Italeri

1/48 Re.2002 Ariete

Kit Number: 552670

Reviewed by  Robert DeMaio, IPMS# 45186

MSRP: $47.00 Courtesy of Model Rectifier Corporation: www.modelrec.com This new release and tooling of the Italeri Italian World War II built aircraft in 1/48th scale, adds enthusiasm to something different in the modeling world. We’ve seen the same models repeated by different companies year after year. Well this is no repeat, and is a welcome addition with engraved panel lines and detailed cockpit. It’s a nice little kit to add to your shelf. The box has a split flap picture to the front box cover due to an attached piece of the artist painted rendition of the plane inside suitable for displaying. How many times and how many places do we look for details, pictures and cutaway drawings to research the accuracy of a model? Many hours can detract us from getting started, but this kit includes a photographic reference manual containing a brief history, with technical details, and color profiles. The technical details are line drawings that are found in Tech Manuals. Pages in between contain color photos that appear to be an aircraft under restoration. I found this book to be of high importance while building the kit. The parts are molded exceptionally well with recessed rivet patterns throughout the skin of the aircraft. All the parts are clean and free of sinkholes, but the fit is in the mold. Step one starts with cutting a square in the fuselage on both sides for a door. A small box part is given to glue on the inside, but will not be seen unless you glue the door open. The cockpit tub consists of just five parts. Seatbelts are molded onto the seat and the buckles are pronounced enough to paint without difficulty. The sidewalls are virtually bare and all the equipment boxes are molded in place. There is a full head-on shot of the instrument panel indicating each position of a decal instrument. That’s great if they would correctly match the decals with proper numbers between the decal sheet and instructions, but who really cares at this scale. The instrument decals are so small they look alike and recessed into the instrument panel, and after the kit was finished, I could barely see one instrument with the Gun Sight in place. Ah, the work I hate to do. There is another small panel to cut out in the top wing halves to fit a replacement panel. Is there going to be another version of this aircraft without cutting out these panels; maybe the Re.2000. A loose fit is obvious when you assemble the cowling ring onto the cowling halves. The machine gun ports were poorly done and I had to repair with filler and drill out for them. Wheel wells are separate molded parts glued inside the wing half. A seem remains visible between the wheel housing and has to be filled. Four wing flaps are also separate and add a nice touch to leave open to view the structure detail inside. I found it necessary to putty the fuselage seams after gluing. The landing gear is comprised of just a strut and brace and I avoided gluing in place until necessary. The bomb pod and anti-sway braces are a given to add to the aircraft underside while you assemble the rest of the model. The decision to add the fuel tank, bomb, or dive bomb swing brace can be decided later on. I did mine in the dive bomber configuration. The engine is done up quite nicely in two parts, and the piston rods and engine front housing of two parts, makes painting easier. The fuselage structure spine falls into place nicely. The canopy is in two pieces to glue open or closed, and is very clear with precise canopy framework I masked it with Micro Mask and painted to two tone scheme with Testors Italian colors. The decal sheet offers six aircraft markings: three Axis, two German, and one Italian during the Allied late alliance. The decals are thin an caution should be applied setting these down. They stick well and you don’t have much time adjust in place. Overall this is a good kit and I feel Italeri should pursue producing more Italian World War II aircraft on the market. If I were measuring this kit alone, the $47.00 MSRP for this 1/48 scale is steep but you don’t have a choice to buy the kit separately. What you are paying extra for is the printed book that accompanies the model. It was helpful for me, but many of the line drawings could have been left out for I wasn’t building the real airplane. Is it worth the extra price to you- that’s a personal choice? My thanks to Ed Sexton and MRC Academy for the chance to review the kit.