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KIT: |
Sweet 1/144 Macchi C.200 |
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KIT # |
14106 |
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PRICE: |
$12.00 |
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DECALS: |
six aircraft |
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REVIEWER: |
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NOTES: |
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HISTORY |
Between the C.200 and G.50,
most pilots preferred the C.200. Though about the equivalent in
performance, the C.200 was a much better handling aircraft and more fun
to fly. To show how well designed the airframe was, more improved and
faster aircraft, the MC 202 and 205 were developed just by adding a
license built Daimler-Benz engines of greater power. If you want more
info, do a Google.
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THE KIT |
From my understanding, Sweet kits are developed by an ex-Tamiya engineer who wanted small scale models of interesting planes that could be built in a very short time. In fact, these are designed to be built in about an hour, though the reality of having to paint them means a bit more time is required.
Nonetheless, the kits are
simplicity personified and the detail level is remarkably high for kits of
this size. Yes, they are engraved panel lines, and well done at that. Cheap
they are not at around $12-15 MSRP in the US, but they are beauties.
Normally, Sweet kits come two to a box, but this one is only a single kit
and that is due as much to the additional decal sheet as anything else. The
kit does have options. There are three different windscreens provided
depending on early, middle or late production. You can also choose to leave
off the bombs, but you'll have a few holes to fill.
The decals with this kit are the real selling point. Frankly, I know of darn few people who could paint the rather complicated camouflage pattern that these kits require. You will have to mask the upper and under surfaces where the camo wraps under the flight surfaces, but the camo is provided on a separate decal sheet. It offers two different designs; the 'smoke ring' version and the regular mottled one. For a kit of this scale, it is a great idea. By offering two sets of camo, one can buy one of the two-plane sets and do the second plane in overall green, thereby having all three major camo schemes on your display shelf!
The instructions are superb showing all the differences between types and any special painting requirements needed for each scheme. Too bad it is written in Japanese, but the pictures are self explanatory.
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CONCLUSIONS |
With the addition of this kit to my collection, I now have one boxing of all three different planes they produce (the others being an FM-2 and Hurricane). A Zero is due out later this year and I'm very much looking forward to it. Frankly, I know folks who like the kits just because of the cute box art as much as anything else!
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