CraftWorks reply to Chris Busridges C. 205 article

[P-40]

Shawn, the president of CraftWorks asked me to post the following reply to Chris Busridges articles/review on the C. 205. Shawn had originally posted his reply on Hyperscale and asked if I could copy it over to LSP.

http://www.largescaleplanes.com/articles/C...ltro/Veltro.htm

 

Shawn McEvoy,President

Macchi C.202/205 'review'

Mon Jul 7 15:03:38 2003

198.49.222.20

 

I rarely respond to reviews of our kits primarily because most of them are very favorable and appreciative of the enormous amount of research,work, and money involved in making these highly detailed 1/32nd scale kits.Occasionally a review will speak for itself or the reviewers abilities. In this case, however, I could simply not let Chris Busbridges' 'review' at this website go unchallenged.

I think it is important to put into perspective that the C.202/205 kit was mastered in 1997 and released in 1998. It represented the latest in available research and technologies (including dry transfers to represent the many aluminum placards, miniature brass chain to represent the harness chain in the cockpit, a two-sided color 'four-view' painting guide, four beautiful decal sheets and a superbly sculpted standing fighter pilot. It covers 15 series developments of the C.202 and 2 series developments of the C.205. It represented the most detailed and comprehensive work in any scale of this magnificent Italian fighter. It is a very realistic representation.

Regarding the Build/reveiw: The canopy construction is the most difficult part of building the kit; at the time we felt we had no alternative to representing the very heavy framing and sliding window feature, but with careful fit checking can be made to look very convincing. In any case it is not "grossly overscale". The four sheets of decals were exstensively researched, including many of color photos;I suggest he go back and do his homework. His claim that the rudder and control surfaces have "crude, exaggerated fabric detail" are simply outrageous.

The radical vertical fin surgery and other bizarre changes he made in order to make the model look the way he "personally was happy with" represents an unrealistic and irresponsible review.

We pride ourselves here in capturing detail, yet making the build as intelligent and straight forward as possible. With all of our kits we carefully examine photos (sometimes hundreds of them) and where possible examine the real deal. We use the best plans available and our kits match those plans (cockpits being slightly narrower due to manufacturing limitations). In the case of the Macchi C.202/205 and C.200 these plans came directly from AERMACCHI (yes, they survived the war and are still in business). Perhaps the reviewer should contact AERMACCHI, tell them they're all wrong and suggest how they should improve them ! By the way we sent AERMACCI our kits and they loved them.

For those of you wishing to read a more responsible and realistic review of the Macchi C.202/205 build I refer you to SCALE AVAITION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL VOL 7 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2001 covering both the C.202/205 and the C.200;the C.202 is on the front cover. Also currently available at many hobby stores (and hopefully Squadron) is the Specialty Press HOW TO BUILD AND MODIFY RESIN MODEL AIRCRAFT KITS, it has 132 pages with 275 Color photos, $19.95. Our C. 202 is featured on the front cover and the build review is some 70,000 words with loads of color photos.

Good modeling to you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Shawn McEvoy, President

CraftWorks, Inc.