Pacific Coast Models' 1/32 scale
Macchi C.205 Veltro

by Maurizio Di Terlizzi

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My passion for Macchi aircraft has grown so much since the release of Pacific Coast Models 1/32 kits that I decided to build them all in order. My first was a C.200 Saetta, next the C.202 Folgore, and now my favorite aircraft: the Veltro.

The aircraft's name was the result of an order by the Italian Air Ministry that Series 5 aircraft must have a constellation’s name. Veltro is translated as Greyhound, and I think that the Veltro probably shares the graceful lines of this superb canine.

Cockpit

Pacific Coast Models’ 1/32 scale C.205 has a well detailed interior with nice resin, plus a photo etched sheet. The only work required is to add some missing thin wiring on the sidewalls, represented with thin copper wire.

I also added the auxiliary (behind the headrest) fuel tank tube on the left of the cockpit floor. This was represented with a segment of guitar chord. Next, I remade the bulletproof headrest using thin plasticard sheet (0,18 mm. because the original was 5,5 cm.) .

The unique C.205 control column was made as a master part, but it was missed during the making of the production kit and was replaced by a C.202’s one. I therefore made it from scratch, cast it in resin, and use one of the ten that I cast (I will be building more Veltros).

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Wheel Wells

Thisdifficult area probably scares every modeller who wants to build any Macchi fighter. In fact, all versions are fitted with a complicated maze of plumbing, rods and tubes.

To avoid dust to penetrate in such delicate area, tropicalization provided two shaped thin metal covers, to be fixed inside to seal off the area. It was a device used rarely on C.200, often in C.202 last series and was standard on C.205. It is a perfect way to avoid to build up the intricate pipework, but how should I recreate these covers? I thought about making the cover from a balsa box, or made them in plasticard were some of the solution, but a friend of mine spoke many times about the qualities of the Staedtler eraser. It is cheap, clean, and can be shaped very well with a razor first, and with medium sandparer then. I tried reshaping a piece just to come trough the landing gear bay, then I gave it the curved shape using sandpaper, obtaining in such way a perfect template to be vacuformed.

Pictures can explain clearly the work, made quickly and twice, considering that the two bays are different. I used 0,25 mm. plasticard, carefully trimmed and dry-fitted. I also set aside the templates for my future Veltros.

Same as been made for tail wheel gear doors. Problems with the main wheels has been solved in this way. The kit’s wheel are incorrect in diameter and also do not have the correct step in the tire section. The correct diameter is 1,875 cm. so I used the wheel included in “Alitaliane”’s C.200 resin detail set, added to kit’s hubs.

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General Assembly

The model is pretty much problem free.

I have heard some comments about the nose tip, spinner and propeller back plate, but they are not really issues. Only 2,5 mm is missing from the propeller backplate’s length.

To glue the nose, we have to carefully check the alignment of the fuselage halves, securing the parts using glue applied with a brush. Once aligned and perfectly closed, the nose must be fixed with some tiny drops of cyano glue. Once dry, the nose will have a diameter of 2 cm.

The spinner backplate was added with a 2 cm. diameter plastic disk, 2,5 mm. in thickness. Oncle glued, it received the spinner (do not forget to enlarge the prop blades “U” shaped slots) and everything was glued to a 2,5 mm. brass rod. Fixed on a motor tool, it has been carefully shaped during its run, using a wet medium grade waterproof abrasive paper. Once finished we have a perfect spinner and backplate with a diameter of 2 cm. ready to be fixed onto the nose.

Painting

Although I actually chose all the decals subjects for PAC models, I decided on a different subject for my project because I like to be original, even with models. I selected Tenente Marchi’s aircraft, during the ANR, coded 3-3 and christened (as all his aircraft) with the name of his dead brother Paolo. In fact, the nickname Paolino IV° (fourth, in Roman numerals) was painted in white over the planes’s hump.

The colour scheme is with Luftwaffe 74/75/76 colours with the splinter camouflage in two colours only over the wings and tailplanes, and mottles over the fuselage sides. Its previous “smoke rings” camouflage with black spiralled white spinner was overpainted by the new scheme, and spinner was roughly painted white. A segment was masked and the camouflage scheme was mottled over the just the white section without masking the propeller blade roots. The fuselage part containing the serial (Matricola Militare) was also masked off, remaining intact. I preferred not to put the last two digit of the serial, leaving the part blank with Future wax, hoping that in the (immediate ?) future, a complete serial will be discovered.

My airbrush is a very old A470 Aztek, which I opened and thoroughly cleaned just before applying the model’s mottling.

Markings

The “Paolino IV°” text was designed on computer and printed with Alps printer onto a clear decal sheet by Gian Piero, a talented friend of mine. The blue “3” has been drawn and cut on a frisket adhesive clear sheet, and painted using this as a mask, directly over the model.

The white “3” and all the other decals come from the kit’s very good’s sheet.

All colours used are Gunze Sangyo, gloss coat is Future wax, and the final two satin coats are from Vallejo range.

Exhausts stain has been added with a mixture of 30% RLM 66 Dark Gray , 15% Gloss Black and 55 % of white spirit.


 

Pacific Coast Models’ Macchi C.205 Veltro is a very good model, with perfect lines and appearance, ideal for Regia Aeronautica’s fans.

I took two and a half month to complete my Veltro, and considering that my new son was just 4 months old… I am more than satisfied!

Acknowledgement

My sincere thanks to Italian author Ferdinando D'Amico, who gave me very important hints, pictures, impressions and unknown details, in creating this model.

His latest and well known book - "Camoulflage and Markings of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana 1943-1945" written with his fellow Gabriele Valentini and edited by Classic Publications, is a real must for all the ANR's enthusiasts.

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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2007 by Maurizio Di Terlizzi
Page Created 16 August, 2007
Last Updated 24 December, 2007

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