Supermodel 1/72 Fiat Cr32  built for a SAMI review article in 2005. It is worth noting that the recent 1/72 AZ Models release appears to be a cleaned-up version of this model and displays more refined detail.

This is a welcome re-issue of the elderly Supermodel kit. As far as I'm aware it's the only appearance that this fine looking aircraft has made in 1/72 injection moulded form, the only alternative in this scale being the OOP resin Museum kits. Despite the crude detail, it is quite accurate in shape and outline. All that needs to be done is to partially fill the excessively deep panel lines and to sand away all fabric effect until it is barely visible. These two measures alone will vastly improve the overall look of the model. One major drawback is the dearth of useable cockpit detail, with only a fictional seat and instrument pane supplied. The RCR etch set has plenty of detail to fill this area out.

One other item(s) that needs attention are the main undercarriage legs. They are too short and should actually join the fuselage at a point just aft of the exhaust.

There are five schemes provided on the decal sheet, covering 3 types. They are a silver doped Austrian & Luftwaffe Cr.32, a camouflaged Regia Aeronautica Cr.32, a Spanish Cr.32 bis (with additional wing mounted guns) and finally, a Cr.32 quater.

I used WEM enamels in my portrayal of the quater. The decals worked very nicely, although the squadriglia codes should have the '10' numeral in red.

Despite the apparent age of this model, with a bit of work, a very nice looking kit can still be achieved.