discussion Most popular models

[stona]

I don't know but I would guess that Lancasters and Mosquitos would be more popular. The Luftwaffe never had a proper heavy bomber anyway. I quite like the Fw200 (Condor). The only other really big operational Luftwaffe aircraft would be the Ju290,primarily a maritime patrol aircraft. Not a great looking aircraft and most people won't have heard of it.

Steve

 

[tr1ckey66]

Hi All

Don't know if anyone saw that documentary on, 'the BOB from the German's point of view', but the point they seem to be making about the 109's superiority was mostly down to the 20mm cannons which, when compared to the 'door knocker' Brownings, gave it much more lethality. Anyhoo, I don't care which one was better the better aircraft I enjoy building models of both! (Just got the Eduard 1/32 109e1 from ebay)

On the armour front there's loads to choose from. Panthers are a good looking tank, tigers are imposing monsters, but yer gotta love the good ol' Sherman. Personally I like the Panzer IV - good workhorse and the H variant with schurzen is just cool to model.

So, to sum up I suppose I haven't got favourites really. I can tell you the one's I seem to have modelled the most to date though (recent years, not delving into the dimly lit past)

Armour (anything 2 and above)

Shermans (inc Fireflies and crab flails) - 8

Tigers (inc Kings Tigers) - 4

Panthers - 3

Cromwells - 2

Aircraft (anything 2 and above)

109e - 5

Fw190 - 1 +3 more on the go!

Spitfire - 3

hurricane - 2

I'm not listing everything here just the subjects I've modelled the most.

It's interesting, cos it seems to contain all the usual suspects and doesn't really reflect the variety in my model stash.

Don't know what point I'm making here so I'll just shut up now!

Cheers

P

 

[stona]

I think that's fairly typical Paul. I only build aircraft,mostly WW2, and for the last few years have jumped up to 1/32 scale. This alone limits my choices somewhat. With my main interest being in the Luftwaffe I've built a lot of 109s and 190s but any decent kit will get my attention.

Size is also a problem,my 1/32 Ju88 is huge.

Cheers

Steve

 

[tr1ckey66]

It may be huge Steve (ooh er missus) but it is simply stunning (now that just sounds wrong!) Seriously your Ju88 is quality. Interestingly, I'm thinking of going up to 1/32 scale aircraft to model less subjects but add more detail to them, if that makes any sense. I'm starting with the 109 and I'm thinking of getting the Pacific Coast's Hurri (later version) and the Revell Spit Mk1 (which I think has just been re-released?) A sort of BOB display.

Go on then... How big is the Ju88!

Paul

 

[Guest]

There was an article not that long ago in, I think 'Fly Past' which was comparing the 109's four cannons with the Spit's eight brownings. From what I remember there really wasn't an outright winner because although the cannon shells did more damage it was a lot easier to get hits with eight guns.

 

[AlanG]

Difference is you can pepperpot an aircraft with .303 and it'll still fly (look at the damage He111s took) but if you hit an aircraft with a few 20mm then it aint flying for long

 

[tr1ckey66]

Difference is you can pepperpot an aircraft with .303 and it'll still fly (look at the damage He111s took) but if you hit an aircraft with a few 20mm then it aint flying for long

Yep, that seems to be the conclusion of this topic on the documentary (from both sets of pilots!) Also, the spitfire had fewer seconds of fire compared to that of the 109 (can't remember what the exact count was but it was a significant amount).

Cheers

P

 

[stona]

There was an article not that long ago in, I think 'Fly Past' which was comparing the 109's four cannons with the Spit's eight brownings. From what I remember there really wasn't an outright winner because although the cannon shells did more damage it was a lot easier to get hits with eight guns.

Initially thay was true but as aircraft started being equipped with more armour and other protective systems like self sealing tanks it became difficult to inflict terminal damage with rifle calibre machine guns. An He111 staggered back to France with nearly 200 .303 strikes! The RAF went over to typically a 2 cannon and 4 machine gun installation on the Spitfire. Some Hurricanes sported 12 .303 machine guns. The USAAF used .50 calibre machine guns but not many were available to us and we didn't have the stocks or production capability for .50 calibre ammunition that we had for the .303 variety which,as you'll know, had been a British rifle standard for years. Later British fighters were often armed entirely with cannon,like the Typhoon.

The Luftwaffe disliked weapons out on the wings as they have to be set to converge at a set distance. Aiming is easier with centre line weapons, they leave the aircraft on a straight trajectory towards the target be it 50m or 1000m away. The Bf109 and Fw190 both had a cannon firing through the spinner and two machine guns above the engine firing through the propeller. Additional weapons did appear in the wings but were not popular and in the case of the Fw190 pilots often sought to have them removed.

Cheers

Steve

 

[stona]

It may be huge Steve (ooh er missus) but it is simply stunning (now that just sounds wrong!) Seriously your Ju88 is quality. Interestingly, I'm thinking of going up to 1/32 scale aircraft to model less subjects but add more detail to them, if that makes any sense. I'm starting with the 109 and I'm thinking of getting the Pacific Coast's Hurri (later version) and the Revell Spit Mk1 (which I think has just been re-released?) A sort of BOB display.Go on then... How big is the Ju88!

Paul

It makes perfect sense. The Ju88 I mentioned has far more parts and detail inside than out. The Tamiya Spitfire I recently did is the same.

How big is the Ju88? It's got a wingspan around the 2' mark. If you made your shelves for fighters you may be in trouble! Here she is with a "generic" Fw190 I did to experiment making eastern front camouflage from standard RLM colours,hence the unusual but plausible scheme.

Is that Revell MkI the same kit as their Seafire? If it is make sure you've got plenty of filler.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Guest]

A fascinating thread this!

With the recent interest in the BoB there has been a glut of useful information. All good news for us modellers!

My son has taken an interest in WWII and it is interesting to see how age plays a big part in what fascinates us most.

My modelling favours vehicles that would have been mass produced, whereas my son goes for prototypes and limited production high power vehicles.

So you could say I like to model what was most likely to have been seen and my son likes to model what may have been seen had things been different. Like an actual to an hypothetical situation.

With armour I had a preference towards German. Not that I think it is superior, but because I prefer the way it was used. In large groups of similar types to great effect.

This has changed lately as I have discovered the beauty of 1:35 scale. So British has taken favourite spot as it was used in smaller groups generally, and is easier to display in small dioramas.

With aircraft I prefer modelling British because I like it's multi-roll use as well as it's aesthetic beauty. German aircraft although excellent were used less effectively and so were not used to best effect. This also applies to other German forces, especially towards the later years of the war.

I also think that the Hawker Hurricane has been "hard done by" by the press and historians. For an aircraft that supposedly shot down up to 80% of the German aircraft during the BoB it gets very little credit.

Plus being British I always favour the underdog!:lol:

 

[tr1ckey66]

Steve

Sorry, only just read your reply re: Ju88 size. But it's your concerns about the Revell Spit that I'm thinking about. I've ordered this kit but having now found out it's the original 1967? kit with raised panel lines and no Gul wing I'm not too sure about it. I've got three 1/32 kits to start anyway - 109E3, 109E1 (both Eduard) and the PCM Hurricane. I may trade in the Spit for the Revell 1/32 Stuka - is that any good? I've heard Revell have been a bit over enthusiastic with the rivets but that's not too daunting a task to remove them.

BTW, your collection of aircraft is very impressive - I'm no expert on German aircraft camo so you're in a much better place to tell me that the scheme is correct!

I'm hoping that someone like Tamiya or Hasegawa will bring out a decent 1/32 Mk1 Spit (I know I'm not the first in this queue!) and am surprised that in the BOB 70th anniversary it hasn't been done already.

Fingers crossed eh?

Paul

 

[stona]

Hi Paul,I built that Revell kit a while ago and honestly found it very poor. I'm not one for slagging of manufacturers per se but when a kit is a bit of a dog I think it should be called a dog. It is as you say old as well as ill fitting and not very accurate. You've noticed the wings but take a look at the wheels!!

I'm with you on a nice 1/32 Tamiya Spitfire,I don't think they could make them fast enough. With my limited knowledge of allied aircraft I think there were parts in the Tamiya MkIX box which may be intended for a future MkI release. I'll keep my fingers crossed too.

I've not made the Revell Stuka as I've stuck to the nice Hasegawa ones. The Revell one is also old (late sixties IIRC) and is much criticised for it's excess rivetting,other than that I understand it builds quite nicely into a decent Stuka.

Rivetting is an odd thing,I built a 1/48 Trumpeter Sea Fury pretty much OOB for an ex-pilot (and squadron mate of my father) and amongst all the comments on the markings and details he remembered not once were the rivets, that looked like dinner plates to me, mentioned.

Cheers

Steve

 

[stona]

I have a low opinion of that Revell Spitfire I'm afraid. I wouldn't waste my time building another one but you may fancy the challenge lol. The Revell Stuka is of similar late sixties vintage but apart from the overdone rivets I understand it makes a decent model,I've seen some very nicely done ones. I've never built one myself as I prefer the Hasegawa kits which are very nice.

I believe that in Tamiya's MkIX Spitfire there are parts intended for other marks including the MkI so let's keep those fingers crossed. I'm sure it would sell well.

Cheers

Steve

 

[tr1ckey66]

Hi Steve

I think you're right about the Revell Spit - Ebay here it comes! I've seen some really nice builds of the Revell Stuka but then again I'm no expert on the Ju87. I think it's probably wise to wait a bit before buying any more. I've got literally dozens to get on with so I won't be stuck for something to do. Some people may ask, 'why buy so many models to sit in the stash?' - I think one reason is that some of these kits go out of production (for instance the 1/48 Hasegawa Hurricane which I luckily bought whilst still in production and is really sort after now). I'm not a kit collector - they will be built but there's a fair few now in the 'in tray'!

Cheers for the heads up on the Stuka. I'm planning to build my BOB 1/32 trio all in one go and I'll try and post the build when it happens.

BTW I know theres already a Mk VIII Spit from Tamiya so perhaps some more earlier marks are planned - a MkV and (dare I say it) a Mk1!

Oooooo, please, please, please!

lease:

Cheers

Paul

 

[Guest]

I mentioned in another thread that I have never built a spitfire...ever, so putting that right I have purchased the Tamiya 1/32 RAF Spitfire Mk.IXc , and ordered Eduard 1/32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX interior, the plan is to have The spit and a Bf109 on a base side by side, as to me they are the Iconic aircraft of WWII, love to get a german pilot and british pilot figures and try and sculpt some parts and have them shakeing hands....well we can dream.

 

[tr1ckey66]

Hi Ray

I'd agree with you about the iconic aircraft but wouldn't the mark IX sit opposite a 109G or even a FW190? It would be great to see the Spit once you've completed it (having seen your 110 progress I know we're in for a treat). You may like to know that Fine Molds have just produced some famous pilot figures - I've ordered a Douglas Bader figure to go with my PCM Hurricane. I know they do a Galand figure, Marsaille, Hartmann and you could have a look at this set from Dragon.

Dragon Models USA - 1/32 "Famous Pilots of WWII" Part 1 - 6 Figures Set with Biographies Leaflet

As far as the hand shake goes I'm sure you'd be able to alter the figures. I'm going to alter the Bader fiigure so he's leaning against the cockpit frame (standing on the wing - as in a famous photo). I've had a go with figure alts in the Iron Cross GB and I think I can make passable stab at it.

Anyhoo, sounds like a great plan Ray!

Cheers

P

 

[stona]

The MkVIII has the same wing as the MkIX in the kit and really just requires some different panel inserts ,which are engineered into the kit,and of course a retractable tail wheel. A MkI would need a different wing.

I'm with Ray on iconic aircraft. Most people know the Spitfire and Emee 109 (as they say) and the poor old Fw190 ,which was arguably better than both of them, gets left out in the cold.

I've just decided to build another Fw190!!!

Ray, the Tamiya Spitfire is a superb model. If you only ever build one Spitfire this should be the one.

Cheers

Steve

 

[tr1ckey66]

Hi Steve

Ok the iconic face offs would have to be Spitfire MK1 v Me 109 Emil (probably 4) and the Spiitfire MkIX v FW190 A8?

Which 190 you building? Will it be a face off against yer Tamiya Spit?

Cheers

Paul

 

[tr1ckey66]

Actually, just thought - it would probably have to be a Mustang v the 190!

Paul

 

[stona]

Not sure which Fw190 I'll build next, I'm toying with something in an unofficial eastern scheme or maybe one of those rough winter schemes.

You can have any Fw190 after the A-3 up against the Spitfire IX. The A-3 went into service a few (havent looked it up!) months before the Spitfire IX. You could have a P-51D against a Fw190D,two of the ultimate piston engined fighters.

Here is an idea for you. During 1942 the German government honoured an agreement with Turkey to which they supplied 75 Fw190A-3s. The Turks operated them in mixed units with................SpitfireVs. You could do the two aircraft in the same national markings.

Cheers

Steve