ICM 1/32 Fiat CR.42 Falco

[Tim Marlow]

The fit on that is excellent isn’t it. Nice work so far Steve.

[BarryW]

Steve,
I think Tamiya has fallen well behind the market leaders, they only produce a few models a year, seeming to concentrate on R/C item. Resting on their laurels from the last century doesn't seem to work. A lot of makers are achieving the same fit, consistently, with a crowded release schedule. Incidentally - if you look at Tamiya boxes - at least the ones I looked at, are marked " Made in Philippines " I'd never noticed that - a new thing?
Dave

Tamiya do have a regular release schedule and the quality is sublime. Sadly no 1/32 warbirds for a while but they have a late F14A being released later this year (a follow up to their early A but with positionable flaps) and have had some other superb 1/48’s over the last few years. No-one can compete with their engineering though I agree ICM are certainly one to watch.

[Steve-the-Duck]

Noice!

[yak face]

Loving this steve , theres just something about the cr42 that really appeals . The cockpit looks great , cheers tony

[adt70hk]

Coming on very nicely indeed Steve.

Andrew

[tr1ckey66]

Nice progress Steve. I wish more Italian aircraft were available in 1/32. I’m looking for a Maachi C.205 but the Pacific Coast kits are now going for ridiculous money. This ICM kit does look a great kit. Did you build the ICM Gladiator? I haven’t been on the forum a while and need to catch up. The Falco looks a great counterpart to the Gladiator. Great build, as always.
Cheers
Paul

[stona]

A lot of makers are achieving the same fit, consistently, with a crowded release schedule.

I still think that the easiest kits I've ever built are the I/32 Tamiya P-51 and Spitfires. They are still ahead of the others for the sheer quality of the moulding and maybe just on fit and engineering too. There is literally nothing to do except stick the parts together. I had no idea that they were manufacturing in the Philippines!

Nice progress Steve. I wish more Italian aircraft were available in 1/32. I’m looking for a Maachi C.205 but the Pacific Coast kits are now going for ridiculous money. This ICM kit does look a great kit. Did you build the ICM Gladiator? I haven’t been on the forum a while and need to catch up. The Falco looks a great counterpart to the Gladiator. Great build, as always.
Cheers
Paul

This is actually the first biplane I have ever built! I thought I'd start with an easy one and work my way up.
If this goes well I will be sorely tempted by a Gladiator, as you say, it would go together with the Falco like cheese with pickle.

Then there's the Swordfish...I could end up in a lot of trouble

[Guest]

Incidentally - if you look at Tamiya boxes - at least the ones I looked at, are marked " Made in Philippines " I'd never noticed that - a new thing?

I haven’t bought many Tamiya kits in recent memory, but I did notice that some years ago, yes. All it means is they set up a factory there to take advantage of lower labour costs, I’d say.

[BarryW]

I still think that the easiest kits I've ever built are the I/32 Tamiya P-51 and Spitfires. They are still ahead of the others for the sheer quality of the moulding and maybe just on fit and engineering too. There is literally nothing to do except stick the parts together. I had no idea that they were manufacturing in the Philippines!



This is actually the first biplane I have ever built! I thought I'd start with an easy one and work my way up.
If this goes well I will be sorely tempted by a Gladiator, as you say, it would go together with the Falco like cheese with pickle.

Then there's the Swordfish...I could end up in a lot of trouble :smiling3:

You really should go for the Gladiator Steve, it is a great little kit.

Interesting you mentioned the Swordfish as well, yes now you are talking, the Trumpeter 1/32 Swordfish is one of their best, a bit of a challenge but its a really nice build.

If you loved Tamiya's Mustang and Spitfire then you really should try the Tamiya 1/32 Corsair and Mosquito. These two will take the definition of 'love' to new heights, truly great as the 'tang and Spitty are.

But, first, this CR42 is looking superb in a lot of ways and I am really looking forward to seeing how you tackle the camo scheme. Incidentally, MRP have a range of Italian WW2 air force colours.

[stona]

The engine is largely built.

There's a LOT of pipework for air intakes and exhausts and also push rod guides at the back, most of which will be invisible unless you pose the model with maintenance panels removed. The tops of the rocker covers are only fitted if you intend to do this, hence the holes on top of the cylinders. It all fits together nicely, making it less difficult than I have experienced on other models with radial engines.



From the front it is far less exciting.

[stona]

I've fixed the engine to the fuselage and built most of the nose around it, just a few cooling 'gills' to add. This was a good fit but slightly dodgy engineering. Attaching various parts to little protrusions on the rocker covers is fraught with danger!



Terrible photo, but you get the idea.

Next up will be the wings, all of them.

[stona]

A bit more progress.

I've got the fuselage/engine/lower wing assemble primed. The upper wing and all the struts and other bits and pieces are separate.



Having never built a biplane I'm going with the method I think will work best. I intend to paint this part separately from the upper wing and then do the final construction at the end. It means attaching the struts and upper wing with CA glue and it means I'll be cleaning paint of the attachments prior to glueing to make it work, but it seems a lot easier than trying to paint the model with the upper wing attached. The mottle requires the airbrush to be close and perpendicular to the surface of the model, impossible in some areas with both wings on. If I attempt it I will end up with inconsistent mottle and blurry edges/overspray.

I've applied my 'real man' principles. A real man could easily get in between the wings and between the upper wing and fuselage of the real aeroplane with a spray gun. I can't do it on the model with an airbrush :smiling3:

[stona]

Ooops!

[Tim Marlow]

Looking good Steve. I don’t think you could get the wings painted any other way.

[Guest]

I've applied my 'real man' principles. A real man could easily get in between the wings and between the upper wing and fuselage of the real aeroplane with a spray gun.

That second sentence is not what I expected to follow from the first