The Little World

Well, it’s finished.

The kit that started out as just a whim has turned out to be a delight. I solved a problem for myself with the livery and found a way to enjoy future aircraft building. The final verdict is in on part of the finishing system, and Hobby Boss have acquitted themselves magnificently yet again… for under $ 15.

I am left wondering about the prototype, however. Was Macchi restricted to a tiny engine for some reason when they designed this? Were bigger power plants available but embargoed? What would it have been with a more powerful engine and a completely enclosed canopy?

I’m also left wondering if there are any books in English that can tell of the combat exploits of the Italian pilots who might have been issued with this plane after 1943? It couldn’t have been a comforting ship to take up against war-hardened Luftwaffe pilot in better aircraft. It was probably an unnerving experience to attack RAF units prior to ’43 in the Mediterranean considering the lack of armament this one had against Hurricanes, Tomahawks, or Spitfires.

But that was then and this is now, and I am going to add some more Italian aircraft to the stash – now that I know how to paint them.