1:32 ICM - Battle of Malta (Sea Gladiator and CR. 42 Falco).

[Fran]

 

1:32

Battle of Malta

 

 

ICM

Catalogue n.º DS3201

€ 68,95– in ModelBau

 

The Siege of Malta

The siege of Malta (or battle of Malta)[10] in World War II was a military campaign in the Mediterranean theatre. From June 1940 to November 1942, the fight for the control of the strategically important island of the British Crown Colony of Malta pitted the air and naval forces of the Kingdom of Italy and Nazi Germany against the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy.

 

The opening of a new front in North Africa in June 1940 increased Malta's already considerable value. British air and sea forces based on the island could attack Axis ships transporting supplies and reinforcements from Europe. General Erwin Rommel, de facto field commander of Panzerarmee Afrika in North Africa, recognised its importance quickly. In May 1941, he warned that "Without Malta the Axis will end by losing control of North Africa".[1]

 

The Axis resolved to bomb or starve Malta into submission, to soften it up for invasion, by attacking its ports, towns, cities, and Allied shipping supplying the island. Malta was one of the most intensively bombed areas during the war. The German Luftwaffe and Italian Regia Aeronautica flew a total of 3,000 bombing raids over two years, dropping 6,700 tons of bombs on the Grand Harbour area alone.[11] Their success would have allowed a combined German–Italian amphibious landing (Operation Herkules) supported by German airborne forces (Fallschirmjäger) but this did not happen.

 

Allied convoys were able to supply and reinforce Malta, while the RAF defended its airspace, though at great cost in materiel and lives. In turn, aircraft and submarines based in Malta were able to successfully interdict convoys bound for North Africa, depriving Axis troops of supplies. In November 1942 the Axis lost the Second Battle of El Alamein and the Allies landed forces in Morocco and Algeria in Operation Torch. The Axis diverted forces to the Tunisia campaign and reduced attacks on Malta, ending the siege.[1] In December 1942, air and sea forces operating from Malta went over to the offensive. By May 1943, they had sunk 230 Axis ships in 164 days, the highest Allied sinking rate of the war.[12] The Allied victory in Malta played a major role in the eventual Allied success in North Africa.

History from Wikipedia.

 

For more information, see –

https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/timeline/factfiles/nonflash/a1144946.shtml

https://www.rafbf.org/malta/about-siege

 

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-siege-of-malta-holding-on-to-the-island-fortress/

 

ICM in the past release two brand new mold Gladiator and Falco and this time, just putting them together and give the name of “Battle of Malta” to this box!

The box art is vibrant and evocative, depicting a dogfight over the Mediterranean with the Gladiator diving on the Fiat.

 

 

As for the packing is the traditional one from ICM with a sturdy flip-top box to protect all the parts. Always a great option from ICM

 

The sprues for each model are packaged in their own re-sealable plastic bags, which also contains a clear sprue inside its own plastic bag. So both models are perfectly separated.

 

The molding is ICM current standards, very good one with crispy surface details and no flash whatsoever on the gray plastic.

 

The surface detail and panels lines are very very good indeed.

 

 

 

 

Starting of the cockpit of both aircrafts, they are both quite good straight from the box… but there`s a lot of room for AM or scrathbuilding.

 

 

Another thing is the lack of seatbelts… specially in 1:32 and open cockpit like the CR.42, that miss is quite notice and it`s a shame not having it on the box.

As I said before, is the biggest default I point to the ICM model kis.

 

Both aircraft have the tail structures both horizontal and vertical with separate flight control surfaces, and so can be set as the modeler desires.

 

Also both wings have very good surface detail, with the ribbed detail being visible but only enough.

 

 

Being both biplanes, one thins that is quite important to help out the modeler is the locations for the wing support struts and on both aircraft they are quite well made.

 

As for the CR 42 Falco engine, ICM gives two assembly options, but I don’t really understand why and their non explanation on the instructions of it but I presume that is for the exhaust options. 

As for the Sea Gladiator, the variation is also with the intake filter, with two options given. Please check your references.

 

Anyway, the detail is quite good on both engines, but their room for extra detail for the scratchbuilder/AM folks  or simply to add some wires.

 

The main undercarriage legs of the Falco are provided in two versions, with and without flared cowlings around the wheels and have no brake lines present.

  

This set gives the original release with the option given back them with the correspondent decal sheet:

-       CR. 42 Falco, 83rd Squadron, 18 Gruppo, 56th Stormo CT, Ursel, Belgium, November 1942

 

 

-       CR. 42 Falco,75th Squadron, 23 Gruppo Autonomo CT, Sicily, June 1941

 

 

The Sea Gladiator was a new sprue as it is the Mk.II. So the new sprue is the sprue F that provides mainly the three-bladed prop, instrument panels and a wing strut.

 

 

But the different do not end here.

There’s also the sprue G with parts for the hook, underfuselage hook recess and the belly fairing for the dinghy.

 

 

As for the clear parts, the spure E gives alternative windshields, separate sliding portion, rear section and various lights.

 

 

The decal sheet is the one of the original release, with good coloration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This release have the same scheme options as the original one (32042)

• Gloster Sea Gladiator Mk. II 804 Sqn., RNAS Hatston, Orkney Island, October 1940

• Gloster Sea Gladiator Mk.II , 804 Sqn., HMS Furious, May 1940
• Gloster Sea Gladiator Mk.II, 813 Sqn., HMS Eagle, Summer 1940
• Gloster Sea Gladiator Mk. II, Hal Far, Malta 1940

 

 

And there`s a lot of aftermarkets decals for this model kit so you got a lot of choice if you want. Anyways ICM gives a single decal sheet indicator of the two Battle of Malta options.

As for the  instructions you get both booklet for both original kits with 20 pages each. I do like the touch of glossy paper but for workbench (to take notes, to risk parts) I prefer the normal mate paper.

The drawings are quite easy to understand and very comprehensive, so it will be easy to follow even to the novice modeler.

 

 

 

 

 

Being biplanes, and to have a biplane with “soul” (in my opinion at least) you have to have the rigging.

And ICM provides several drawings diagrams in the instruction sheet as a guide. But also the rigging is given in two variations, with no explanation to wish one is wish. Once again you have to check your references.

 

At last, as usual and a very good bonus, is the template guide for making a set of canopy masks.

 

 

 

Conclusion:

 

What a combo! You get two full original release from the Gloster Sea Gladiator and the CR. 42 Falco in a single box and cheaper that buying separately.

Theses two model are great addition to any collection and you can get a really nice model straight from the box with the well-known high current ICM quality, even without any extra parts (resin or PE)

 

So, just go and get one and built it! You will enjoy.

 

My sincere thanks to ICM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rverissimo]

hi ! great review of a fantastic set !