Macchi M. C. 200 -"Saetta" - the Italian fighter

Macchi M. C.200 "Saeta" - Italian World War II low-wing all-metal construction fighter aircraft with retractable landing gear. The aircraft was powered by a single 850 h. p. FIAT A.74 engine. The prototype first flew in 1937. It was mass-produced from 1938 to 1942, with about 1,150 of this type built. The aircraft was armed with four 12.7 and 7.7 mm "Breda-SAFAT" machine guns, as well as bombs, weighing up to 300 kg (in the M. C.200CB version). After the end of the war in Ethiopia in 1936, the leadership of the Italian Air Force (Regio Aeronautica) and the Italian government decided to produce a new generation of aircraft. Several companies responded to the announced competition for a new fighter, and the competition was won by "Aeronautica Macchi" and its M. C.200 aircraft. The new aircraft entered service in late 1939. They proved to be easy to handle, provided good visibility from the cockpit, had few failures and were characterized by a very robust construction. During serial production, one main development version was created - the M. C.200CB - which was a fighter-bomber. Macchi M. C.200 "Saeta" fighters were primarily used in the battles in the Mediterranean in 1940-1943, especially in North Africa. Some of them also served on the Eastern Front in 1941-1943. The aircraft, that survived World War II were removed from service by the end of 1947.

A well-designed and fairly richly detailed colorful model of medium complexity, suitable for modelers of any experience, except for complete beginners. Advanced beginners and modelers with little experience are recommended to work under the supervision of a more experienced colleague and make some simplifications - do not make the cockpit equipment, make the cockpit canopy opaque, retracted landing gear, do not make a full engine model. All this is worth trying; if it works - we make a full version, if it doesn't work... The model recreates the 369a Squadrilla/ 22 GruppoAutonomo CT II fighter piloted by Captain Giorgio Iannicelli from the Italian Air Corps, which he flew and fought on the Eastern Front in Ukraine and Russia in 1941. The graphic instructions are quite large for an airplane model and detailed, the text instructions are small and only general notes. Some details are printed double-sided, there are no color reserves.