Matchbox Cr42 - Prototype

[chris1966m]

last time i built a Cr42 i was sure that it wouldn't be too long before i built another...well 3 years have passed since then and the new revell kit far surpasses the Matchbox offering from some years ago

but having a couple of the matchbox kit lying about decided to at least build up one (for now) as the prototype from 1938...decals came from a SkyModels 72035 sheet which is dedicated to the Cr42

here are the pics....

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/chrism66_2007/kits%20built/2009%2004g%20Cr42%20Prototype/bP4191195.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/chrism66_2007/kits%20built/2009%2004g%20Cr42%20Prototype/bP4191196.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/chrism66_2007/kits%20built/2009%2004g%20Cr42%20Prototype/bP4191200.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/chrism66_2007/kits%20built/2009%2004g%20Cr42%20Prototype/bP4191203.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/chrism66_2007/kits%20built/2009%2004g%20Cr42%20Prototype/bP4191205.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/chrism66_2007/kits%20built/2009%2004g%20Cr42%20Prototype/bP4191209.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/chrism66_2007/kits%20built/2009%2004g%20Cr42%20Prototype/bP4191211.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/chrism66_2007/kits%20built/2009%2004g%20Cr42%20Prototype/bP4191217.jpg

would recommend this model kit highly....firstly because it is not difficult to build despite being a biplane and more importantly because it has just 4 pieces of rigging on the struts

:) NOW LETS SEE THIS IN 1/72 DIECAST (hint for HM ;) ) :)

[DCRanger]

Nearly as many struts as a Swordfish. Nice finish Chris, I like it.:cool

[Garethster]

Very nice job Chris! :cool: I can see why the CR.42's must've been ripped to shreds by Hurris and Spits during the couple of encounters over Britain. According to first hand accounts the Italians were extremely skilled and brave pilots but apparently their machines weren't up to the task.

[chris1966m]

Very nice job Chris! :cool: I can see why the CR.42's must've been ripped to shreds by Hurris and Spits during the couple of encounters over Britain. According to first hand accounts the Italians were extremely skilled and brave pilots but apparently their machines weren't up to the task.

thanks

against the hurricane the cr42 wasn't so bad over the MTO, in fact some italian pilots registered kills in early dogfights...and before the spitfire entered the scene

the gladiator fared better against the Cr42, they had similar handling

from a production perspective the italians wanted to be equipped with more db601 engines for their Macchis, but the RLM was reluctant to supply as many as were required - it needed them for its own 109s

moreover the Fiat G50 - a radial powered machine - which was intended to replace the Cr42 was found to be of little, if any, improvement over it....both the G50 and Macchi Mc200 could be outrun and out-turned by the Cr42 !!

the latter 2 had retractable gear - something new in italy at the time - many crashed because pilots were used to the Cr32 and Cr42 fixed u/c

exporting them was a problem since the italian throttle mechanism generally worked the other way round, pull to accelerate and push to idle - many an accident occurred in Rechlin as a result of testing RA machines

basically the Regia Aeronautica was stuck with the Cr42, G50 and Mc200 long after these machines had passed their use by date

:)

[CFBC]

Now that looks good Chris. :cool

[Graham]

Nice one Chris. Oh! How I'd like one of these in diecast, specially a model of the one at Hendon.

[Agent X20]

As to what the CR42 could or could not do, buy the IL2 1946 flight sim.. shes in there and just as Chris has described...

..which is .. mix it and the CR42 holds its own.... unless you really wanna dogfight with a Gladiator which can turn in its own length..

Hurricane.. bit of a hard task.. and if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time the Eyeties will cream you...

In a MkIX.. get in...... get out and the 42 is dead..

all for about £20... best thing after **********....:LOL:

Mind you 42's over the Russian front.. Mr G .. where are we..!!

[Garethster]

As to what the CR42 could or could not do, buy the IL2 1946 flight sim.. shes in there and just as Chris has described...

..which is .. mix it and the CR42 holds its own.... unless you really wanna dogfight with a Gladiator which can turn in its own length..

Hurricane.. bit of a hard task.. and if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time the Eyeties will cream you...

In a MkIX.. get in...... get out and the 42 is dead..

all for about £20... best thing after **********....:LOL:

Mind you 42's over the Russian front.. Mr G .. where are we..!!

Haven't spent much time in a 42 as my first love is anything Hawker or Supermarine ;), I'll have to give that a whirl...:)

[gary ford]

I think these are the same kits issued in Revell Boxes

Revel now own all the old Matchbox molds and most have been re-released under the Revell brand.

This is not putting down Revell as the Matchbox kits were for their time some of the best Plastic kits on the market. Their Biplanes were a lot better to put together than the Airfix models