1:48 Macchi C.202 Folgore Late 3D-Printed & coloured Interior on decal paper (Hasegawa/Eduard)

A colored 3D-printed interior for the Macchi C.202 Folgore in 1:48 scale

This set from Quinta Studio brings a color-printed cockpit interior for the Macchi C.202 Folgore in its late form on decal paper. It is not a kit of an aircraft but an accessory for a plastic model: it brings out the instrument panel, the side consoles and the rest of the cockpit equipment. The features are already colored and broken up, so picking out tiny instruments with a brush falls away. The decals are shaped to the parts of the Hasegawa and Eduard kits.

The real subject

The Macchi C.202 Folgore was among the best Italian fighters of the Second World War. It arose by reworking the older C.200 for the inverted V12 Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine, built under license in Italy, thanks to which it gained a slender nose and a considerably higher speed. Folgores fought over North Africa, Malta and the Mediterranean, and their main weakness remained their fairly poor armament against well-armored opponents. The designation Late in the name is tied to a later production form of the type. The cockpit was cramped and clearly laid out, so bringing the instruments out in color really tells on a finished model.

Usage tips

First assemble the cockpit dry and think through the order in which you will apply the individual features, from the large surfaces to the small controls. The base should be smooth, dry and free of grease; it is usually better to sand the raised plastic imitations of the instruments away. The work goes easily with sharp tweezers and good light. Let the finished interior dry properly and only then go on to close the fuselage up, so that nothing shifts.

Who the set is for

• builders of Italian fighters in 1:48 scale
• modelers who want a cockpit at the level of the rest of the model
• collectors building a model with the canopy open
• more experienced beginners with an eye for detail