1:72 Fiat CR.32

The real subject

The Fiat CR.32 is an Italian single-seat fighter biplane of the 1930s. Its bracing consists of struts arranged in triangles, which replaced part of the rigging wires and gave the wing cell its stiffness at a low weight. The aircraft became famous for its agility and for its service in the Spanish Civil War, where it was among the most successful machines of its day. By the beginning of the Second World War it was already obsolete against monoplanes, yet it still served, mainly in North Africa and over the Balkans.

What the set contains

Photo-etched parts made of thin sheet metal. On a biplane, photo-etch pays off especially well: the straps, flat fittings and small hardware on the engine cowling and in the open cockpit are permanently in view, and a plastic part would come out far too thick in 1:72 scale. The parts are held on the fret by thin tabs and are separated only just before they are fitted.

Building and painting tips

• In 1:72 scale the parts are very small, so work with tweezers over a light-colored surface.
• Cut with a sharp blade on a hard surface; nippers would ripple the edge.
• Make the bends in a bending tool or between two blades, in a single movement.
• Apply cyanoacrylate glue in the tiniest amount, for example with the tip of a wire.
• Degrease the metal before painting and lay down a primer, or the paint will not hold.

Who it is for

For modelers who build interwar biplanes and want the detail to hold up at close range. In the small scale it is work for the patient, but the result is what separates a finished model from a kit built without accessories.

The package contains photo-etched parts. The kit, paints and glue are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.