August 04, 2026

Preview: Six releases from Italeri in August...

Six releases from Italeri this month – some awesome artwork & great kit choices. Check them out in art, plastic, colours, decals & info in our preview...

Preview: Six releases from Italeri in August...

Macchi M.C. 202 Folgore
From Italeri
No. #2840
1/48th scale
100% new mould kit
Photo-etch included.
Six (6!) marking choices in the box
Available in the first weeks of August.
Italeri follows up on their larger-scale Italian Thunderbolt, with the new incoming 1/48th-scale model kit dedicated to the Italian WWII fighter Macchi M.C. 202 “Folgore” to be with us in September.

The Subject:
The introduction of the Macchi MC 202 Folgore was a significant development for the fighter squadrons of the Italian Regia Aeronautica. Stylishly designed from an aerodynamic perspective, it was fitted with the powerful German DB.601 engine produced under licence by the Italian aeronautical industry. The engine and overall aeronautical performance of the aircraft provided the Regia Aeronautica with a fighter capable of actively engaging Allied fighters.

Luftwaffe Macchi MC202 Folgore in Luftwaffe service with II.JG108 White 214 in 1942
The flight performance compared to the previous generation of fighters equipped with radial engines, such as the Fiat G-50 and the Macchi Mc-200, was in fact much better. Manoeuvrable and fast (it was able to reach 600 km/h), it was armed, in the early versions, with two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns installed in the nose. Only in later versions were the armaments improved with additional machine guns installed in the wings.

A captured C.202 Folgore in North Africa, thought to be in the hands of No. 3 Squadron RAAF. 
During late 1941, it commenced offensive operations over Malta and in North Africa, where Italian and German forces were engaged in heavy combat against British and later American operations. The C.202 continued to be used in North Africa as late as mid-1943, by which point the type was withdrawn to support defensive efforts in Sicily and the Italian mainland following their invasion by Allied forces. It also saw limited use on the Eastern Front. Following the 1943 Armistice with Italy, the type was mostly used as a trainer aircraft. It was also operated by Croatia.

Rare wartime colour photos of the Macchi C.202 "Folgore"/C.205 "Veltro".
The Macchi C.202 was flown by almost all of the most successful Italian aces. During mid-1942, in North Africa, the Folgore achieved a kill/loss ratio better than that of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The Australian ace Clive Caldwell, who fought a wide variety of German, Italian and Japanese fighters during 1941–45, later stated that the C.202 was "one of the best and most undervalued of fighters". The type also had well-known design flaws: in particular, like the C.200, the C.202 was prone to suddenly entering dangerous spins. Its radios were also unreliable, routinely forcing pilots to communicate by waggling their wings. 
The C.202 was lightly armed relative to its contemporaries, with just a pair of machine guns that had a tendency to jam. To improve its performance, it was developed into its successor: the Macchi C.205 Veltro.

Macchi C.202 "M.M. 9476(?)"Shown in the markings of the 90ª Squadriglia, 10° Gruppo, 4° Stormo, was dramatically displayed in Gallery 205 above the World War II Aviation diorama at the US National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian, Washington, DC.

The kit from Italeri
The Macchi M.C. 202 “Folgore” in 1/48th scale will be available from the first week of August. The kit contains plastic from 100% completely new moulds made with the most advanced design and production standards, great attention to detail and the introduction of innovative solutions such as the cockpit with 3D decals from Italeri. 

The photo-etched parts included in the box
Plastic parts – there are two sprues in grey, with a clear sprue for the transparencies. The main fuselage sprue also has the engine, which can be posed open to the elements with the cowling off.
The wings are split horizontally, with the flying surfaces (wings and tail) being able to be posed independently.
a clear sprue for the transparencies.
The 3-D printed decal sheet for the cockpit instrument panel is included.
The main decal sheet of the kit.
The six (yes, 6!) colour profiles included in this kit.


Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF ”Fanalone”
1/24th scale
Kit No. #3619
Model Length: 16.4cm
Plastic injection-moulded kit, vinyl tyres and multimedia accessories are included.
Two marking choices included in the box
Available from the start pg August – Price TBA
Italeri continues in their tradition of immortalising great Italian cars in plastic. This, their latest kit, is the road-going version of their recent Lancia Delta HF "Safari" – this is the Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF ”Fanalone” in 1/24th scale.

The subject: The Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF ”Fanalone”
The Lancia Fulvia Coupé is an iconic Italian sports car designed in-house by Piero Castagnero and inspired by the clean lines of luxury Riva motorboats. Launched in 1965, this remarkably successful 2+2 coupé completely abandoned the rounded shapes of its predecessor, the Appia, to introduce a linear, crisp silhouette with thin, elegant chrome pillars. Despite its incredibly compact exterior dimensions, it was celebrated for its outstanding cabin packaging, providing light, comfortable habitability and visibility across international markets.

This is an original "Fanalone" (large headlights) version, of which only 1258 examples were built from 1968 to 1970. 
At the heart of the Fulvia's mechanical brilliance was Lancia's signature engineering-first approach, highlighted by a unique longitudinal, narrow-angle V4 engine canted at 45 degrees over the front axle. This sophisticated, high-revving configuration—which utilised a single cylinder head across a tight 12.53-degree block—evolved into a 1,300 cc variant pumping out an agile 87hp. Coupled with advanced technological details for the era, such as a crisp front-wheel-drive system and standard four-wheel disc brakes, the road-going version offered precise, nimble handling that felt like dancing with the asphalt.

This special version is most easily distinguished by the large headlights and triangular holes between them and the grille. 
This exceptional baseline architecture paved the way for the legendary, motorsport-oriented Lancia Fulvia HF (High Fidelity) series. Stripped of standard road comforts and outfitted with lightweight aluminium panels, the HF variants evolved further into the iconic 1.6-litre "Fanalone," easily identified by its distinctively oversized inner rally headlights. The vehicle cemented its eternal legacy in automotive history during the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally, where drivers Sandro Munari and Mario Mannucci famously piloted the front-wheel-drive underdog to victory over the icy mountain switchbacks of the Col de Turini, securing Lancia the International Championship for Manufacturers and setting the standard for the brand’s future World Rally dominance.

This original sporty version was built with many aluminium panels, a Plexiglas rear window and rear side windows, no bumpers and a minimal interior to save weight.

The Kit: 
Italeri's 1/24th scale Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF ”Fanalone” recreates the "civilian" version of this legendary car, with high-fidelity multimedia components designed for maximum realism. This follows on from their 1/24 Lancia Fulvia HF Rally Monte Carlo 1972 #3670 kit, but without the racing parts. This one has its own feature set, however... 

Model features:
New specialised parts were engineered to accurately replicate the unique body shape and iconic oversized inner headlights of the "Fanalone" variant.
Clear parts for windows, indicators and those large headlights...
Photo-etched metal details to provide ultra-thin, perfectly scaled components like grilles, wipers, and hood pins.
Realistic rubber tyres with authentic tread patterns that mount onto detailed competition-spec wheels.
Chrome-plated parts
A decal sheet with 13 numberplate choices, cockpit dials, car badges and trim...
two exterior marking choices as an example, but these can be any colour you want...


DAF XF 95 SUPER SPACE CAB
From Italeri
No. # 93834
1/24th scale
Model Length: 24.5 cm
The DAF XF95 Super Space Cab represents one of the most iconic trucks produced by the Dutch manufacturer DAF during the 1990s and early 2000s. It effectively embodied the technology of its era and was able to deliver high operational efficiency on long-haul routes. The “Super Space Cab” version was distinguished by its exceptional onboard comfort thanks to the spacious cab, considered among the roomiest on the market. 
The decals in this kit
The colour profile provided with this kit
However, the designers successfully integrated the large cab into a harmonious overall vehicle design that was appreciated by both truck drivers and transport companies. In addition to onboard comfort, another strong point of the DAF XF95 was its robustness and reliability, capable of minimising vehicle downtime for maintenance and repair activities.

The chromed parts
Rubber tyres...
Parts of the kit


KC-135 R/FR Stratotanker
From Italeri
No. # 91280
1/72nd scale
The Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker is one of the most important aerial refuelling aircraft in the history of military aviation. Directly derived from the four-engine Boeing 707 airliner, it entered active service in the late 1950s with the specific mission of refuelling the long-range bombers of the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command. It is equipped with four underwing turbofan engines, progressively upgraded over time in terms of performance and features, allowing a maximum speed exceeding 930 km/h. 

The decals in this kit
The colour profiles provided with this kit
It is fitted with a rigid “flying boom” refuelling system located beneath the tail section. It can also be equipped with two additional underwing pods with flexible hose systems. It can carry nearly 100,000 kg of fuel. Over the years, its role has evolved and expanded, increasing the operational range of fighter and attack aircraft, and it has been widely employed in numerous operational missions.

Parts of the kit


Dornier DO 217 J1/J2 Nachtjäger
From Italeri
No. # 91266
1/72nd scale
The twin-engine high-wing bomber Dornier Do 217 was widely employed by the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Versatile and flexible, it was capable, in its various versions, of carrying out bombing missions, attacks against surface targets, and night fighter operations. In particular, the Do 217 J1/J2 Nachtjäger version was developed to effectively perform night interception missions against Allied bombers. 

The decals in this kit
The colour profiles provided with this kit
Masks are provided also
The aircraft was equipped with the Lichtenstein radar, necessary for target identification, and was heavily armed with 20 mm cannons and 7.92 mm machine guns mounted in the forward nose section. Luftwaffe pilots considered it less manoeuvrable than other night fighters but extremely reliable and robust. It could reach a maximum speed of 500 km/h.

Parts of the kit


M36B1 90mm GMC
From Italeri
No. #96538
1/35th scale
Model Length: 21.3 cm
The American M36 tank destroyer was developed during the Second World War to provide the Allied armies with an effective response to German armoured vehicles such as the Panther and Tiger, which featured heavy armour and considerable firepower. The M36 based its offensive capability on the powerful 90 mm M3 gun, superior to the 76 mm gun adopted on the earlier M10, with which it shared the hull. The M36B1 was developed to optimise the production capacity of the American industry by using the large number of available Sherman M4A3 hulls. 

The decals in this kit
The colour profiles provided with this kit
The turret was open-topped, as on all American tank destroyers, to ensure greater visibility in combat. The effectiveness of the M36B1 is proven by its long operational service life. After the Second World War, it was employed by numerous armies and also took an active part in several conflicts.

Parts of the kit

That is it for this preview; you can find more about this kit on the Italeri website.