Co-Belligerent AF Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete

Supermodel Reggiane Re2002 Ariete/Ram
An attractive but venerable kit, this rendition of the fighter-bomber Ariete makes up very well, although the lack of interior detail is likely to be a disappointment to the more serious modeller. The dark olive green parts appear to be well-moulded, with little flash and dry-fit together nicely. A choice of three decal schemes is provided, for Regio Aeronautica, Luftwaffe and Co-Belligerent Airforce examples. I am making the latter, in line with the broad theme of my collection. The painting instructions are fairly good, although not wholly convincing in relation to issues such as the painting of wheel-well interiors, etc. The kit can be built in wheels-up and wheels-down versions, with a clear plastic stand provided to support the former presentation. One particularly nice feature of the kit is the provision of a 250lb bomb on a swinging crutch (to throw it clear of the propeller in a dive) to facilitate the building of a dive-bomber variant.

The Re2002 was an extension of the Re2000 series (itself inspired by the Seversky P35), taking the radial engine concept from the Re2000 and the developed airframe of the inline engined Re2001. With its more damage-resistant radial engine, the result was a highly capable ground attack aircraft with qualities recognised by both the Luftwaffe, whose dedicated "Jabo" unit Geschwader Bongart used 30 for anti-partisan activities in the Aisne, Vercors and Limoges areas, and by the Allies, who used it to support partisan activities in Northern Italy and the Balkans.

This particular model represents a "Ram" of 239 Squadriglia, 101 or 102 Gruppo (sources differ), 5 Stormo Caccia, flying with the Italian Co-Belligerent Airforce from a dirt airfield in Palata, close to Foggia, in early 1944. (239 Squadriglia was a dive-bombing squadron and had previously flown Ju87 Stukas, including at Tobruk.) 5 Stormo flew the first CBAF mission, a strike against German transports sailing for Corfu, ten days after the Armistice, on 18 September 1943, and continued operating the type in supprt of local partisans and Italian Co-Belligerent troops in the Balkans until they were finally handed over to the Fighter Training School at Leverano on 15 June 1944, 239 being the last operational squadron.

Apparently the aircraft had the Fascist insignia painted out and, in some cases, overpainted with CBAF roundels. I have used a localised coat of matt varnish to darken the overpainted areas in imitation of this effect. Top colour was Humbrol 91 Black Green (representing Verde Oliva Scuro 2/Dark Olive Green) whilst the undersurface and interior was painted in Humbrol 127 US Ghost Grey with an admixture of Hu65 Aircraft Blue to represent Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 (Italian Light Blue Grey).