I purchased this kit last week and started to build it right away. Tonight I’ll post some progress photo’s on it. But I did come upon various inaccurracies in the kit that have distracted me. This is one of my favorite aircraft so I take a particular interest in it. Basically a M.C. 205V is an up engined and up armed continuation of the Macchi Castoldi series of fighter aircraft (M.C. 200/202/205). Given that most of the aircraft didn’t change, like the basic characteristics of the flying surfaces and the fuselage. But there are differences that make a M.C. 202 different from a M.C. 205. Just like the differences from a late Bf 109F and an early BF 109G.
Here is a line diagram of the Macchi M.C. 202
First is the spinner in the kit is the narrow cone as used on the M.C. 202, not the wider, blunter cone that the M.C. 205 should have. Then there is the tail wheel which is the fixed type with a single forward fairing as found on then later M.C. 202. Early M.C. 202’s could have two fairings. The M.C. 205 had a retractable tailwheel.
This would be closer to one (about 50 to 100 aircraft) of the M.C. 202’s that were converted to M.C. 205, but that wasn’t done until 1944-45 and post war. Even so, the spinner was changed on these aircraft as well.
21st Century Toys has a pre-painted M.C. 202 for sale. They probably thought that they could use as much from one set of molds as they could. I know what do you expect at that low a price and the kit is near a toy as well? The kit has alot of potential for upgrading and solidly built. If they did model it aflter the existing M.C. 205’s this could be a source of the problem.
Two of the three remaining M.C. 205’s were originally M.C. 202’s that were converted. The flyable one owned by AeroMacchi is the only surviving aircraft that was built as a M.C. 205, but it also has the M.C. 202 type of fixed tail wheel. This last aircraft was never delivered for service in WWII or assigned a Military serial number. It was to be sent to Egypt after the war. The fixed tail wheel may have been applied to make it equal to the majority of aircraft being sent that were upgraded M.C. 202’s.
Why put so much effort into a toy? There are models of the Macchi 205 and 202 out there just waiting to be built? Are we all getting so hung up on prices that we will settle for these toys just because they are relatively cheap?
I wouldn’t say that these are toys in the true sense. They are model kits in their own right. The only other kits for this model in 1/32 is the limited run kits by Pacific Coast Models. There are no comparisons between the two kits in depth of the accuracy. The Pacific Coast Model is a better researched and designed model. But the basic characteristics to define the aircraft should be there. Like others have sais the 21st Century product has potential for adaptability to a finer product.
Here are some photo’s of my progress on the 21st Century kit. I have added scratch builts accessories for the cockpit as well as added some instrument dial decals to add to the IP.
It’s a model and I’ve seen a lot of people dump huge sums of money into already over-priced kits to make them accurate. The only other 202 in 1/32 is Pacific Coast Models which retails for $54. The 21CT is a good starting point and for some people the enjoyment is taking something that needs some work and turning it into an accurate model.
To each his own. Those panel lines must be 1/2 wide and 3" deep in scale. The first IPMS contest that I see one allowed in a category will be a dark day for the industry.
I don’t see anything in the IPMS rules that would exclude one of these from being entered, assuming you started it in kit form.
Dark day for the industry? I don’t see how people buying and building models could ever be percieved as a dark day for the industry. That only happens when people quit building models. I’ve heard people make dire predictions about Mike Grant’s smoke rings decals and pre-painted photo-etch ruining the hobby too. Absolute nonsense, if you don’t like a product don’t use it/buy it but as long as these types of items are encouraging people to stay interested in the hobby then they’re having a positive impact. I think if you want to look at what’s really bad for the hobby then you need to take a look at how some people get driven off by elitists before they get a chance to get themselves established.
These kits represent a great value and are certainly appealing to younger modelers or beginners on a budget. If just one person uses one of these as a stepping stone to get into the hobby then that’s a good thing.
I am totally with you brother. In my case, I was feeling pretty burned out after some more complicated builds-- so I picked up a Me-109 kit and built it just for fun. It was fun-- and I was able to use it as a test bed for some other techniques-- so I learned something from it to boot. The price can’t be beat- and the decals are better than most in the higher end kits. I have also enjoyed seeing what others can do with them-- so I will applaud seeing them built-- wherever they happen to be displayed.
Here is mine by the way-- it won’t win any awards- but then again that’s not why I build mine. I have enough competition in my real life-- why do I need to carry it over to my hobby? I have their Stuka and Corsair on the build pile as well and will enjoy building them too!
I’ve got a couple of these in my stash. I have no problem with the 21st Century stuff and wish they would do some more of them. But, with Walmart being the exclusive dealer for them, and now deciding to not sell anymore plastic kits, Where would I get them from.
BTW, I’ve seen some of the 21st Century stuff made into some absolute jewels. Jeff Hearne did one last year that showed what could be done in the hands of a master builder.
They still are available from Great Models and Sprue Brothers as far as I know-- other online companies might also sell them-- worth checking out.
I am not sure there is a model on the market that doesn’t have at least one inaccuracy in it’s design…I have AM, Tamiya, Hasegawa, and some others of the big leaguers in my stash-- and I do enjoy building them. But there are times when it comes down to glue, paint, and fun. If I ever lose that aspect, in my opinion, that will be a dark day.
I figured they would be available online. My problem is I don’t have and can’t get a credit card to do that with. My shopping is done exclusively “in person”.
I think a lot of people don’t really understand that this is a hobby and not some big competition. I’m the only person that has to be pleased with what I’ve built and my builds are for me and not the other person. While I have a theme for my builds, what it boils down to is what I like. I like the 21st Century stuff and they bring big scale kits down to a price that I can afford.
My only real problem with this kit, and it is just as much a model kit as any other, is the lack of good research that the company did on the subject. As I noted before, if you look at the remaining three M.C. 205’s you would assume that the tail wheel was fixed and followed the example of the late model M.C. 202’s. Not catching the spinner change is really careless. A little deeper research would show that the true production aircraft had retracting tailwheels. Just sloppy research. Like all the decal sheets for the Italian Co-Belligerent P-39Q’s with the wrong names on them probably propagated by a color drawing where the artist assumed something and didn’t check his source material. The photo evidence is quite clear.
Look at the research on the Macchi M.C. 202, how many times do you see references to a batch of these aircraft that had underwing cannon packs similiar to the R6 gun packs used on the Bf 109G. The truth is that a single aircraft was tested in this configuration (with a set of R6 gun packs) and a really good photo of it was taken. These gun packs reduced the performance of the aircraft so much, that they were not used operationally.
The company did something on the cheap. They probably used this photo of Aeromacchi’s flyable aircraft as the basis of their model. Here the photo eveidence may draw you to the wrong conclusion without adding other research. I am still contemplating correcting the tail wheel.
Roadkill - I bought mine at a LHS and Greatmodel also carries them now.
I’m not going to bust their chops too much. Reason being is that they’re doing what they need to do to appease their target audience, which are not modelers. These are pre-assembled ready to display kits first and unpainted, assembly required models second. I think it’s a great idea to offer them in kit form, especially when you look at what a 1/32 scale aircraft can set you back from one of the traditional model makers. They are certainly a decent starting point, and heck you can’t get a 1/32 Bf 109F from anyone else anyway! Here’s a couple of 21CT 109F’s which build up into reasonably accurate Friedrichs…and I know my 109’s! [8D]
What a coinsidence, the Macchis are one of my favourites too! I have the PAC Models 202 and 21st Centurys 205 and as a comparrison i can say that the 205 is worth every peny /only 10 bucks - sheesh i shouldve bought at least one more/. The PAC kit is really nice but it worths like 5 or 6 21st kits and still has some issues /at first glance some inacurate panel lines on the wings/. As for the prop cone youre right on the target but im lucky, the 202 comes with spinners for both 202 and 205 so i have a spare. As far as i can remember a part of the 205s were rebuilt 202s and were fitted with the non retracting tail wheel /there are some pics of such planes in the old Squadron/Macchi 202 in action/ so thats not much of a problem. As for the 21st Century toys models, i think that they are kits not toys. Except the 205 i also have their Zero and believe me im very happy /theres nothing in this world that can make me pay at least 100$ for the Tamiya Zeke, brrrrrrrrr/ and if i compare those kits with some of the other 1/32 kits of the mainstream manufacturers, like RoG, 21st offerings are even better. I just can`t wait to finish my other projects and start the 205.
Congo - I have the Pacific Coast M.C. 202 as well. I’ll check the box tonight. That would save the project in my eyes as that spinner profile would be correct. I still may copy the Pacific Coast M.C. 205 for the tail wheel arrangement.
telsono, do check the PAC 202 for the spinner, mine has it. Could you be so kind to post the right 205 tailwheel arangement /my references are not clear enough/.
I have a HUGE question about the markings displayed on the 21st century 205 veltro box cover.
(To my understanding the Red 18-1 was a Fiat G.55 of 1 Squadriglia not the Veltro 205.)
Any input on this would be appreciated.
I also have taken note of the incorrect spinner.
All in all the 21st Century kit can be made into a very nice replica. I found mine on ebay for 12.00. the price was right and it is one of the only Macchi kits available in 1/32 as stated in earlier threads.
As far as what dcaponeII had to say about building more accurate kits, my question to him is why cant you build this model into an accurate replica? All you need is time and the ability to scratch build.
Macchi 205 from 21st century looks toylike, but it can and should be more than able to be turned into something more pleasing to look at. Just get rid of the toylike parts in whatever way you choose, and modify it into the best kit you can.
Veltro Red 18-1 is a well documented aircraft that was flown by Adriano Visconti. Below is more information on it. Both the Veltro and the G-55 had the same markings, but not at the same time. The 18 represents the eighteenth aircraft of the first squadron of the first Gruppo “Asso di Bastoni” (Ace of Clubs). Replacements aircraft were hard to come by for the ANR and they used what they could. More FIAT G-55’s were prodcued after the armistice and replaced the war weary M.C. 205’s before both were replaced by the BF-109G’s. I don’t believe that Visconti flew a G-55 in combat.
Note the tail wheel of this print, this is what a wartime prodcution model of the Veltro should look like.
