Fiat CR.32
Spanish Civil War &
Regia Aeronautica versions

Classic Airframes

Reviewed by Brett Green

Classic Airframes' 1/48 scale Fiat CR.32 will be available online from Squadron

Classic Airframes continues to release new members of the CR.32 family with their Spanish Civil War and Regia Aeronautica versions.

Steven Eisenman reviewed the earlier release, CR.32 Foreign Service, back in December 2005. These kits are essentially the same except for decals and a few additional resin parts for bombs and their mounts in the Regia Aeronatica kit.

To recap, though, it must be pointed out that these are very different kits to the original Classic Airframes CR.32 kit from the 1990s. In fact, the three wing parts are the only pieces used from that older kit. Even these are quite well done, with fabric detail and recessed aileron hinge lines.

The new plastic parts are well up to the standard of current Classic Airframes releases with authentic fabric texture on the fuselage and crisp surface detail elsewhere. It is nice to see new and improved main wheels with separate spats this time around too.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Resin is always one of the strengths in Classic Airframes kits, and this offering is no exception. In addition to a beautifully detailed cockpit plus positionable horizontal control surfaces, we are presented with a stunning solid nose section. The fine cooling fins are the most impressive area of a most impressive chunk of resin.

The colour photo etched parts are also a welcome bonus here. Two small frets contain harness, seat cushion, rudder and instrument panel details. Just great!

As with all limited run kits, and especially biplanes, the Classic Airframes Fiat CR.32 will need time spent on parts preparation and test fitting prior to construction. The absence of locating pins will also demand a bit of extra care in aligning the parts when committing to glue.

Markings:

Markings for kit no. 4107, Spanish Civil War, are as follows:

• X Gruppo Autonomo Caccia, 1938 - finished in segmented gree, brown and sand over light blue grey
• 4a Stormo Caccia 1936-37 in overall Aluminium Dope
• XVI Gruppo 1938 in a typical Italian mottle of Olive Green, Red Brown and Sand over Light Blue Grey, and
• Gruppo 2-G-3 in 1938, also finished in a mottle of Olive Green, Red Brown and Sand over Light Blue Grey

An impressive seven different aircraft are covered in kit no 4108, Regia Aeronautica . These comprise five in a four-colour mottle, one segmented camouflage and one in overall Aluminium Dope.

It is nice to see some of Classic Airframes' "Classics" being not only re-released, but also significantly brought up to today's demanding standards. The Fiat CR.32 is certainly a worthy subject with its typically Italian lines and terrific range of colours and markings in domestic and export service.

Take your time, test fit, and you will have an attractive and well-detailed biplane on your shelf.

Now, what else would it be nice to see renovated from Classic Aiframes' impressive back catalogue?

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Classic Airframes for the review samples.

Classic Airframes kits are available worldwide through hobby retailers and from Squadron.com

Review Text Copyright © 2006 by Brett Green
Images  Copyright © 2006 by Steven Eisenman and Brett Green
Page Created 24 March, 2006
Last updated 24 March, 2006

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