Fiat CR.42 Falco
Standard daytime fighter
Colours used
in this example.
Build the main surfaces in light layers. Keep the quiet background softer than the aircraft.
Suggested pencil shades, not exact historical paint matches. Test colours on your paper before building richer layers.
Light overlapping pencil strokes with paper highlights
Light layering
Edge shading and reserved white glass reflections
Controlled strokes with lighter edges
Light pressure and open white paper
Look a little closer.
Explore the details from different angles.
Comparison reference 1
Front three-quarter view of restored CR.42: yellow cowling, mottled upper surfaces and white tail cross. Restored Swedish J 11 Fv2542 wearing Italian MM6976 display markings. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Steve Lynes from Sandshurst, United Kingdom · Source · CC BY 2.0Aircraft reference 2
CR.42 fuselage transported by Fiat truck. Useful close view of the national wing insignia and mottling. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Regia Aeronautica · Source · Public domainAircraft reference 3
Period rear three-quarter view of CR.42 camouflage pattern and white tail cross. Monochrome photograph. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: uncredited · Source · Public domainAircraft reference 4
Wrecked CR.42 MM6976 marked 85-16 after its 11 November 1940 landing near Lowestoft. Monochrome photograph. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Australian War Memorial · Source · CC0Aircraft reference 5
Period front three-quarter CR.42 photograph showing wheel spats, cowling and interplane struts. Monochrome photograph. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: USAF · Source · Public domainHistorical finishes and markings
The RAF Museum records Italian CR.42 MM5701 as 95-13 before capture and BT474 after British repainting. The selected modern MM6976 display aircraft is a restored Swedish J 11 and is not the original wartime MM6976. Exact Italian paint standards remain unverified.
In the photographs
Period monochrome photographs establish shapes and markings but cannot independently establish paint colours. Museum and restored aircraft show their photographed display condition.
In the coloured example
This pencil interpretation uses upper camouflage: Sand, Olive green; lower surfaces: Pale grey; canopy: Pale blue-grey; propeller and machinery: Charcoal, Steel grey; scenery: Pale blue, Muted green, Warm cream. It is a creative colouring example based on the book drawing. It does not reproduce a verified individual aircraft or an exact paint standard.
Make the details count.
Keep camouflage mottles irregular and leave the lighter ground colour visible.
Use a fine dark line for the biplane bracing and retain highlights on struts.
Follow your curiosity.
Model history and further reading.