I’ve described the experience before: Skyway Model Shop, new kits, evil shop owner that wants my retirement fund, no self-control, and then Zang!—–I’m bringing another kit home.

It was the same this time except for the bunny ears………………

Emil, the owner of Skyway Model Shop, doesn’t normally wear bunny ears, at least while at work. Nonetheless, there he was, ears and all, maneuvering me towards a shelf full of newly released kits: oh, the humanity. This Sagittario is beautiful and yet another kit begging to be built. So many kits, so little time.

But, those ears…………………….

The Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (English: Archer) was an Italian monoplane fighter/fighter-bomber produced for the Regia Aeronautica during the later years of World War II. Along with the Macchi C.202/C.205 and Fiat G.55, the Reggiane Re.2005 was one of the three Serie 5 Italian fighters. The lines of the fuselage were aerodynamically efficient, and the design was intended to exploit the famous Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. The only drawback was a structural weakness in the rear section of the fuselage. Only 48 examples were delivered before the Armistice, and these took part in the defense of Naples, Rome, and Sicily, with the survivors battling above the crumbling ruins of Berlin, in German insignia. British ace and military observer, Group Captain Duncan Smith, DSO DFC, said, “The Re.2005 was altogether a superb, potent aeroplane.”

Design and Development

The Reggiane 2005 was the last of the Reggiane aircraft line to be built during World War II. The project, which started in 1941, was carried out by a team led by Roberto Longhi with the designers Alessio, Maraschini, Toniolo, and Pozzi. Preliminary work was completed before the end of the year despite being a new project and not a development of a pre-existing design such as the Reggiane Re.2002. The DB 605 engine was waiting to be delivered when the airframe was ready in February 1942. The new machine was not only rated as one of the best Axis wartime aircraft but also one of the best, if not the best-looking. Its semi-elliptical wings, long nose and large tail were all distinctive features of this small, nimble fighter.

The prototype MM.494 first flew 9 May 1942 but, the day after, a heavy landing led to an undercarriage failure, which caused serious damage, and the aircraft was grounded until June. MM.494 was damaged twice more in tests. This prototype with four Breda 12.7 mm machine guns and one Mauser cannon was primarily used for testing and then for the aerial defense of Naples. After a fierce competition, in which the C.205N was quickly abandoned and the G.55 was considered better from a production point of view (being only marginally inferior as a fighter but much easier to mass produce), the Regia Aeronautica ordered the production of 750 Re.2005 aircraft, an optimistic figure in wartime Italy.

The Re.2005 was powered by a 1,475 hp (1,100 kW) Daimler Benz DB.605A-1 engine, either of original German production or built by Fiat as the RA.1050 RC.58 Tifone (Typhoon). The aircraft had a right-handed, three-bladed Piaggio P.2001 constant speed, mechanically controlled, variable-pitch, metal propeller. The streamlined but tiny fuselage was almost totally dominated by the DB 605 engine with little room for fuel storage. The fuselage-mounted MG 151/20 cannon had less ammunition than those mounted in the wings (150 rounds versus 170 rounds in the wing gun bays from the second prototype on). The comparable Fiat G.55 had 250 rounds for the fuselage gun but also 600 for a 12.7 mm machine gun. The smaller Re.2005 also carried 100 fewer 20 mm but 100 more 12.7 mm rounds, a lighter armament array.

The aft fuselage was unusually small, even by Italian standards and contained the radio equipment, oxygen bottles and supported the relatively large fin. The cockpit was covered by a canopy, which was hinged to the right for access and had an armoured 50 mm glass windscreen. Other protection included a seat with an 8 mm (0.31 in)-thick steel shell weighing 40 kg (88 lb). The seat provided little protection against 12.7 mm rounds, which were capable of piercing even 25 mm (1 in) at short distances but the armour was tempered, giving more protection than homogeneous steel. Given the heavy weight of a thick steel plate, every attempt was made to make the steel alloy used stronger and a headrest was attached to bulkhead six.

The sophisticated wing design, often described as elliptical, was semi-elliptical, with wing thickness tapering from 15 percent at the root to 8 percent at the tip. The structure of the three spars incorporated a “T” section. The triangular-shaped wing and tail control surfaces were mostly fabric-covered, included all-metal two-part split flaps and statically balanced ailerons. Fuel was carried in four self-sealing wing tanks, two forward and two behind, providing a capacity of 525 l (139 US gal). The wide-track undercarriage retracted outwards into the wings and the tailwheel was fully retractable. The Re.2005 was the only Italian aircraft of the war to have hydraulically activated flaps. The Sagittario was one of the most advanced Italian fighters; perhaps too advanced to be produced by the Italian aircraft industry. It was also one of the most expensive to produce. The complexity of the Re.2005 design and the small dimensions led to the Fiat G.55, being evaluated as a superior choice for mass production.

General Characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 8.73 m (28 ft 8 in)

Wingspan: 11 m (36 ft 1 in)

Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)

Wing area: 20.4 m 2 (220 sq ft)

Airfoil: N-38

Empty weight: 2,600 kg (5,732 lb)

Gross weight: 3,610 kg (7,959 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Fiat RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engine 1,475 PS (1,455 hp; 1,085 kW)(license built Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1)

Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 628km/h (390mph, 339kn) at 6,950m (22,802ft)

Cruise speed: 515km/h (320mph, 278kn)

Stall speed: 155km/h (96mph, 84kn)

Range: 980km (610mi, 530nmi) internal fuel. 1,130km (702mi; 610nmi) with 300l (79 US gal; 66 imp gal) drop tank. 1,270km (789mi; 686nmi) with 300l (79 US gal; 66 imp gal) drop tank + 2 × 150 l (40 US gal; 33 imp gal) drop tanks

Service ceiling: 11,500m (37,700ft)

Rate of climb: 20m/s (3,900ft/min)

Wing loading: 177kg/m2 (36lb/sq ft) maximum

Armament

Guns: 2 × 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in upper cowling (350rpg); 1 × 20mm MG 151 cannon firing through propeller hub (150 rpg); 2 × 20mm MG 151 cannon in wings (200 rpg)

Bombs: Underfuselage (non standard) hardpoint 1,000kg (2,200lb) bomb or 1 × 300L (79.3 US gal) drop tank Hardpoints on wings: 160 kilograms (350 lb) bombs or 2 × 150 litres (39.6 US gal) drop tanks



(Edited from Wikipedia)

In the Box:

Let me say up front that Special Hobby has been my favorite kit manufacturer for many (many) years. There are more Special Hobby kits (built and un-built) in my collection than any other manufacturer. That said I’ve endeavored to be as unbiased as possible for this review but man this is a nice kit 🙂



In the lidded box we’ve come to expect from Special Hobby are four sprues of grey styrene, one small clear sprue, and one decal sheet with markings for four airframes. No photo-etch is included.

Although this is a “limited-run” kit the surface details and inscribed panel lines are as good (or better) as those found on some big production (Tamigawa) kits. In addition, there’s a bit of flash on some of the larger parts and extra time will have to be spent cleaning and refreshing smaller components; nothing a little patience and a new X-Acto blade won’t take care of.

Parts layout and engineering are conventional and with the pretty low parts count I suspect this will be a straightforward build. As usual, assembly begins with the cockpit, and there is ample detail here right out of the box.

Of note are the nicely detailed cockpit side panels that will look great under paint and a wash. Instrument panel detail is provided by a decal however; the nicely molded panel would be a great starting point for some super-detailing.

The completed cockpit and nicely detailed tail wheel assembly are then captured between the fuselage halves. The horizontal stabilizer-elevator assembly is a single piece facilitating construction but negating the option of posing the elevators without first cutting them off: bummer. With the addition of the nicely molded propeller, engine exhausts, and turbocharger air intake, the fuselage is largely complete.

MPS Paint Mixing, Measuring, and Storage Tools

Next up are the wheel wells and here the folks at Special Hobby did an awesome job providing a lot of detail in an area that will be very visible. Note that the wells are rather large and with the main gear retracting into the outer wing sections, much of the wells will be seen when the model is built. This is true especially from the front, as is the case with most tail draggers. The addition of some brake lines and assorted plumbing would make the wheel wells a notable point of the completed model.

With the wheel well assemblies installed and the completed wing offered up to the fuselage, the airframe is complete sans the canopy. Although the canopy is nicely molded of crystal-clear plastic with scale-appropriate framing, the front windscreen and hinged canopy are one piece precluding posing the canopy open without major surgery first. This is a bit of a let down as the very nicely detailed cockpit is screaming to be seen.

Color and Markings:

The decals, by Special Hobby, are crisply printed with good color density and registration. Markings for two three Italian and one German airframe are provided as follows:

A) Re2005 Sagittario, MM.0923xx, 362-8, 362a Squadriglia, 220 Gruppo, 420 Stormo Intercettori, Littoria, June 1943.

B) Re2005 Sagittario, MM.092351, 362-2, 362a Squadriglia, 220 Gruppo, 420 Stormo Intercettori, Capua, Summer 1943.

C) Re2005 Sagittario, MM.092352, Red 4, Reparto Aero Collegamenti, Aeronautica Nazionale Republicana, Milan-Bresso, March 1944.

D) Re2005 Sagittario, MM.096109, Lonate Pozzolo, October 1943.

Conclusion:

This is yet another beautiful kit from Special Hobby of an underserved yet historically significant aircraft. It may take a bit more time to clean some occasional flash but the result will be a beautifully detailed model that’s seldom seen at the model shows. Well done Special Hobby: Highly Recommended!

–John Miller Review kit provided by my retirement fund.

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Happy Modeling!

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