Complete - Tamiya 1/48 He-219 A-7 Uhu

Oh Man! You are off to a great start there SB. Cockpit is looking sharp. I'm going to enjoy watching you build this. One of the few kits I don't have in my stash but, your efforts just might put me over the top.

Holee shmokes!! One of my favorite all time aircraft and just so happen to have this one in my stash with a whole slew of goodies for it. My brother bought it for me around 5 years ago from Hobby Lobby( You 'member.........back when they actually had cool aircraft kits). I'll be watching this one for sure!!! Looking good so far buddy!

Thank you very much guys!  I'm really impressed with this kit so far.

I'll be watching this with interest for sure. Thanks for sharing.

Looking forward to seeing this.  Good luck!  =]

Yes indeed, looking good so far silentbob. One of my favorite aircraft as well- looking forward to your progress!

Dave

Greta start Bob. The 219 is an awesome looking aircraft, will be following this one.

That is a awesome start, extremely nice detail.  I'm definately looking forward to your WIP.

Toshi

Thank you gentlmen, this aircraft has really grown on me. I hadn't heard too much about it until a couple of years ago when I visited the Udvar-Hazy Center in DC where they only had the restored fuselage on display. The more I learned about it, the more I started to like it.

You're certainly doing fine justice to this kit.  Very nice detail. looking forward to watching your W.I.P..

SB, first off great start! Cockpit looks perfect! As far as printing seatbelts, ajd3530 just hooked me up with a gentlemen who lives in the same town as me (I know what are the chances!), anyway he runs a sign making business and prints off sheets with Luftwaffe, US, and British belts on them (1/48 & 1/32 scale). I just picked them up last night and haven't been able to try them out on a build but you can take a look at them on ajd3530's build over on the Mustang GB pg 33. Just another possible option. Keep up the great work!

-Andy

Thanks Andy!  I took a look at those seatbelts, and I'm considering something like that too if the decal thing doesn't work out.  

The panel in image #5 is fantastic. Are those decals? Drybrushed? how did you do that?

Thank you! They are decals that come in the kit. I dry brushed the panel before I applied the decals, then hit them with Micro Set and Micro Sol. Afterwards I did a thin black wash and then a blast of Testor's dull coat. When that dried a put a drop of Future on each of the dials to simulate glass.

That metal cockpit is a really good idea.  There's got to be a market for AM metal cockpits, particularly for those notorious tail sitters!  I'll be keeping an eye on this one as I have always wondered how folks manage to align all the antennas on the front.

Groot

We'll both find out together Rob, this is my first time doing an aircraft with an antenna array like this 

Real life managed to get in the way of bench time, but I've been able to snag a few minutes here and there.  I finished the main landing gear bays and assembled the main components of the wings.  I thought the landing gear bays were a little sparse...

So I added a bit of detail to them based on a picture of the ZM 1/32 kit.  I didn't add as much as I could have, but I don't have a whole lot of experience with scratchbuilding.  I think it looks busy enough anyways.

And the completed wings...

After spending the better part of a week trying to get the decal seatbelts to look right, I gave up.  Luckily, I saw a deal for PE seatbelt sets on Ebay so I picked a few up.  And they look much better.

Fuselage is closed up and ready to move on to the next bit

Off to a very nice start there!  I've had this kit in my hands several times at the LHS but haven't picked it up yet.  Will be following along.

Mike

Thanks Mike! So far it's turning out to be a very nice kit

Wow thise PE seat belts look great !  So doeas the work you're doing on this cool kit.  WTG SB !

Thanks!

Nice progress there bob, looking forward to seeing more.

Thanks Bish! I attached the flaps today. The kit gives you the option of having them up or down. Based on the few pictures I've seen, the 219 had the flaps up when it's on the ground. I decided to go that route, especially since it will make painting the camo easier

outstanding job.

I am a little surprised about TAMIYA. They are usually so thorough to include everything you could think of in their kits.

I would still buy though as they are fun to put together.

Right now I have a 1/32 Revell Germany HE-219 sitting on the to do shelf

I have that as well Tulip, but it will be a while before I get to it. Hope you will do a thread when you start yours.

Thanks Tulip!  This is my third Tamiya kit, and I have to say that I really like them.  They're very well engineered and so far I haven't needed any filler.  I've been teaching summer school so that has limited my bench time, but this is the last week so hope fully I'll get back to it on Monday.

Looking great! Always liked the 219.  I should have grabbed one when Hobby Lobby had it a few years ago.  I look forward to your progress.

Joe

Thanks Joe! I'm humbled by your words as I always enjoy watching your builds.  I'm hoping to get some time at the bench after the weekend.

Not a huge update, but the major assembly is done, now I just have to mask and prime it.  After that preshading...