Classic Airframes 1/48
IMAM Ro 37

Background

The Ro 37 biplane first flew in late 1933, designed as a reconnaissance aircraft to replace the Ro 1 (license-built Fokker C.V). The aircraft was fielded in two versions, the Ro 37 with a 550hp Fiat A.30 engine, and the Ro 37bis with a 560hp radial Piaggio P.IX. According to historic accounts, 637 Ro 37 variants were built by the time WW2 broke out.

The Italians flew the Ro 37 into combat in the invasion of Abyssinia, in the Spanish Civil War, and later in North and East Africa, as well as against the Greeks and in the Balkans during WW2.

Ro 37s were exported to Afghanistan, Austria, Ecuador, Hungary and Uruguay.

The Kit

Here is another nicely engineered kit from Classic Airframes. Each release is better than the last in terms of molding and engineering. While the instructions say that this kit is for the advanced modeler, this one appears to be straightforward out of the box. About the most complex subassembly in the instructions is the first step which builds up to parachute packs from styrene and photo-etch.

Molded in light gray styrene, the kit is simply laid out on two sets of trees, with a third tree containing the clear greenhouse windows that wrap around the waist of the fuselage. In this kit, the clear parts are packed loose with the other styrene parts which could get them scratched up in shipping. On the otherhand, the Ro 37bis kit had its clear parts separately packaged.

The Ro 37 fuselage is set up as the radial-engined version in the Ro 37bis kit. To build the inline engined Ro 37, you will remove a section of the nose and replace it with the thinner profile nose also included in the kit.

Eduard does the photo-etch in this kit and the PE spoked wheels are very nice looking if you opt for open wheels (the alternative is to use the wheel pants/spats).

Markings are provided for three aircraft:

• Ro 37, 39a Sqn, 5 Gr. 39 St, Scutari, Montenegro, 1942
• Ro 37, 39a Sqn, 5 Gr. 39 St, Venaria Reale, 1940
• Ro 37, 37a Sqn, 72 Gr. 19 St, Coritza, 1941

Conclusion

The kit represents yet another major improvement in the design and production of models by Classic Airframes. The detailing is crisp and clean throughout the styrene and resin parts. With the nice selection of color schemes provided, you can add an interesting subject to your scale flightline. If you have a little experience with multimedia kits, this project should be an easy build.

My sincere thanks to Classic Airframes for this review sample!