Snaps 1/16 Full frame JU87 G Stuka Build

snapdragonxxx

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Doing it this way at a weekly/monthly rate you don't feel the bank balance shrink violently and SWMBO doesn't go totally screwy at the cost start making you .

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It does sound like a lot of $, and it is - but is it worth €8 a week in entertainment value? Sounds like it. Looking forward to next week!

This "project" is a weekly build. You get 4 parts a month (1 a week) and each part consists of a magazine containing the build instructions and articles on the development of the stuka, plus others on aircraft, people etc. Also you get the parts for that week and it costs 7.95 Euro per issue.

This build is a 140 week build and as it is not available in the UK I am having a friend get the issues in Germany for me and shipping them. If this "partwork" as we call them here does become available here then I will of course get another as I want one fully skinned and painted and one just framework.

Is this build easy? Yes and no. You are dealing with a mostly metal build. which means that the standard plastic skill set is the basic thing you need you are also working at a much bigger scale and in metal (mostly brass) this means that you have to be accurate with your work and spend much more time dry fitting and dranslating the instructions (google translate is my friend!).

These builds take time and money and produce fantastic and limited production run kits. Eventually you will be able to buy the thing complete in a box from Amati - but not for at least 10 years and will cost a small fortune.

Doing it this way at a weekly/monthly rate you don't feel the bank balance shrink violently and SWMBO doesn't go totally screwy at the cost start making you .

My first weekly build was the Titanic in 1/200. Just look at Amati's site. Now available all in one box ( and it takes 2 people to carry the box) turned out to be a stunning and accurate build.

During these builds you will learn new skills, sharpen up on old ones and manipulate existing skills to do something different. You also learn lots about what you are building and just how it goes together.

THere is another aircraft frame/skin build available in Italy and that is a 1/16 Japanese Zero. The publishing company is aggreeable to send it to me in the UK (not available here as yet) for 10.99 Euro +25% postage per issue. and this one is 100 issues.

It spreads the cost and gives me something to do / look forwards to and provides a challenge.

Recent partwork builds include Titanic, Fokker Triplane DR1, Bismarck, Flying scotsman.......

Current ones include HMS Hood, JU87 G stuka, Mitsubishi Zero, Formula 1 Mclaren MP40, Aston Martin DB5 (James Bond edition from Goldfinger) HMS Victory.........

If you live in the Eurozone, south africa, Australia and New Zealand then most of these are available somewhere.

On average I spend 6 hours + an issue. With the Stuka I have to translate the instructions, spend lots of time dry fitting parts and checking before I think about adding glue. This one can also be soldered together, but that is not in my skill set!!!

I have a spare Issue 1 of HMS Hood if you want to have a look at the format.

James

i am REALLY loving this thread. 

maybe i missed it, but what do you mean by "issues". are you getting the parts in the mail? how much did the kit cost? 

also, is it a pretty easy build, or are you just making it look that way?

I must say that I find this to be an interesting model.  I would love to do a full frame model some time, though not necessarily of a Stuka or in 1/16th scale or even out of brass.  Mostly because: a) I am more interested in planes of the RAF, b) I wouldn't have a place to put a 1/16th scale model and c) at the moment, a kit like this is way outside my budget.

If I could find enough references, I would probably attempt to do a scratch build in 1/32 or 1/48 of a full frame Hurricane or Spitfire out of styrene once I have acquired enough skills.  I did a bit of modeling in high school, but then left the hobby when I went to college due to lack of space and time.  I am out now and have more space and time available and am working on getting back into the hobby.  I plan on doing a few builds straight from the box and then working in more detailing once I have the basics down again.

I will be following this build though and using it as inspiration for a future project I am sure.

even more complex and real 

Issue 5 build

We continue with the cockpit structure.

The parts

The Build.

We concentrate firstly in the front part of the cockpit and add a couple of frames

and a couple of longitudnal spars

Just as an item of interest, the square gap is where I thing that the bomb sight will fit..... and that is the next issue

On to some more Longitudnal framing. I work on opposite sides when ever possible. Al though this is brass I work on the same method that I d when planking a wooden ship. What I do on one side I do on the other to avoid stress on the frame.

The last two pieces for this issue is two large interesting parts. Once the glue has set fully I will grind off any protuding locating pins.

Issue complete. Just a little grinding and painting to do. I am using a superglue mixture of both gel and thick. this way it doesn't run and fulls the gaps (not that there are many at all) and is easily cleaned up to make neat joints with a sharp knife.

comments etc welcome

James

snapdragonxxx

... Also I wonder if I can weigh in the brass frets and offcuts and get money on it!?

Anybody jealous yet, of got any questions? Please ask!

Cash in on the spare brass?? You know what, it's probably worth something to a scrap dealer, it may help defray some of your initial costs! Jealous? JEALOUS?!?!?!?! Maybe...  

Hi chaps. Back with another update.

On to Issue 4. another frame to build up, paint and some more longitudnal framing.

I am finding this build educational as well as fun! whoever decided do do this in brass made an excellent choice as wood I think would not have done this kit/partwork justice. As it is I am not only learning metalwork 101 but framing 101 too! Also I wonder if I can weigh in the brass frets and offcuts and get money on it!?

As the size and weight increases I wonder if Hachettes statement that you can hang it from your ceiling is a wise choice. I don't want this thing crashing into me during the night! She's big, heavy took a long time to build and deserves a proper case!

On with the build!

The Parts

The ruler is there for size reference.

The Build

This issue took some thinking about as I had to bend one of the parts without a guide. To get the curve right for the upper drabe divider I finally used my Xacto knife as it was the closest thing to the correct curves I needed. I finished off the curves by hand with plenty of dry fitting until the guide pegs fitted into their holes easily and the curves were symmetrical. The lower frame divider was just a couple of streightforward 90 degree bends which the part had etched in. Once done it was time to glue them in place.

Once the glue has set it was time for painting once again before compleating the frame. Both inner areas were painted with 3 thin coats of RLM02 and left to dry. not only does this show the correct colour where it should be on the inside of the frame but acts as it did on the original aircraft as a primer and protective coat.

Once everything is dry, time to add the frame part and close it all up

Notice how the locating pins stick through. Hachette in their instructions say you must use a side cutter to nip them off and then a wuick rub over with a file. I much prefer to use my trusty Proxxon small multitool with its flexible shaft and a grinding wheel on it. It is much quicker, neater and also grinds and flattens the pin off so it seales the hole and provides further joining of the parts as well as the glue.

Some juggling about and bending of a couple of the latereral spars was needed to fit this part. The spars were bent back into shape and glued into place

After the glue had dried I then added the longitudnal spars underneath.

Issue 5 complete. Just some RLM 02 & RLM 66 to put on. You can see also the colating pins at the top of the frame. These will be ground off.

Anybody jealous yet, of got any questions? Please ask!

James

Deagostini in Italy have promised me all 100 issues of the Zero (1/16) at 10.99 Euro per issue plus 25% delivery charge.

I am willing to go for this as I don't think that this one will reach the UK. They are pretty unique models to build up. I agree that they are expensive, but so far the Stuka is going together really well ( as you can see) and I do want the Zero. The Stuka is by Hachette and I think is now available in Italy. If I find a link I will post it for you

Since the infection that I picked up in china damaged my heart to 75% permanent muscle and valve damage the specialists have prevented me from work, so I have to find things to challenge me and these partworks do that.

I do love doing plastic kit models, but these large scale stuff make you think about what you are actually doing and the scope for modding and extra detail is always there - and in a scale that I can get my fingers round!!!!

James

nice progress snap, yes, is the Deagostini that sold the Zero (i thinkin was 1/20 ) i brought one or two year ago the first number of the yamato 1/250 ... the first number contains the main tower and a single bulkhead.

The kits will be really in high dimensions, as the picture show compared to an 1/72 seabat. Conscious of the yamato too many pieces and the too much final prices i stopped with the first number. My opinion is to prefere to have all pieces from the start. Also in italy these things during the pubblications increase prices in b***tard way  

following your great build, for now is enough to just see

WOW! 

On with the build.

This post - ISSUE 3

The Parts

The Build.

This time we start off by adding 3 frames

I need to do some painting before adding the other 2 frames. Dry fitting is essential just to make sure that you know which frames go where. 2 are the same, 1 isn't. DON'T mix them up!
For those who want to see some scale. There is a 15cm/6inch ruler.

All 3 frames in position. still a little bit of painting to do, but getting the floor support frames in while I have the space is a good idea!

There we are! The cockpit floor frames in position and a couple of longitudnal frames underneath them too.

Picture of complete build to date.

VanceCrozier

1-meter wingspan.... WOW, that is a monster. Very interesting to watch one of these built up with a proper structure, ribbing etc. What do they give you for the engine bay??

You get an engine, so I'm told. All this is in German, so Google Translate is my best friend!

If you search german ebay you may find someone who is willing to obtain all 140 issues and send them over..... It will cost though!

This is bound to be awesome!

Gotta keep an eye on it.

very cool.....its gonna take alot of brass to put his one together....looking forward to this build!!!

1-meter wingspan.... WOW, that is a monster. Very interesting to watch one of these built up with a proper structure, ribbing etc. What do they give you for the engine bay??

I actual fact bsyamato,

The Zero is available in italy. it is 1/16 scale it is mostly etched nickel I think plus metal skin AND the instructions are in italian.

Deagaustino Italy have said that I can purchase it and they will send me it to England - but it will cost an extra 25% postage.

THey are about week 20 at the moment. so it will cost me around 54 Euro for 4 issues plus bank charges.

The price is 10.99 a week. These are stunning builds if you take your time. My advice is to go for it!

I am certainly thinking about it and doing the maths to see if I can afford it. If you want to build it I can certainly help.

James

Snaps never build something in 1/144 scale ? oh my gold

Basically the build is near to real build... I see in tv spots about the 1/20 zero, but never really thinked to buy it ,not only for the enormous final price but is something too differents from normal kits.. ( i presume the instruction language are not in italian ) 

follow with great curiosity and intrest

Well, at a guess i would say thats about an 18mm blade on the dremmel. which is around 3/4 of an inch.

Long story short THAT'S A BIG MOTHER OF A KIT.

http://www.den-stuka-bauen.de/modell.htm Website of the kit.

Dims are

710mm long

930mm wingspan (nearly a meter)

240mm Tall.

Its a monster.

I would be cool if you could put something in your photos to give us some sense of scale (like a coin or car keys, etc.).  I never heard of these type of kits until your post last week and I really look forward to your build!  Thanks.

1:16th stuka? jesus mother mary of puss thats gonna be a big mother. I shall be watching with bated breath. Cant wait to see more.

Here we go with Issue 2 of the Build.

The Parts

The Build

Continuing on from last week we add another double frame and some longitudal framing. Basically the first bit is the same as last weeks frame and I rechon that there is some wing support spars to fit in here.

Ready for painting the interior of this frame with RLM 02. Once dry add the part to finish it off and stich to the bit I finished last post!

Some frame supports (I think) are added

Next up we put on some longitudnal framing. Initial dry fit.

Glued in place.

Apart from some paint that's issue 2 complete!