Ugh, What version of Macchi 202 is this?

[Feathered_IV]

I'm hoping someone can help me here.  I'm pretty fond of small scale aircraft models and have one of these tiny 1/144 scale Macchis on their way to me from Singapore.

I'm no expert on 202s however, and am unsure which sub-type it is supposed to represent.  If anyone of our resident experts can tell me, you will be held in the highest esteem! 

 

 

Couple of other views via de intanet, anda googel...

 

 

 

[MiloMorai]

_{has a dust filter so probably a C.202AS}

[Feathered_IV]

Thanks a million Milo!  From what I can tell, the AS designation covers just about any type with the dust filter retrofitted.  Do you think it would be fair to call it a Series IX?

[unreasonable]

It has the same numerical markings as this picture so I checked the site.... and it is a model

 

http://gb.trapletshop.com/macchi-c-202-folgor-61

[Uufflakke]

It has the same numerical markings as this picture so I checked the site.... and it is a model

 

http://gb.trapletshop.com/macchi-c-202-folgor-61

 

And here is the real one.

 

[MiloMorai]

Serie were production batches. Serie IX was produced by Macchi in 1942 and was for 100 a/c, M.M.9500-9599.

 

A photo I have in a book has a Serie III (M.M. 7806) looking the same except for the camo colour spinner.

 

Serie III produced by Macchi from June 41 to April 42, M.M.7719-7858

 

What is the serial number on the model?

[Feathered_IV]

Not sure what the serial is yet.  I'll need to check when it arrives.  The Japanese company that makes them does some excellent work, but this is one of their lesser efforts.  That's why I wondered if it conformed to a particular Series.

 

For such a tiny scale model, I've seen some people do quite amazing things with them though.

 

 

 

 

[unreasonable]

I think the Japanese start off with a larger model and slowly snip pieces off them until they get down to this scale...

[Uufflakke]

I think the Japanese start off with a larger model and slowly snip pieces off them until they get down to this scale...

 

You are talking about another subtype, the Macchi C.202 Bonzai. 

 

[Cybermat47]

You know, with all the 1/72 scale and larger models I have lying around half finished, a 1/144 scale aircraft would be quite nice... what comapny made this Macchi model, Feathered?

[Feathered_IV]

These ones are done by F-toys of Japan, in cooperation with Platz.  They release new ones several times a year, but never do more than one production run so you need to grab them while you can before they disappear forever.  Many come with a token piece of bubblegum as a tax dodge so the manufacturer can class them as a food product.  Trust me though.  The gum is best left uneaten... 

 

Many can still be found on ebay for very reasonable prices.  The older ones can go for as high as three figures on occasion however.  You can display them as-is quite happily, or strip them down and refinish them to taste.

 

Here's one of FT's that I did in the same 1/144 scale.  Its like having a small, heavily armed butterfly sitting in the palm of your hand.  

 

 

[unreasonable]

 

You are talking about another subtype, the Macchi C.202 Bonzai. 

 

 

 

I think that was the Japanese export version, the Banzai.

 

It is difficult to comprehend how small and detailed these models really are from some of the pictures, they are very lovely. 

 

I probably would not even want to put firecrackers in them and then burn the wreckage (happy memories of youth). Probably.

[150GCT_Veltro]

I would say Serie VII considering the SAFAT 7,7mm, but please wait for my friend check. He could give exactly an acceptable Serie for this model.

Edited September 14, 2016 by 150GCT_Veltro

[150GCT_Pag]

 

So speaking about a "serie" concept in Regia Aeronautica.

 

A serie is a production batch of an aircraft, in many cases assigned to  different manufacturers (for C.200 and C-202, for example, beside Macchi are Breda and SAI Ambrosini).

 

Is not like the numbers of a german series (like G-2, 4 - 6, 14 etc.), or english (Spitfire Mk. I - V - IX etc.) where a higher numbers stand for better equipement, better weapon, or powerful engine.

In many cases production of  highers series was started before, depending to manufacturer... see the Serie X that started in sept. 42 while the IX started in november.

 

By the way, the C.202 Folgore retain the same engine in all series, and saw little imporvement or changing..

 

Here they are:

 

Early C. 202 Serie I~III  

First production model of C.202, built from May 1941 to early 1942. The main differences from the prototype was the fixed tailwheel, with front and rear fairing, the canopy without aft glazing, a new cowl arrangement, with a different fairing for the oil cooler, and the slightly different shape of main gear bay doors. The engine mount was in soldered aluminium tubes, instead of the cast type on late series. The Venturi tube was located on the underside, in front of the radiator; the antenna mast was a short slender type, and the supercharger air intake on the port side of the cowling was a straight type, without sand filter (most of early series Folgores were eventually upgraded to a standard antenna mast and sand filtered supercharger air intake, due to they operational theatre in North Africa).   

 

Late C. 202 Serie I~III – Serie IV – Early Serie V

Built from late 1941 to early 1942.

On these aircraft became standard the A.S. type (Africa Settentrionale, North Africa), a trop modification that included mainly the sand/dust filter on the supercharger air intake, but also an enlarged oil cooler, a small cooling cockpit air intake in front of the windscreen, internal fairings for the wheel bay, and others smaller sand/dust countermeasures. Also standard was the long antenna mast, and the cast engine mount. Most aircraft have only the front fairing of the tailwheel, while the rear fairing was removed.

  

Late C. 202 Serie V – Serie VI~X – Early Serie XI

Built in 1942, these aircraft were characterized by the installation of a Breda-SAFAT 7,7mm machine gun on each wing, with 500 rpg; also added a shell ejection port on the underside of each wing. Otherwise this installation was discontinuous, due mainly to increased weight that affected the flight performances of the fighter; the aircraft with the wing’s guns removed had a plate covering the gun ports on the leading edge of the wings. Other modifications were the introduction of a bulletproof windscreen (not on all aircraft), an armor plate added behind the seat to protect the pilot’s back, and also a rear view mirror on the front canopy. From mid 1942, the C.202 was equipped with a new fixed tailwheel, the so-called “D-type”. Moreover, on some aircrafts a small bulge  appeared on each side of the cowling, after the already existing bulge.     

 

Late C. 202 Serie XI – Serie XII~XV

Last production models of the Folgore, were built for about one year from early 1943 to early 1944. The major external differences from previous models were the fabric covered elevators with a hornbalance, a small hot air outlet on the starboard side of the cowl, two access hatches to the nose mounted Breda_SAFAT ammuniton feeds and a reshaped oil cooler outlet. The Venturi tube was moved from the underside to the right side of the fuselage, below the cockpit. Few aircraft were fitted with a  D/F equipement, with the antenna located on the underside of the fuselage, behind the radiator.  About a CB (caccia bombardiere) with two wing racks allowing a 50/100/160 kg bomb or 100lt external tank to be mounted under each wing there are some points to be clarified. On December 23th 1942, the “Ministero dell’Aeronautica” issued an official request for bombs/tanks racks but, there is no evidence that such a 202 version was built and employed by Regia Aeronautica. A reasonable conclusion is that  a study was performed but no CB version was built for the Regia Aeronautica. Later on (1944), Breda built a certain number of  C.202 CB version for the Luftwaffe.

 

Experimental aircraft (C. 202EC – C. 202D)

The C.202 M.M. 91974/Serie XIII was experimentally fitted with two Mauser MG151/20 20mm gunpacks under the wings. Like the installation of the two Breda-SAFAT in the wings, this modification also degraded the aircraft performance and was not suitable of further development. The C.202 M.M. 7768/Serie III, was fitted with a large chin radiator under the nose, replacing both the oil cooler and the main liquid radiator under the belly. Due to the nearly marginal improvement in performance, the development of the aircraft, designated C. 202D, was cancelled. 

 

Here the list of series:

 

Serie I  - Breda - M.M. (serial numbers) 7859~7958 - 100 aircraft -  July ’41/ march’42

Serie II - Macchi - M.M. (serial numbers) 7709~7718 - 10 aircraft -  june ‘41  

Serie III - Macchi - M.M. (serial numbers) 7719~7858 - 140 aircraft -  july ’41/ apr.’42  

Serie IV - SAI Ambrosini - M.M. (serial numbers) 7409~7458 - 50 aircraft  - from oct. ‘42 

Serie V - SAI Ambrosini - M.M. (serial numbers) 7959~8008 - 50 aircraft  - july/aug.’42 

Serie VI - Breda - M.M. (serial numbers) 8339~8388 - 50 aircraft  - from may ‘42  

Serie VII - Macchi - M.M. (serial numbers) 9023~9122 - 100 aircraft  - from may ‘42  

Serie VIII - Breda - M.M. (serial numbers) 8081~8130 - 50 aircraft  - from  june ‘42 

Serie IX - Macchi - M.M. (serial numbers) 9389~9488 - 100 aircraft  - aircraft  - from nov. ‘42 

Serie X - Breda - M.M. (serial numbers) 9500~9599 - 100 aircraft  - from sept. ‘42  

Serie XI -  Breda - M.M. (serial numbers) 6560~6609, 9602~9751 - 200 aircraft  - from feb. ‘43  

Serie XII - Breda - M.M. (serial numbers) 91803~91952 - 150 aircraft  - from  june ‘43  

Serie XIII - Macchi - M.M. (serial numbers) 91953~92002 - 50 aircraft  - from march ‘43  

Serie XIV - SAI Ambrosini - M.M. (serial numbers) 92003~92052 - 50 aircraft  - Planned - not built  

Serie XV - Breda - M.M. (serial numbers) 92053~92152 - 100 aircraft  - Planned - not built  

Serie XVI - Breda - M.M. (serial numbers) 95950~96099 - 150 aircraft  - Planned - not built 

 

Many C.202 airframe were later converted in C.205 aircraft, with the new engine.

 

[Feathered_IV]

Fantastic information.  I certainly came to the right place.