Reich Defenders IV Group Build: Strike From Above

Well, I'll pm you what I got. Also, take note Hasegawa is re-releasing its G-2 kit in Rudel's markings. 2 options. I think its 1/48 scale though.

Will look forward to the PM. I already have his G-2 in 72nd and 32nd, I think that's enough. I have a large dio project that's been in planning for about 15 years, comprising of 4 of his aircraft. I now have all I need to do it, apart from the display space. Soon as I get that, I can get to it. But a Fw 190A-4 could throw a spanner in the works.

I can't imagine missing the Stuka GB either. I just love masking bird cage canopies .....

I know I have a stashed Fujimi 'D' so I'll look forward to entering it.

errr...HS 129 still to come :)

Cheers

Tony

I've actually bought another Fujimi Stuka, this could be a big one.

I've started on my Henschel 129. It's the Tamiya 1/72 kit, which is really the Italeri kit. The only glue so far is to the wing upper and lower halves, but most of the parts are off the sprue. WIP photos to follow.

Cheers

Tony

Which Stuka have you got now Tony. I like those Fujimi kits, I think I have most if not all of their Stuka kits. Look out for the GB thread towards the end of March.

Look forward to seeing that 129, I have the Italeri kit, so will be looking for tips.

Bish, they're both "D's. I've got the 'White Milk' and 'Dora' releases.

First tip on the 129, you need to shave off the ejector pin marks on the inside of the wing lower surfaces to get a good join on the wing trailing edge. But you'd do that anyway, I'm sure.

Cheers

Tony

I might be building the second one, the D-3 variant with the markings on the box, for the Stuka GB, after the A-2.

I will make a note of it. I would like to think I would not miss it, but I wouldn't put it past me.

I've had a thought about building a Stuka in Hungarian service Bish, in fact I have a decal sheet that covers it, together with a 109 and 190. You might even see all three throughout 2014.

Anyways, here is the progress on my Henschel 129. It will get some primer this morning. I only added some P/E Extratech harnesses, as I think it's too obvious if they are missing.

Cheers

Tony

That's come along very nicely.

Sound slike an interesting trio you have planned.

Great to see this tank buster happening, Tony! Great start!

Mike/TB379

I built the Italeri B-3 a few years ago.  This was an awesome kit. 

Nice looking build there John.

Here's a quick update.  Still deciding on the paint scheme - winter white or not? 

Cockpit shots:

I'm hoping to pre-shade tonight and see if I can get the undersides painted as well.  My camera is on it's last legs so if I can get it to work I will see about posting more pics soon. 

Steve

Great progress, Steve, can't wait to see it with the colors going on! That looks a nice, smooth primer coat.

Cheers, M/TB379

That is looking nice Steve. Can't wait to see more.

Looks really good Steve, interesting subject too.

Here's some more of my Henschel 129.

Cheers

Tony

Getting there, Tony! She'll be a beauty!

Mike/TB379

That's looking good Tony, can't wait to see the rest of the paint in it.

Hasegawa Hs-129B-1 1/48

Looks great Tony!

Joh, Tony: Really nice work, guys!

I think I can finish my Jug in time. I'll post some WIP pics this weekend (maybe even earlier)...

Oh why do I wait til the last minute. Going camping this weekend with boy scouts. Will be finishing up 129 early next week

We have two great looking Hs-129s in progress here! The end date is a week away, but as always I'm happy to extend, it's better to get models built than not, so anyone still working is more than welcome to finish their projects within the terms of the GB.

Cheers,

Mike/TB379

Photobucket screwed up again. The update is in the next post

I finally managed to make some progress:

First things first. I got those HGW belts (lovely little things) assembled and placed inside the cockpit:

Then I closed everything up by glueing the canopy in place and putting the Eduard masks to good use (I don't know what I'd do without them):

I had to fill some sink marks on both wingtips (top and bottom on each side):

Then I filled the additional holes I made by accident with Evergreen plastic profiles (I wanted to drill those needed for the pylons but made the ones for the rocket launchers instead):

Next task was to mask the cowling. I used some cardstock cut to shape:

The engine firewall is robbed from another Thunderbolt kit (I have plenty of them) because using the plate with the resin engine makes masking a royal pain. Everything is held together with poster-tack to allow me to remove the cowling, insert the engine and put it back together after painting:

Then I sprayed the canopy dark green so the framework has the right color on the inside. I used the green paint that was left in my AB to check for seams and rough spots:

After touching up the wheel wells (and checking the lower surfaces as well) I masked everything that needs to be zinc chromate:

Then she was ready for some primer. This was the first time I used Gunze's Mr.Surfacer 1200 and I really like the way it sprays. The paint lays down pretty smooth and covers with a single coat:

I never seem to have a painting session without a little mishap:

I sprayed the primer with too much pressure and got some "dusting" on the wing roots. When I tried to sand it I realized that the primer wasn't completely dry yet. I'll have to sand that area down to the bare plastic and spray another layer of primer on top. Maybe I'll give it a coat of Alclad microfiller first to get it flat again.

One thing I noteced was that the Razorback Jug looks quite sleek (and sexy too if you ask me) as soon as that cowling is on. I think all the Thunderbolts look very sexy though and I'm sure most of you won't agree with me on that one :

I hope you like it.

Cheers, Clemens

I also found a lot of pictures of my Thunderbolt and her sister (another captured P-47). That came as quite a surprise because I never thought of finding a lot of info on this particular bird.

Marvellous progress, Clemens! You're making a real dive at this one and it'll be great to see it come to completion!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thanks for the research photos too, I think a few folks will be saving those for future application!

M/TB379

Thanks a lot, Mike!

All the pictures except the one taken in the hangar show the Jug I'm building: T9 + FK.

If you look at the pics you notice a few things:

1. The Thunderbolt is a HUGE aircraft (jsut look at the pic of it standing in the hangar with that guy standing next to it.
2. The Germans didn't keep their captured Jugs very clean. That means a lot of weathering for me.
3. The last 3 pics show T9 + FK with wing pylons attached, which means that I have photographic evidence of them still being in place. I can't wait to attach those German 500kg bombs to them... 

Clemens, great work on the P-47!  

Spartan - great photos!  Have definitely never seen those before!

Steve