Dogfight double pt. 1: Stuka

[stillp]

Time to start another build, and dragged this out of the stash:

This came from Craft Works in Leamington Spa a few years ago. I thought from the price it was an old kit, but it clearly isn't judging by the quality of the moulding and instructions. From Scalemates it seems to date from 2015, so it must have been brand new when I bought it. £10 for two kits - even Dave would call that a good price!
I probably won't build the Gladiator - I doubt my ability to do the rigging! Might change my mind if I spot some EZ-Line or similar at a show. The parts look good though:

The usual starter set brushes and paint. The brushes might be useful, they look a bit better than usual, and have protectors over the bristles.

Now, on to the main event, the Stuka.
4 sprues in light grey plastic, plus 1 clear sprue with both open and closed canopies:


Hardly a trace of flash, and all the ejector marks seem to be hidden, but some mould seam lines that'll need some work. Very nice moulded detail. The decals and instructions look pretty good too:

No swastikas of course, but I have a sheet of those somewhere.
Right, must get started.
Pete

[Tim Marlow]

Interesting double Peter. Mouldings look clean. I like the way the tail swastika is obscured on the box art so you don’t know it’s needed unless you are familiar with the subject

[Jim R]

Hi Pete
That's what I call a bargain. A lot of these newer Airfix kits are really good.
Jim

[adt70hk]

Cool!

[Dave Ward]

Peter,
that looks pretty good, I see there is a large stand so the planes can be displayed dangerously close! I've managed to blag quite a few 'starter' sets off ebay, with paints, glue & brushes. Never used the glue, but the brushes are surprisingly good. The little paint pots? - occasionally I'll tap one to use for a little detail painting, but I invariably get paint on my hand opening them!
Dave

[stillp]

When they provide cockpit side details like this, who needs aftermarket?

I'll detail them a bit with some RLM66 and black, as well as a few spots of colour. Speaking of which, this is a fairly early WW2 aircraft, so I've used RLM 02, from Hobby Color Aqueous, for the interior.
I'm going to model the Stuka in flight, so I can use the stand and maybe later add the Gladiator, which seemed a good idea until I realised that means having a crew - figures are not my strong point! Here they are:

What colours would they have been wearing in late 1940/early 1941?
Cheers
Pete

[Guest]

This page may help

[JMARC]

NNNNNNNNNNNNNeat start !

[stillp]

This page may help :smiling3:

Thanks Jakko, is that feldgrau?
Pete

[adt70hk]

Nice start Pete!

Those figures look quite good. Better than the usual Airfix fair!!

ATB.

Andrew

[stillp]

Yes Andrew, they are better than expected. They're (slightly) different too, rather than the usual multiple clones of the same figure that some kits have. Airfix kindly supply a choice of seats - one with seatbelts, to be used when no pilot figure fitted, one without.
Pete

[Guest]

is that feldgrau?

It’s probably discoloured from what it looked like 80 years ago. IIRC the flight suit was normally a medium blue, or tan for lightweight hot-weather suits like might be worn in Africa.

[stillp]

It gets a bit complicated now. I'm not sure if it's possible to insert the pilot and rear gunner after the fuselage halves have been joined, so if they have to be inserted first, they need painting. So, here they are:

The pilot on the right - I gave him gloves to add a bit of difference! I just hope the pilot's hand will reach the joystick.
I'll give them a few hours to dry, then join the fuselage.
Pete
Pete

[scottie3158]

Pete,
Looking good mate the figures have come out great.

[Mickc1440]

Great start Pete, If you do decide to do the Gladiator I can send you some EZ line instead of buying a load.