Pacific Coast Models 1/32 Re 2005

Kit: No. 32004
Scale: 1/32
Manufacturer: Pacific Coast Models, 707-538-4850, www.pacmodels.com
Price: $53.95
Comments: Multimedia, 83 parts (41 injection-molded plastic, 21 resin, 21 photoetched-metal), decals
Pros: Great subject
Cons: Fiddly fit in places

Pacific Coast Models' choice for its fourth 1/32 scale kit, the Reggiane 2005 is a rare model - especially in this scale.
The kit is multimedia, with plastic, resin, and photoetched metal, but I was surprised by the small number of parts. There are fewer photoetched-metal parts than in Pacific Coast's MC. 202/205 kits. Beautiful cast resin parts are used instead.

I started by following the instructions for painting and test-fitting the cockpit interior. It's mostly resin, with some photoetched-metal and plastic parts. The photoetched metal is precolored and looks great, particularly the unique Italian seat-belt assembly.

After tacking the cockpit module together, I found it difficult to get it deep enough into the fuselage. I glued the cockpit's side walls to their respective fuselage parts and brought the fuselage floor in later, along with the attached bulkhead, through the bottom of the assembled fuselage.
The exhausts are neatly molded in resin, but are not one-piece as illustrated in the instructions. Top and bottom deflector plates need to be added; they're provided.

The fuselage gun ports are presented as a separate part. You can use it or grind out the gun ports and install the kit-supplied resin blast tubes. The latter looked more realistic to me. The neatly molded resin wheel wells need work to make them fit. After removing the molding plugs (which are part of the wheel-well roof), I sanded as much of this area as I could, being careful not to break through the roof. After test-fitting the wing tops, I found this wasn't enough. So, I thinned more by sanding the area of the wing tops that meets the wheel wells.

Fitting the assembled wing to the fuselage, I found the wing-root fit was very tight. I sanded the wing roots until the fit was just snug.

Next, I installed the fuselage floor and still had trouble getting it deep enough into the fuselage; the culprit was the bulkhead (part No. A13). I sanded down the sides until I could position the floor. Then I attached the wings to the fuselage and found the bulkhead widened the fuselage enough that my nice snug fit was back to the original, overly tight fit! After a bit more sanding of the fuselage wing root, all was well again.

The real Re 2005 has a slightly positive wing dihedral. The kit will build out with zero dihedral if you don't work at it. Taping the wings tip to tip while the glue dried worked fine.

The two-piece canopy/windscreen is molded clearly and flash-free.
I painted the kit mostly with Gunze Sangyo Hobby Color and Tamiya acrylic paint. Decals are given for five aircraft. Neatly printed by Cartograf, they are a bit thicker than usual and must be applied over a good gloss surface. The Italian Air Force wing insignia will certainly cause problems otherwise.

I finished my Re 2005 in a speedy 20 hours. Though I may have made it sound difficult, it was an enjoyable build and the finished model is impressive. It's a great choice for experienced modelers looking for a 1/32 scale, multimedia challenge.

- Jim Zeske