Macchi C.200 Saetta

Spada Decals, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Steven "Modeldad" Eisenman

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This is the first offering in 1/32 scale from a new European decal company, Spada Decals.  The set is for the Pacific Coast Models 1/32 scale Macchi MC 200.  It is intended to work in conjunction with the kit’s decal, such that the kit decals must be used for the national markings.  Including the kit’s markings, one now has a choice of 12 individual aircraft.

The six offerings in this set from Spada are: 

1. 154 Squadron, Trapani-Chinisia, April 1943.  This aircraft has a base color of Nicciola Chiaro with blotches of Verde Oliva Scuro.  The underside is Griggio Azzuro Chiaro.  It carries the distinctive Red Devil marking and a white fuselage band.  Note:  This aircraft has an additional intake for the oil cooler. 

2. 95 Squadron, flown by Lt. Franco Bordoni-Bisleri, Chinisia, April 1943.  The aircraft is in overall Verde Oliva Scuro with Griggio Azzuro Chiaro undersides.  The fuselage band is white.  The markings are of the axe and three arrows.  I believe that the unit markings should be handed, in that the arrows should point forward on both sides of the aircraft.  The Spada decals are not handed.

3. 150 Group, Tirana, May 1941.  Although the marking guide does not indicate, I believe this was the personal aircraft of Ferruccio Vossilla, Commander of 150 Group.  The colors are a base of Giallo Mimetico 4 with random application of Bruno Mimetico and Verde Mimetico 2.  The Underside is Grigio Mimetico.  The cowing is chrome yellow and there is a white fuselage band.  The emblem is the Group’s Red Hawk talons.

4. This aircraft is misidentified.  It should be 369 Squadron, not 96, Gorizia-Merna, March 1941.  I believe the date is also incorrect and may be early winter 1941. I also believe this aircraft was the personal aircraft of Squadron Commander Giorgio Jannicelli, it has the Squadron Commander’s white disc on the fuselage.   The aircraft has a base color of Verde Mimetico 2 with the “fried egg” pattern of Bruno Mimetico blotches on top of Giallo Mimetico 4 blotches.  The underside is Griggio Mimetico.  The cowl is Chrome Yellow.  As this is an aircraft on the Eastern front, it wore the Regia Aeronatica white triangles on the top and bottom of the main wings.  The aircraft carries the 22 Group’s scarecrow with a pipe marking on an irregular red background.

There could be a question as to the color of the fuselage band.  Not all Italian aircraft received the yellow Eastern Front markings (yellow fuselage band and yellow wing tips) upon arrival.  It seems that when the aircraft had the red aircraft numbers they had the white band.  Then when the numbers were repainted white (and moved forward of the white disc), the band was repainted yellow.

5. 79 Squadron, Catania-Fontanarossa, February 1941.  The aircraft has a base color of Verde Mimetico 2 with random blotches of Giallo Mimetico 4 and Bruno Mimetico.  The underside is Grigio Mimetico.  The cowl is chrome yellow and the fuselage band is white.  The archer emblem is carried on the rear of the fuselage, and are properly handed.

6. 86 Squadron, Fontanarossa, late 1941.  This aircraft appears to be in the “fried egg’ schem also; Verde Mimetico 2 base with Bruno Mimetico blotches on top of Giallo Mimetico 4 blotches.  The underside is Grigio Mimetico.  There is no color on the cowl, but there is a white fuselage band.  The aircraft carries the Tiger Head emblem.

The decals are well printed by AVIPRINT and all the emblems appear to be in register.

I have not tried these decals to see how they performed.  However, as they are from the same printer as the 1/48 Wellington Mk. IC decals I reviewed previously, I would expect them to perform the same.  The results of that test are as follows:  I had an outer wing portion of a Hase B5N Kate, which, on the aileron, has a deep hinge line, fabric framing and protruding hinges. The plastic was painted and coated with Future.

When I used water at room temperature and applied the decal, with an application of Micro Set (Blue Label) on the wing surface, I found it the decal to be a bit brittle; it cracked as I tried to nudge it into the hinge line.  When I used Micro Sol (Red Label) on the decal right when I applied it, the decal was not as brittle and was able to be nudged into the hinge line.

Finally, I used warm water.  The decal was not as brittle and seemed to settle in and conformed to the surface

After the decals had dried, in both the second and third situations they revealed all the detail underneath.  In all three situations the protruding hinge broke through.

With these new Spada decals, and an unlimited bank account, one can have an extensive collection of 1/32 Macchi MC 200s in a variety of markings.  I’m sure most modelers of the Regia Aeronautica will find one set of marking, if not more, they want to use.

Thanks to Spada Decals for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2007 by Steven "Modeldad" Eisenman
This Page Created on 16 March, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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