Kit: No. FM48001
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Flying Machines, distributed by Pacific Coast Models, 613 Martin Ave., No. 106, Rohnert Park, CA 94928-2000
Price: $34.95
Comments: Multimedia, 65 parts (27 injection-molded plastic, 36 resin, 2 vacuum-formed canopies), decals
Pros: Good detail and overall good fit, excellent canopy, and excellent decals
Cons: Some resin parts need to be trimmed to fit
The Re. 2005 was Reggiane's final fighter design to reach production and was the best of the the company's "2000 series." The "Sagittario's" power and performance came from a license-built version of the German Daimler Benz DB-605A engine. The Re. 2005 faced competition from Fiat's G. 55 and Macchi's Mc. 205 in the Regia Aeronautica's 1942 quest for a new fighter. Although only 30 machines were built before Italy's surrender in September 1943, a surprising number were used in combat operations.
Flying Machines is a new Italian company that has this all-new kit produced in the Czech Republic. The main parts are nicely molded in a soapy, neutral-gray plastic that has almost no flash. The cockpit and other small details are well molded in polyurethane resin. The canopy is vacuum-formed, and a spare is included.
Starting in the cockpit, I carefully installed the armored headrest. It fits well and provides positive location for the cockpit side panels. The instructions call for installing the panels on the fuselage sides then attaching the cockpit floor before gluing the fuselage together. After some test fitting, I found it better to install the cockpit floor from below, after the fuselage was glued together. I also had to adjust the length of the resin exhausts slightly to fit the fuselage recesses.
Like many Czech kits, the beautifully detailed resin main wheel wells are deeper than the wings they go into. I had to sand them down considerably before the upper and lower wing halves would close around them. The wing/fuselage joint required some sanding and trimming of the back edge for a good fit.
The landing gear assemblies have a large number of plastic and resin parts. Each set of resin gear doors is molded together, and the doors needed to be separated carefully into three parts. The wheels will not fit unless you remove the axle pin from one side of each fork strut. I recommend installing brackets to the struts to help attach the doors.
The propeller assembly consists of separate blades mounted to a hub. There are no alignment keys, so you need to set the prop angles carefully. I completed assembly by installing the excellent vacuum-formed canopy.
I painted my Re. 2005 with Polly Scale's Italian Air Force colors. Decals are provided for two Italian and one German scheme. They are beautifully printed and went on fine over a clear gloss coat.
The finished model matched the dimensions and photos in my primary reference, Ali D'Italia Number 16 Reggiane Re. 2005. I also found Squadron/Signal's Reggiane Fighters in Action useful.
I finished my Re. 2005 in 12 hours. It was simple to build and holds enough detail to turn out a convincing replica - a good starting point for a modeler looking to try a multimedia kit.