COBI® Macchi C.202 "Folgore"

The Macchi MC.202 Folgore was one of the most important and successful Italian fighters during World War II. Its advanced design and performance made it a dangerous opponent in air combat. Despite limitations in armament and production, the MC.202 went down in history as a symbol of Italian aviation engineering during the war. Now this legend of the Italian sky is available in a block version.Made of 404 elements, the plane introduces a breath of Mediterranean freshness to the COBI collection. The model has camouflage from the theater of operations in the Mediterranean basin. Using durable and permanent prints, green spots were applied to the sand base, blurring the silhouette of the machine in the air. The fighter has a folding landing gear, movable flaps and a perfectly reproduced figure of an Italian pilot can be placed under the removable cockpit canopy. The plane has a standard display stand with the name and a transparent pilar, thanks to which the plane looks like it’s flying.The Macchi MC.202 was a development of the earlier MC.200 Saetta model, which needed an upgrade. Designer Mario Castoldi used the Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa engine, which significantly improved the plane's performance compared to its predecessor. The MC.202 prototype flew on August 10, 1940. Serial production began in 1941 and the first planes were delivered to line units the same year. The MC.202 was widely used in the African campaign where it posed a serious threat to Allied fighters. Its speed and maneuverability were on par with the Spitfires and P-40 Warhawks it encountered in combat. After the fall of North Africa the MC.202 was used to defend Italian territory from Allied air raids and in combat over Sicily. The MC.202 also served in the Balkans and in the defense of Rhodes. The aircraft was very agile, making it a formidable opponent in air combat, and its strong and solid fuselage structure allowed it to survive in difficult combat conditions. The aircraft was not without its flaws, however. Relatively light armament compared to Allied fighters in the form of 12.7 mm machine guns was less effective than the cannons mounted on many Allied and German fighters.