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Mushroom Publications |
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Macchi C.202 Folgore |
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by Przemyslaw Skulski |
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Reviewed By Luke R. Bucci, #33549 |
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MSRP: £ 9.99 (GBP) Mail order: £ 11.00 (GBP) - UK/Europe £ 12.50 (GBP) - Elsewhere ISBN-93-98450-06-2 Pages: 96 Pictures: 149; Color Pictures: 101; B&W pictures: 48; Color Profiles: 54; B&W Diagrams: 18 Orange Series No. 8102 For Mushroom Publications (UK) by Stratus Publishers, Poland This book has everything you always wanted to now about the Folgore, but were afraid to ask! Folgore means “lightning” in Italian, and this book leaves one with the feeling of “percutoere da folgore” – struck by lightning. This is the most informative and concise review of the C.202 for modelers yet, and is laid out accordingly, with many pictures, diagrams and color profiles. The first 33 pages contain B&W prints and diagrams (1/72 scale) accompanying a thorough accounting of the development and operational history of the C.202. The next 40 pages are close-up color photos of the two remaining aircraft (one hanging in the Smithsonian and one in the Italian Aeronautical Museum near Rome). Superbly detailed diagrams illustrate the inner structures and cockpit details of the C.202. Pages 63-96 are full-page color profiles of the many camouflage schemes and national insignia carried by the C.202. The paint names are in Italian, allowing exact matches from paints lines using those names. For example, Verde Oliva Scuro 2 = Dark Olive Green 2. Being a European publication, technical data is in metric units. The Macchi C.202 Folgore was a rather easy and successful development of the Macchi C.200 Saetta (Arrow). Basically, license-built or purchased German liquid-cooled, 12-cylinder engines (DB601A) were married to a Saetta fuselage with minor refinements. The Folgore turned out to be more than a match for Allied fighters in 1941 and early 1942, but Mk. V Spitfires and later P40 models achieved parity and operational superiority. Even though more Folgores were built than any other Italian fighter, only 1150 C.202s were built, which was one of the two major drawbacks to the C.202 – insufficient numbers and weak armament (usually only two 12.7mm (50 cal) machine guns). By the time of the armistice in September 1943, other variants of the basic airframe had superceded the C.202 in production, and the remaining C.202s were used for training. This book clearly states the advantages and deficits of the C.202 in a level, non-partisan interpretation. The Combat History section is chock full of many obscure details, such as who the leading Italian ace in World War Two was, and the eventual fate of the Swiss order for 18 C.202s. Italian war efforts have been difficult to document, but footnotes show that the author dug deep to publish credible information for an oft-forgotten part of aviation history. In summary, Mr. Skulski has presented a masterpiece for modelers of the C.202. Over 100 documented paint schemes and dozens of close-up photographs from all angles create many opportunities for accurate, detailed and eye-catching models. Knowing where the aircraft were, who flew them, and eve what happened to individual airframes makes models come alive. The authenticity and scope of detail are impressive for such an obscure subject. The information is also applicable in part to other Italian aircraft. In conclusion, The Orange Series Macchi C.202 Folgore book is very highly recommended – indeed, mandatory – for anyone building the Folgore. All will appreciate the history and beauty of this aircraft and book. |
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