Fiat CR.42 AS
& Assalto

Classic Airframes

Reviewed by Steven "Modeldad" Eisenman

Classic Airframes' 1/48 scale Fiat CR 42 AS may be ordered online from Squadron

Classic Airframes has now released its third installment in the Fiat CR. 42 epic saga - the AS and Assalto (Assault) variants in one kit. The two previous offerings were the CR. 42 fighter, in both Italian and Export markings.

It should be noted that AS does not indicate “Assalto”, rather AS stands for Africa Settentrionale (Northern Africa). This indicates that the aircraft was equipped with a sand filter. While the kit provides marking to do an AS Assalto, with other markings one can make an Assalto either with or without the sand filter, or a Fighter with the sand filter.

The new CR. 42 AS kit comes with additional resin parts packed in a separate bag. These parts include two bombs, bomb racks, sand filter and the extended “Wellington” style exhausts. The bombs are nicely molded in one piece with a separate circular fin.

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There is a supplemental instruction sheet for the new parts, which also attempts to correct some of the problems in the instructions in the previous CR. 42 kits. There are clearer instructions for assembly of the cockpit, as well as a picture of a completed cockpit.

But the new instructions, in step 11, continue to show the inner cabine struts incorrectly installed upside down! Parts B17 and B5 should be installed as a “V”, with the open end up.

While we are on the subject of the instructions, be careful if you are going to make the Luftwaffe aircraft or the one with the “smoke ring” camouflage. The wheel covers on these aircraft are only partially removed. I believe the instruction show too much of the wheel cover is to be removed. From pictures that I have seen, it appears that the bottom of the wheel cover is cut at a point about half way down the top of the tire. The cut line appears to be parallel to the ground when the horizontal axis of the aircraft is parallel to the ground. So test fit.

• Scuola Caccia d’Assalto (Assault School), Ravenna, circa 1942. This aircraft was repainted in the Macchi style camouflage of Verde 3 (Green 3) “smoke rings” on Giallo 3 (Yellow 3) base. The underside is light gray. Given the time period, I believe the base color should be Nocciola Chiaro (Light Hazelnut). This color was close to RLM 79. This aircraft has the wheel covers removed up to the “cuff”.

• Sezione Autonoma Collegamenti, Rome-Centocello, circa 1945-1946. I’m not sure of the translation, but this aircraft might have been used as a trainer. The colors are given as a Verde 3 base with Giallo 3 spots. Once again, I would opt for the browner Light Hazelnut color, instead of Yellow 3. Also, the base color may more likely be Verde Oliva Scuro (Dark Olive Green). The aircraft carries the Italian roundel in six positions. The wheel covers on this aircraft are removed only to about the top of the wheel.

• 15 Stormo d’Assalto, Barce, Cyrenaica, circa October 1942. This aircraft was repainted in the “Lizard Scheme” that was applied to assault aircraft, both CR. 42s and G. 50s. The colors called for are a Verde 3 base with large Giallo 3 blotches. Once again, the colors would more likely be Dark Olive Green base with Light Hazelnut blotches.

• 2. / NSGr 9 (Nachtschlachtgruppe), Luftwaffe, Turin-Aeritalia, circa 1944, Coded E8+JK. This aircraft appears to be a vast palate of colors. The colors given are Giallo 3, Verde 3, RLM 76 (Light Blue), RLM 75 (Grey-Violet) and RLM 70 (Black-Green). The undersides of both the upper and lower wings are mottled. The aircraft carries the Balkenkreuz on the top of the upper wing and fuselage. The aircraft carries the extended “Wellington” style exhausts and has the wheel covers removed only to the top part of the tire.

My impression of this last aircraft is that the base colors may have been the “Lizard” scheme of Dark Olive Green and Light Hazelnut. The colors for added mottling could be anything. It is interesting to note that some of these Luftwaffe aircraft had a higher underside light color demarcation line. It is possible that the lighter color was an over-painting using RLM76 or even the Italian Blue-Gray. I am unable to determine whether the aircraft had Balkenkreuz on the underside of the lower wings. For further information, you might want look at this site:

http://p069.ezboard.com/fluftwaffeexperten71774frm57.showMessageRange?topicID=7.topic&start=1&stop=20
 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

As far as I’m concerned, this kit is a must. I’ve long waited for a good CR. 42 in all its incarnations. Now being able to make both the AS and Assalto versions will allow me to fill in more of the blank spots in my collection of Italian WW-2 aircraft.

I would recommend that before you build this kit, you read John Valo’s excellent build article..

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Classic Airframes for the review sample.

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

Review and Images Copyright © 2005 by Steven "Modeldad" Eisenman
Page Created 16 February, 2005
Last updated 16 February, 2005

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