Macchi C. 205 Veltro

Brief history: The Macchi 205 Veltro was an extensive upgrade of the Macchi 202 Fogalore. The Veltro was fitted with a German Daimler-Benz DB205 engine, dual barrel type oil coolers, a retractable tail-wheel, and in later production versions, wing mounted 20mm cannons.

The new Veltro fighter proved to be on par with the British Spitfire and other allied aircraft. They were used up until Italy's surrender in Sept. 1943, and continued use with the German Luftwaffe. Egypt acquired several Veltros after WWII ended and used them into the early 1950's.

The Model: This Macchi 205 Veltro is a 1/48th scale model from Hasagawa that's been around for a while (90's) but as with most of their kits, is still very nice. I built this model almost "out of box" but did add detail mainly to the cockpit area, photo-etch from Eduard for the seat belts, sidewalls and gage panel. I also added exhausts from Quickboost.

[Later production Veltros were also equipped with wing mounted 20mm cannons.]

[Italy employed the Veltro until its surrender in 1943, and after the war the Egyptians used them into the early 1950's.]

I finished the model with Lifecolor paints, which came in a set for Italian aircraft. In order to duplicate the Macchi "smoke ring" camo scheme, I used over 200 Tauro decals in a random pattern. All other markings are decals from Sky Models.

[The model was built mostly out-of-box, besides Eduard PE details in the cockpit and exhausts from Quickboost.]

Overall, a very enjoyable build of an aircraft regarded as the best Italian fighter of WWII.

[I used over 200 Tauro decals in a random pattern to duplicate the Macchi smoke-ring camo scheme.]