KIT:

Sweet 1/144 Macchi C.200

KIT #

14106

PRICE:

$12.00

DECALS:

six aircraft

REVIEWER:

Scott Van Aken

NOTES:

 

HISTORY


The Macchi C.200 was one of several aircraft developed to meet the need of a monoplane fighter prior to the start of WWII. Though several types made prototype stage, only the Fiat G.50, Macchi C.200 and Reggianne Re.2000 made it to production. Of those, the Re.2000 was developed more for export than local use.

Between the C.200 and G.50, most pilots preferred the C.200. Though about the equivalent in performance, the C.200 was a much better handling aircraft and more fun to fly. To show how well designed the airframe was, more improved and faster aircraft, the MC 202 and 205 were developed just by adding a license built Daimler-Benz engines of greater power. If you want more info, do a Google.
 

THE KIT

From my understanding, Sweet kits are developed by an ex-Tamiya engineer who wanted small scale models of interesting planes that could be built in a very short time. In fact, these are designed to be built in about an hour, though the reality of having to paint them means a bit more time is required.  

Nonetheless, the kits are simplicity personified and the detail level is remarkably high for kits of this size. Yes, they are engraved panel lines, and well done at that. Cheap they are not at around $12-15 MSRP in the US, but they are beauties. Normally, Sweet kits come two to a box, but this one is only a single kit and that is due as much to the additional decal sheet as anything else. The kit does have options. There are three different windscreens provided depending on early, middle or late production. You can also choose to leave off the bombs, but you'll have a few holes to fill.

The decals with this kit are the real selling point. Frankly, I know of darn few people who could paint the rather complicated camouflage pattern that these kits require. You will have to mask the upper and under surfaces where the camo wraps under the flight surfaces, but the camo is provided on a separate decal sheet. It offers two different designs; the 'smoke ring' version and the regular mottled one. For a kit of this scale, it is a great idea. By offering two sets of camo, one can buy one of the two-plane sets and do the second plane in overall green, thereby having all three major camo schemes on your display shelf!

The instructions are superb showing all the differences between types and any special painting requirements needed for each scheme. Too bad it is written in Japanese, but the pictures are self explanatory.

CONCLUSIONS

With the addition of this kit to my collection, I now have one boxing of all three different planes they produce (the others being an FM-2 and Hurricane). A Zero is due out later this year and I'm very much looking forward to it. Frankly, I know folks who like the kits just because of the cute box art as much as anything else!

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly by a site that has over 200,000 visitors a month, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.

Back to the Main Page

Back to the Reviews Index Page

Back to the Previews Index Page