folded in the center to create 4 pages in 6 ¼” x 8 ¾” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions has the parts trees and decal sheets illustrations on it. Super glue is recommended to attach metal and resin parts.
Page 2 begins with international assembly symbol explanations, followed by letter A assembly, which is 5 exploded drawings.
Page 3 continues with more letter A assemblies for the cockpit,
followed by letter B assemblies for the fuselage, wings and engine.
Page 4 has the letter D assemblies for the upper wing and its supports, the propeller and spinner and landing gear.
A gloss-coated sheet has 2 schemes on one side in full color as 3-views.
The first scheme is the box art one (already described above).
The second scheme is in a base of green FS34096 with a mottle of olive green FS34052 and a light grey FS36307 undercarriage for an aircraft of 162nd Sqd., 161 Gruppo.
It has a yellow cowling and a Fascist symbol under the cockpit on the sides, a white triangle with a black cat on it squadron logo on the sides of the fuselage. A white fuselage band with black number 152-5 over it. A white cross with the House of Savoy insignia on it on the rudder.
The other side of this sheet has the history of the CR 42 on it.
This kit contained a light grey tree of parts, a light grey upper wing part, 2 decal sheets, a vacuformed clear sheet all in a stapled shut cello bag.
A PE fret and photo negative sheet, both backed with a sheet of stiff cardboard to keep them from being bent are in another stapled shut cello bag.
A further stapled cello holds light tan resin parts.
The instructions and a sheet of marking and painting instructions complete the kits contents.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that is folded in the center to create 4 pages in 6 ¼” x 8 ¾” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions has the parts trees and decal sheets illustrations on it. Super glue is recommended to attach metal and resin parts.
Page 2 begins with international assembly symbol explanations, followed by letter A assembly, which is 5 exploded drawings.
Page 3 continues with more letter A assemblies for the cockpit,
followed by letter B assemblies for the fuselage, wings and engine.
Page 4 has the letter D assemblies for the upper wing and its supports, the propeller and spinner and landing gear.
A gloss-coated sheet has 2 schemes on one side in full color as 3-views.
The first scheme is the box art one (already described above).
The second scheme is in a base of green FS34096 with a mottle of olive green FS34052 and a light grey FS36307 undercarriage for an aircraft of 162nd Sqd., 161 Gruppo.
It has a yellow cowling and a Fascist symbol under the cockpit on the sides, a white triangle with a black cat on it squadron logo on the sides of the fuselage. A white fuselage band with black number 152-5 over it. A white cross with the House of Savoy insignia on it on the rudder.
The other side of this sheet has the history of the CR 42 on it.
The light grey plastic parts tree (labeled PP) holds: engine push rods, cowling halves, fuselage halves, lower wings, cowling top panel, propeller, wheel halves, elevators etc. (36 parts)
The light grey upper wing part is loose.
There are 13 light tan resin parts. These are the firewall, levers etc.
There are 2 clear acetate parts for the windscreen. One is a spare.
The foil photo negative sheet has the instrument dial faces on it.
The brass PE fret holds 34 parts (too many for me to try and name each part).
There are 2 decal sheets in the kit. The larger one has the scheme markings on it.
The smaller one is a correction to the wing insignia on the large sheet, which have 2 of those markings with the black axes pointed in the wrong direction.
The smaller one is a correction to the wing insignia on the large sheet, which have 2 of those markings with the black axes pointed in the wrong direction.
This is a limited run multi-medium kit and it is not intended for novice modelers. It also is not a weekend project. Highly recommended to skilled modelers.
I purchased my kit in the 90’s at my local hobby shop.
I purchased my kit in the 90’s at my local hobby shop.