Hobby 2000 72005 - 1:72 Beaufighter Mk. IC &  Macchi MC.202 Folgore - North Africa 1942

Set of two 1:72 plastic model kits: Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IC and Macchi MC.202 Folgore

Hobby 2000 72005 is a special release – the box contains two complete, independent 1:72 self-assembly model kits: the British Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IC long-range heavy fighter and the Italian Macchi MC.202 Folgore fighter. The pairing brings together two aircraft that met in the skies over North Africa in the summer and autumn of 1942.

Both models are based on Hasegawa plastic. Hobby 2000 has prepared a common waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf and self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing of both aircraft.

Each model is assigned one marking option. The Beaufighter Mk.IC wears the code D / T4831 of No. 252 Squadron RAF, the aircraft of P/O Easton Thwaits at Idku in Egypt on 15 June 1942. The Folgore represents aircraft 84-12, serial MM7919, flown at Fuka in Egypt on 24 October 1942 by Capt Franco Lucchini of 10° Gruppo, 4° Stormo.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues for the Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IC model (Hasegawa tooling)
• Plastic sprues for the Macchi MC.202 Folgore model (Hasegawa tooling)
• Self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing of both models
• Waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf – one marking option for each model
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72005
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Contents: two complete model kits
• Beaufighter Mk.IC – assembled length approx. 175 mm, wingspan approx. 245 mm
• Macchi MC.202 Folgore – assembled length approx. 123 mm, wingspan approx. 147 mm
• Skill level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The models are intended for self-assembly.

Assembly:

The set combines two very different amounts of work. The single-engine Folgore is a simple, quick build with a modest parts count – a good warm-up. The twin-engine Beaufighter needs more attention, above all when aligning the engine nacelles and seating the tail surfaces; dry-fitting these parts first pays off. On both aircraft the cockpits are best painted before the fuselages are closed up.

The finishes on both models share a desert flavour: the British machine in Mediterranean camouflage with light blue undersides, the Italian one in the characteristic Regia Aeronautica scheme of a sand base with green mottling. Applying the decals over a gloss coat limits silvering, and a satin varnish suits the final finish. Subtle dust deposits added with pigments are worth considering at the end – the two models displayed in a consistent desert setting make a striking pair.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel wash to bring out surface detail
• Gloss varnish for the decals and satin varnish for the final finish
• Decal softening solution

About the aircraft – Bristol Beaufighter:

The Bristol Beaufighter began as a private venture by Bristol, which reused the wings, tail and landing gear of the Beaufort torpedo bomber and added a completely new, short fuselage able to carry a heavy armament. The prototype flew on 17 July 1939 and the type reached squadrons a year later. Four 20 mm Hispano cannon in the lower fuselage made it one of the most heavily armed fighters of its day; in the fighter versions these were supplemented by six machine guns in the wings.

The roomy nose, free of an engine installation, proved to be an ideal home for the aerials and equipment of airborne interception radar. This made the Beaufighter the RAF's first genuinely effective night fighter and it played a key role during the night raids on Britain in the winter of 1940-41. In parallel, long-range versions were developed for Coastal Command for maritime patrol, anti-shipping strikes and convoy protection – roles it flew over the Mediterranean among other theatres. Over North Africa in 1942 Coastal Command Beaufighters hunted Axis shipping and transport aircraft, operating from bases such as Idku in Egypt. Their natural opponents were the fighters of the Regia Aeronautica – including the Macchi MC.202 Folgore, a model of which is included in the same box.

Original aircraft specifications (Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IC):

• Length: 12.60 m
• Wingspan: 17.63 m
• Height: 4.83 m
• Take-off weight: approx. 9800 kg
• Crew: 2 (pilot and observer/radar operator)
• Powerplant: 2 x Bristol Hercules XI radial engines, approx. 1500 hp each
• Maximum speed: approx. 520 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 8800 m
• Armament: 4 x 20 mm Hispano cannon in the fuselage; in the fighter version an additional 6 x 7.7 mm machine guns in the wings
• Range: approx. 2400 km
• Production: 1940-1945, approx. 5900 aircraft of all versions

About the aircraft – Macchi MC.202 Folgore:

The Macchi MC.202 Folgore ("Thunderbolt") was the most successful Italian fighter of the Second World War to be built in significant numbers. It was developed from Mario Castoldi's MC.200 Saetta – the proven airframe was retained, but the radial engine was replaced by an inline Daimler-Benz DB 601 built under licence by Alfa Romeo as the RA.1000 RC.41. The change transformed the aircraft: the slim nose improved aerodynamics and top speed rose to around 600 km/h. The prototype flew on 10 August 1940 and the Folgore reached front-line units in the autumn of 1941.

In the air the MC.202 was agile, pleasant to fly and a match for contemporary Allied fighters including the Curtiss P-40 and early Spitfire marks. Its most serious weakness was the armament – only two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT heavy machine guns, sometimes supplemented by two 7.7 mm guns in the wings. Against well-armoured Allied bombers this firepower proved insufficient, which led to the development of the follow-on MC.205 Veltro.

Folgores fought on every front flown by the Regia Aeronautica: over Malta, in North Africa, on the Eastern Front and in the defence of Italy. The type was flown by the leading Italian fighter pilots, among them Franco Lucchini and Adriano Visconti. Production was carried out by Macchi and, under licence, by Breda and SAI Ambrosini; roughly 1100 aircraft were built in total.

Original aircraft specifications (Macchi MC.202 Folgore):

• Length: 8.85 m
• Wingspan: 10.58 m
• Height: 3.04 m
• Empty weight: approx. 2350 kg
• Take-off weight: approx. 2930 kg
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: Alfa Romeo RA.1000 RC.41 inline engine (licence-built Daimler-Benz DB 601A), approx. 1175 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 600 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 11,500 m
• Range: approx. 765 km
• Armament: 2 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns above the engine; some aircraft also carried 2 x 7.7 mm guns in the wings
• Production: 1941-1943, approx. 1100 aircraft

About the manufacturer – Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice that specialises in themed releases of plastic model kits. Its business model is built on cooperation with established kit manufacturers – the Hobby 2000 catalogue features plastic originating from Hasegawa, Fujimi, Dragon, Academy and Revell moulds, among others. This particular kit uses Hasegawa plastic. The added value of a Hobby 2000 release comes from newly researched decal sheets, its own assembly instructions and – in most aircraft kits – self-adhesive canopy masks included in the box as standard. The company is known for consistently choosing subjects that are poorly covered by the large manufacturers, with a particular focus on Polish and Eastern European stories. Releases are produced in limited runs, so sold-out items can be hard to find later on. For the modeller this means proven, well-developed tooling combined with carefully researched history and a generous choice of markings.