Ju 87 Stuka GB

Nice work on the splinter. Good save on the prop

So this is where things currently stand; got the decals on this weekend.

Still have to paint the large bomb, mask the canopy and figure some way to paint stripes of three different colors on the spinner.  Another thread on the subject suggested using a circle template, so I'm going to try to look up one.  Nearest office supply store is forty miles away.

Next item was to fix the propeller.  Airfix's instructions call for the prop to be installed and then the engine cowl attached, trapping the prop shaft in place.  Foolishly, I did this.  I think I mentioned earlier that I then broke the assembly loose during masking.  Here are the original kit parts.

Giving it some thought later, I believe the prop can be installed from the front, after some surgery, and after the fuselage and engine cowling is glued together; but that wasn't going to work at this stage.

So I reamed out the hole in the front of the fuselage, then went to the parts box and took a broken prop from a Hasegawa B-17 along with two retaining rings.  I glued two rings together and filed down the prop hub to fit through the enlarged whole in the fuselage.  Then I stuck the prop shaft through the rings and glued the shaft to the Stuka prop.

This is the backside view.  Now I can push the whole prop assembly into the fuselage and glue it from the front.

The two rings-glued-together will secure the assembly to the fuselage, and the prop will still turn freely.  I'll probably use white glue, so I can pull it all out and fix the thing later, if it falls out again.

Been making some progress--although slow.  It's Airfix 1/72.

The landing gear assembly:

wheels are in two parts each

I used tube glue and squished them together

the "spats"--I eventually painted the interiors RLM 02, since you can, barely, see inside once they're assembled.

finished landing gear; after sanding down the tire seams, I re-cut the treads

I applied a black acrylic pin wash to the raised details, but it doesn't show too well

Fine looking Stukas, PJ and TJ.  Outstanding results!

Thanks everyone. Still working on my photography skills but will get it eventually.   Nathan masking that canopy was tedious to say the least

Bish and Doug

Thanks.

Greg

Rudel even sank a battleship but using bombs, not the underwing cannons! Read up here:  en.wikipedia.org/.../Hans-Ulrich_Rudel

PJ, that looks really nice and you did a great job getting it round the intake.

Johnny, really nice job there. Great to see this wrapped up. Th Ju 87G is my favourite variant of all, and not just because Rudel had so much to do with it. Always a pleasure to see such a nice one/

Greg, indeed, as the guys have said these are 3.7cm cannon. They were originally Anti Aircraft guns, Flak 18's. The idea is said to have come from Hans Rudel and he helped develop the tactics for their use and was part of the unit which evaluated them in combat.

37 MM Tubes!!  Very nice John. Still can't imagine masking a 1/72 scale Stuka canopy...

plasticjunkie

The tubes you are asking about are underwing cannons converting the old Stuka into an aerial tank buster.

That's interesting, thanks PJ.

TJ & PJ... excellent work by both! Bravo...

Thanks Greg. Some Dullcote will eventually dull things out.

The tubes you are asking about are underwing cannons converting the old Stuka into an aerial tank buster.

Johny, good going on that Stuka. Looks sweet. And good on you for finishing this GB (on time).

Can you (or anyone) tell me what are the long tubes sticking out? I've been meaning to ask for a long time.

PJ, that sheen over your complex camo looks so cool it's almost a shame it'll have to be matted over.

NIce job on the snake, I had no idea that decal is so challenging, but I can certainly see it now.

You're on the home stretch now, mate.

Thought I post a couple of pictures as I started last night to decal my Stuka.

I brushed on about 4-5 coats of Future to get a very smooth and glossy finish about 3 evenings ago. The Future has to cure otherwise the decal setting solution will cloud it. I like to hand brush it better than air brushing it. No puddles, drips or streaks. Just a glass smooth finish.

The snake went on first. The decal is divided in three sections to make application a bit more manageable. The port side was no biggie but the starboard side with the air scoop needed some careful measuring and cutting to make the snake's head fit around and over the bulky air scoop. With the help of Solvaset, the decals snugged very well into place. I still have to touch up some parts with white paint to line up things in this scoop area. The tongues will be applied later tonight.

I also added the top wing crosses. That snake artwork is just too cool not to model. That's it for now till I can continue decal application.

Zvezda & TempestJohnny,

A couple of very nice builds, guys.  Well done!

Looks great TJ

Here are my final final pics. 

Great looking Stuka, Zvezda!  You accomplished a great effect with the weathering.

Zvezda...Nothing wrong with how that bird looks, those are some great looking pics!

Well Clemens, looks like the Austrian Postal Service is following the US Postal Service foot steps in screw-ups. Don't feel bad. I once had a package mailed from Florida to Virginia via Seattle!

Zvezda -- ditto all the excellent comments here, you've built is sterling model! It looks like the Hasegawa kit, and I know first hand what troubles it can offer!

M/TB379

Some excellent stuff going on in here!

Well, turns out my post office screwed up and sent the replacement part for my cockpit back to Aires... They are going to send it to me again on monday, so here's me hoping it's gonna arrive soon... Unfortunately I can't get the fuselage halves glued together untill I get the cockpit built up and installed...

Zvezda, sorry I didn't comment before, was a bit busy earlier, but I did manage to put your pic on the front page.

I think your being a bit hard on yourself there. I am not much of a fan of using stretched sprue, never been able to master it. But you have done a really nice job on that build, I like the weathering on the yellow nose. Lovely job all round and a real pleasure to have it in this GB.

No criticism here. That is an excellent build

Awesome work Zvezda. I love the look you got with the yellow cowling and tail. Between the Italeri and Hasegawa Stuka kits, I'm afraid there is no easy route to building a Ju-87. Good to see you finish.

Zvezda, I'm really impressed with your results, especially knowing first hand how challenging this particular kit is.

Particularly impressed with the nose/engine cowling area where I have had so much trouble with fit and loss of detail due to excessive filling and sanding. I know you had your share of challenges, but it appears you did a great job of test fitting and planning ahead.

Also like the way your upper and side camo is weathered/shaded/preshaded. Not an easy scheme to work with.

"Your criticism and comments / suggestions for improvement are more than welcomed."

Dude you nailed it        

Z. I think it come out very well. We're always are own worst critique being you saw it being built, but in the end, You did a great job! LOLOL... I thought I was the only one who used "hair" for antenna wire....LOL... My wife is Asian, and has that long pretty black hair, and the first time I showed her some of her hair imitating an antenna wire... Well, lets just says after that I found a good source for a supply of EZ line! LOL...Great work guy!!!

Doug

This build has finally come to a conclusion. Time to join Kette-11 into the fight.

There are many things I don't like in my build, as I explained earlier. One of them is the aerial antenna wire. I used stretched sprue but I do not master this art and after many failed attempts,  the result was rather disappointing. Usually I exploit some innocent woman (sister, girlfriend) and use a long hair for this (see an example of an older 1/72 Fujimi Kannonenvogel build at the last photo, a forensics evidence from the notorious 'serial hair picker' case ) but none was available today.

Bish please pick the 1st photo below for the front page.

Your criticism and comments / suggestions for improvement are more than welcomed.