The top four images shows the intricate scheme commonly applied to FIAT aircraft. It was quite a challenge!
The plainer V.I.P. Cr.25 was built for a SAMI article and appeared in the November 2005 issue.
This kit is a re-issue of the previous Special Hobby 1/72 Fiat Cr.25 release. This time it has a completely new decal sheet and revised instructions to enable you to build either the prototype, which was in overall aluminium or the V.I.P. transport, which had a rather complex mottled scheme initially, before being repainted in the late war overall dark olive green. The resin engine parts appear to be the same as those supplied in the 1/72 Macchi C.200 kit. The quality of the moulding is extremely good, particularly the fabric effect on the wings. The engraved panel lines are subtly done and are evenly applied.
Construction.
Having decide to build the VIP version, first task is to open up the extra fuselage windows, as well as to change the shape of those already there. Internal parts are rather minimal, with no sidewall detail and only the bare essentials for the seat, stick and intrument panel. As this kit uses the same tooling as the earlier release, the clear parts are not correct for the VIP transport. The cockpit canopy framing needs to be revised and the framing on the clear nose part needs to be removed as it was a solid nose. There are no clear parts for the cabin windows, so either clear sheet stock will have to be cut to shape or something like Kristal Kleer used instead.
There is a plug to fill the mid-turret location which was removed on this aircraft. It did retain the two nose guns, for which the openings will have to drilled out a bit more in order to get a better fit.
The main components all fit together very well, with no problems to report as such. The resin engines however are deeper than those supplied in the original kit and when I offered them up to the fairings on each wing, the front of the engines protruded from the cowlings by about 3mm or so! I shaved material from the back of the engines and from the fairings on each wing until the front of the engines sat flush with the cowl aperture.
Another problem to report is the undercarriage. There is insufficient purchase on each wheel to attach them to the undercarriage units. Either scratchbuilding a new axle or adding small lengths of tubing to each wheel hub with allow the wheels slot into place.
Colour Options
There are three choices to choose from. For the prototype its overall aluminium and for the VIP transport, either the complex mottle scheme or the much easier overall dark olive green scheme with light blue/grey lower surfaces. I used Humbrol 91 for the uppers and, from the new White Engine Models Regia Aeronautica range, grigio azzurro chiaro for the lower colour. The white fuselage was sprayed with Model Master Insignia White.
Conclusions.
Not quite straightforward a build as one would expect, what with the need to do a bit of modification to the kit parts on the VIP version. It is a relatively easy task, but does demand a bit of accuracy to do correctly, especially opening up the cabin windows and to correct the framework changes to the cockpit canopy. Apart from the engines, the kit is accurate and is the best Cr.25 in 1/72 scale. This kit can still be used for the military version by using the Tauro decal sheet 72-534, which should still be available.