RCR Breda BA 65

Shane · Post by **Shane** » Fri May 01, 2009 5:27 am

Any comments on this kit? How does it stack up to the Azur and AZ kits? Thanks
Shane

Chris Busbridge · Post by **Chris Busbridge** » Sat May 02, 2009 6:10 am

Is this for the 1/72 mixed media kit or the 1/48 resin kit? The 1/72 kit is quite nice, but has an undersized cowling. The 1/48 is accurate but has very poorly rendered engraved panel lines, with many panels not even featured. Both these (and the AZ kits) are of the A80 variant. The Azur kit is the K14 variant which has a rather ill-conceived resin cowling/engine cast as a single piece.

For me, the best choice is the AZ Models kit.

Incidentally, I am working (on and off) on the 1/48 RCR resin kit, filling in all the engraved panel lines and re-scribing the whole model based on the plans in the Ali d'Italia book.

Shane · Post by **Shane** » Sun May 03, 2009 6:59 am

I appreciate the comments. I am thinking of purchasing the 1/72 RCR kit to go with the Azur, AZ and Aerofile kits I am working on. I agree with your evaluation of the kits and their short comings and am trying to correct or work around them. I found the vacuform Rareplane kit a good source of replacement parts (to replace the poor engine cowlings and poor canopy glass) and alternative versions (turrets). I was hoping the RCR kit would be somewhere between the Azur and AZ kit in detail.

I am still trying to determine which versions had the lower windows, and which didn't. Were the lower window replaced by panels in the same April 39 directive from the Italian Air Staff to use the aircraft in the single seat version only and ordered all rear cockpits to be closed or suitably faired-over?

Thanks again
Shane

Chris Busbridge · Post by **Chris Busbridge** » Sun May 03, 2009 10:40 am

I did ask the same question myself on another forum some time ago and the response was that the lower glazing was probably painted over. Makes sense to me, as removal of the turret was a weight saving exercise and replacing the light plastic/perspex glazing with heavier metal panels seems counter productive.