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Hasegawa 1/48 Macchi C.205V Serie I Veltro (Greyhound) by Richard Davenport |
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When a more powerful version of the German Daimler Benz became availlable, the last Italian fighters of the war were built. These aircraft were on a par with the best American, British, and German aircraft. The Macchi MC.205 was the first Italian airplane to be powered by the new engine, and it was also the first 'Series 5' aeroplane to see substantial service before the 1943 armistice. The prototype took to the air on April 19, 1942. It was derived from the MC.202. The only apparent difference between the MC.205 and its preedecessor was the engine housing. The MC.205 also had two cyclindrical oil coolers on each side, while the earlier airplane had a single belly radiator. Because of the greater power of the Daimler Benz DB 605 (1,475 hp), the MC.205 was a far better plane than the MC.202. The prototype reached a speed of 407 mph (655 km/h), and it could gain 20,000 ft (6,096 m) in 4 minutes and 52 seconds. The MC.205 was the first Italian fighter to carry 20 mm cannons on the wings, indispensable for bomber interception. This was the first Italian airplane to be as heavily armed as those of other air forces, and with the bigger and more powerful engine, the MC.205 was an extremely manoeuvrable aeroplane, especially at medium and low altitudes. Large-scale production was ordered at once, but production was slowed down by scarcity of strategic materials and engines. Between October 1942 and September 1943 about 200 aircraft were built. Macchi continued to build the airplane even after the 1943 armistice and another 112 airplanes were built before the assembly line was put out of commission by Allied bombing raids. All these aircraft were delivered to Mussolini's ANR. The aircraft became operational in 1943 and was used chiefly in the Mediterranean and in Sicily at the time of the Allied invasion. The period of greatest activity, however, was after the 1943 armistice. At this time thirty-four aircraft were used by the Allies, especially on the Yugoslavian front, while in the north there were 29 Macchi MC.205s in addition to the 112 new ones that were already built. All these aircraft remained in active service until the summer of 1944. A few MC.205s were kept in service after the war. They were assigned to the 5th Fighter Group until 1947 and were then reassigned to flying schools, where they remained operational until as late as 1951. |
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| Among the first units to receive the new Veltro 51o Stormo flew from Sardinia during the summer of 1943. |
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This is the Italeri 1/48 Macchi MC.205 “Veltro” (#2765), representing MM 9291, 360a Sqadriglia, 155° Gruppo, 51° Stormo. The aircraft was flown by m.lio R Gaucci on 25 June 1943 when, along with F. Serafini, he shot down a B-26 Maurader. Gaucci had a record of 10 individual victories, 5 shared, and 1 probable. The only additions to the kit were Ultracast Macchi C.202/205 Seat (#48173) and Ultracast Macchi C.202/205 Wheels (#48176). I added brake lines and some hardware to the wheel wells, using photos from Walk Around as a guide. Interior color was Ammo by Mig Jimenez Verde Anticorrosione (A.MIG-0273). Exterior colors were LifeColor Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 (UA 525) and LifeColor Nocciola 4 (UA 526). Smoke rings were painted with MRP (Mr. Paint) Verde Oliva Scuro 2 (MRP-303). Creating the smoke rings involved using a 0.2 tip on my airbrush, boosting air pressure to 30 psi, but greatly limiting the flow for both paint and air and using the paint straight from the bottle. Working from about ˝" from the surface, I was able to achieve a fairly tight pattern with minimal overspray. Decals were from the kit and Stormo Decals Macchi C.205V Aces – Part I (48-008). Panel line wash consisted of a small amount of tempera paint greatly thinned with water and a drop of liquid soap; I used brown on the top and black on undersides. Primary reference was Squadron/Signal Macchi C.205 Veltro Walk Around #5558. |
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Aircraft: Macchi C.205 Serie I Manufacturer: Aeronautica Macchi S.p.A. Type: Fighter Year: 1943 Engine: Damiler Benz DB 605A-1, 12-cylinder V, liquid-cooled 1,475hp Wingspan: 34 ft 8 1/2 in (10.59m) Length: 29 ft 1 in (8.85 m) Height: 10 ft (3.05 m) Weight: 7,120 lb (3,224 kg) (Loaded) Maximum Speed: 403 mph (650 km/h) at 24,300 ft (7,400 m) Ceiling: 37,200 ft (11,350 m) Range: 646 miles (1,040 km) Armament: 2 x 12.7mm (0.5 in) SAFAT machine guns; 2 x 7.7mm MGs Crew: 1 |
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