This is a revised, edited version of the 1/72 Special Hobby RE.2003 kit built for a SAMI review back in 2007.
Reggiane built two RE.2003 reconnaissance prototypes. The first one was based in the RE.2000 and the second appears to have been based on the RE.2002. There are notable differences between the two, with the smoother more streamlined fuselage of the second prototype being quite apparent.
This kit has most parts from their RE.2000 kit with an all new fuselage supplied in resin. A lot of the cockpit side wall detail is moulded into the resin fuselage parts and done to very high standard. It is perhaps the best thing about the model. Less appealing is the cowling moulded as part of the fuselage, just like on their other RE.2000 kits. What worked surprisingly well was the mating of the injection moulded parts to the resin fuselage, especially the wings. The stabiliser fillets on the fuselage need to be trimmed away at the rear to get the injection moulded parts to fit properly. Dealing with the large one piece canopy is perhaps the most difficult stage of this model. It needed numerous test fits before a reasonable fit was achieved and masking it for the painting stage was also an exercise in patience.
Colour options are restricted to the standard prototype scheme of the time. White Ensign's Verde Oliva Scuro was used for the upper surfaces and their Grigio Azzurro Chiaro on the lower. The white fuselage banded was sprayed.
The decals are printed with a very thin varnish and conformed very nicely into the engraved detail, with no silvering at all on the paint surfaces.
Although Special s range of 1/72 RE.2000 kits are generally good, Swords recent RE.2000s are more up to date. This RE.2003 is still the best choice though when compared to those released by both AZ Model & RS Model. None of these managed to get the rear cockpit dimensions spot on, all being rather oversized.