Ju 87 Stuka GB

It was a formidable task -- the set also features masks for the landing light, the bomb sight, and the window in the bottom of the fuselage! Also there appear to be masks for two or three options as per the rear gun window configuration. I just kept it as simple as possible... I would not want to tackle this kit without the mask set!

M/TB379

I know that's right about tackling that thing with BMF. Yikes!

Mike, nice work masking the canopy. Those Eduard masks are a real blessing, I had to do my A canopy the old fashioned way, a real pain.

Nice looking build Mike. Very tidy and cleaned up. Paint should look nice for sure.

Thanks, guys! Bish -- ouch! Doing a greenhouse canopy from scratch is almost enough to make you consider decal strips instead -- if there was any way to cut them without making a cheese-grater of their edges (even a new blade runs the risk...) I've masked Phantoms and Bf 109s from scratch, and they're bad enough...

M/TB379

Ye, it wasn't pleasant. Unfortunately the A is so different from the later models, I decided trying to adapt a mask set would be more hassle than it worth. I have masked green house canopies in the past, but since the introduction of ready made masks, they are now a must have.

But there are some other companies getting in on the action. And since my build, I have noticed that a company called montex are doing a lot of mask's, including one for the SH Ju 87A, so will have to get that for my other kit.

Yes, I've been noticing the Montex range, they are pretty impressive!

Well, I achieved today's painting target. The 02 and preshade are done, the only thing I forgot to do was two tidy-up strips of tape on the canopy -- too late now GRRR.

Target for tomorrow, lay on the 65, possibly mask the main wheels.

The canopy did not survive even the wash and air dry process, so the rubber solution was replaced with proper glue -- the canopy will be displayed closed.

Cheers, M/TB379

Bish

............

But there are some other companies getting in on the action. And since my build, I have noticed that a company called montex are doing a lot of mask's, including one for the SH Ju 87A, so will have to get that for my other kit.

Hannants have them in stock. There are 4 sets. One is a basic canopy set and the other 3 are the canopy set along with masks for markings, including the snake insignia. I had not realised they include masks for both inside and outside of the canopy.

www.hannants.co.uk/.../index.php

A to Zee models is a Montex dealer, and usually has a great selection in stock. Unfortunately, Alistar has announced he is closing shop, and his stock is going to Hannants. His prices were way better and shipping to the states was faster. I've used the canopy masks sets before, for the inside and outside. The results are pretty good. The masks usually fit well, but they are vinyl, and unlike Eduard Masks, they don't quite stick down as nice.

Thanks for the info on the masks Nathan. I had not heard of A to zee before, sounds like I missed out. I checked the Montex site, seems they are another Polish company, they do have 2 US suppliers, Victory Models and Design & Marketing Int’l

www.montex-mask.com/.../gdzie-kupic

This is their list of suppliers. Oddly, Hannants isn't on there, so there may be others in the US that stock them.

Thanks for that information and links !

I will check with Victory in the USA as I've picked up more than just the AIRFIX Ju 87B in 1/24 at swap meets. 

Nathan: The cockpit of your Stuka is a work of art! I'm sorry to hear the Italeri kit is acting up, but I'm sure you'll get things sorted out!

Mike: Looking very nice there! That sure as hell is a lot of masking on the canopy!

Ed: Nice work on the lower surfaces. I can't wait to see you tackle the splinter camo!

Thanks, SS! I got the 65 onto the underside today, it needs a splash more in a few places, which I'll get to tomorrow, then it's time to mask up for the 71

M/TB379

I made some progress, not a lot to see yet, I masked up the 65 and got the 71 on over the preshade, leaving the 70 areas more or less clear, though I'm not sure how much it matters as preshade may not show through 70 anyway...

I forgot the 71 areas on the wheel spats, so they'll be in the next round. I'll let this dry hard for a day or two, then start the main masking for the last shade.

Cheers, M/TB379

Mike:That sucker is coming along really good.  I like to see a good paint job come together on these bad boys. I'll be watching............

Bish:Thanks for the link to Hannants on that masking set! It's interesting to see all the complex masking on those sheets. Wow! I can't ever see myself building a 1/24 scale Stuka but if I were to decide on building one, that would be the mask set I would use. Shoot I barely had enough display case dimension room to display a 1/48 scaler!!!

A thousand pardons for jumping in here with progress pics not having commented for while. Been out of town most of month. I'll get caught up. Promise.

Decided this cockpit is done. Tried to emulate Lawdog Joe's methods. Wanted to post this before I close her up.

As usual, not happy with the blue IP courtesy of Eduard, but that's not Joe's fault! Almost should have used the stock kit parts, they didn't look half bad.

Nice Greg. Cockpit looks real nice. Great detail painting and nicely weathered. I used the kit pe panel and decal and I do like it over the strangely colored Eduard one. Not your fault though. You assembled it very well.

Wow Greg, great job on the cockpit! Great detail, I love it.

Quick shot of the engine before I button it up.

And after closing it up.

I think it was partly the kit and partly me, but the engine cowling assembly didn't go together very well, and the fit to the fuselage was even worse. The bottom and sides weren't bad but there was about a 1/32" gap at the top, with the fuselage being lower. I filled it with some Squadron green putty mixed with glue, so we'll see. I'm figuring on losing some detail but I couldn't ignore that opening.

Completely agree with you Nathan on the Eduard color. I wonder how they came up with that? The MG magazines look particularly good. Lots of detail and the wash gives it a nice deal of depth. Thanks for the pics Greg.

Raven, that's a great looking engine up front. I'm too fighting the fit of the Italeri kit (D model). My fuselage fit like a glove, it was the wing halves and wing root that had some gaps. Look like your wings fit pretty good? I found the cowling fit pretty good if you take your time and do it in sections.

Greg:Awesome work on that cockpit as it turned out  well. Detail and paint are right on. I hear ya on the color of Eduards PE IP. One has to wonder sometimes what those boys were thinking when they came up with that color.  The only thing I can really say is to watch how much wash you put on the sides. It's been my experience that I tend to "over wash". I'm learning to back off a little on the wash to a mild tint to bring out the detail and give it the depth that mikeymize is talking about and still not look too "modeled".

Raven:Man that's ashame that motor has to be covered up. Looks good so far bud.

Thanks guys. I wanted to make the engine look presentable with the hope that I would be able to leave one cowling side unglued, but it wasn't to be. Although the engine is attached to the plane in the first pic, it broke off moments later when I was trying to bend it slightly to the right. This was actually a good thing, as I realized that it would have been sticking out too far forward to allow the cowling to sit flush against the fuselage. Minor surgery was needed.

Nathan, I spent a longer than usual amount of time making sure that the wing tops and bottoms were aligned, using the front of the wings as my guide, so they did fit well to the fuselage but I still ended up with a small stepdown, which you can see in the pics above. I already am anticipating fit issues with the cockpit cowling, so work to be done there soon as well.

Greg: Great work on that cockpit! I'm not too familiar with PE parts, but I've read a lot about the issues Eduard has with the color of their German cockpits.

Steve: Too bad about the engine, it looks fantastic

Greg, now that's some nice work. I am going to try lawdog's pit method on my next aircraft and glad to see it works. Those Eduard pre coloured parts are not great are they, I regret having got so many now.

Raven, nice work on the engine, shame about the fit issue.

Raven, engine looks too good to button up!

Thanks for your comments Nathan, Steve, Mike, Joe, Bob and Bish.

Joe, I agree the weathering is a bit heavy-handed. My first substantial attempt at using Lawdog's method and using The Detailer. Reckon I slopped it on a little thick. But I was going for an over the top look and will hold my opinion to see what it looks like after buttoned up!

Greg: Now that cockpit truly is a beauty! The painting and detailing are top-notch and your PE work really sets it off! The wash might be a bit heavy-handed but the overall weathering looks excellent to me!

Steve: It really is a pity to have that gorgeous engine all buttoned up. At least we know it's there thanks to your pics!

Raven -- fabulous engine, such a shame you couldn't display it!

Okay, a little progress, camo masking stage 1:

I have a few tiny bits to do, then stage 2 is where the 71 areas are in-filled, and that should be happening tomorrow.

Cheers, M/TB379

Great job on the masking Mike. That's a good idea using thin strips first, will have to remember that.

I'll have to agree with Bish on that masking technique. Neat idea. Cant wait to see the results.