Macchi MC.200 "Saeta" – the Italian fighter

Designed by engineer Mario Castoldi, head of the design office of the "Aeronautica Machi" company, the C.200 "Saeta" ("Arrow") fighter was one of the first all-metal low-wing aircraft with retractable landing gear, to be mass-produced in Italy. Designed as part of the Italian military aviation modernization program, along with the FIAT G.50 and Reggiane RE 2000 fighters, it was to replace the structurally outdated and slow fighters - the FIAT CR. 32 and CR. 42 biplanes. The C.200 prototype first took to the air in December 1937. In competition with the aforementioned aircraft, the “Saeta” performed best and serial production began in 1938. During the first tests, it reached a speed of 800 km/h in a dive. This fighter should be seen as a typical aircraft of the Italian design school, which relied on high maneuverability and climb rate. Compared to fighters from other countries, the “Saeta” was somewhat slower and less armed, but during the battle there were no faster fighters in turns, and only the “Spitfire” could won them in climb rate. The armament consisted of only two 12.7 mm machine guns and was not equivalent to Allied fighters at the time of its creation. But it was, what today's pilots would call, a "pilot's machine" - in terms of piloting capabilities in any weather or combat conditions, this fighter had no equal. These fighters were also used as fighter-bombers, although they could carry only two 100 or 150 kg bombs. After the capitulation of Italy, several dozen C.200s fought in operations against Germany in cooperation with the Allies.

A small model of a small fighter, quite well designed and moderately detailed, intended for truly "small modelers". The entire exterior of the aircraft is not badly detailed, the cockpit equipment is minimally detailed, the landing gear is also, its niches are completely without detail, the engine cowling is somewhat more seriously restored. There is no color reserve, the textual instruction is considerable, quite detailed and informative in Polish, the graphical one is perhaps a bit too small, but sufficient for gluing the model. The model recreates the appearance of a fighter, that participated in the battles against Germany on the side of the Allies. Antiquarian publication.