BomberGruppe GB - 2007 (Luftwaffe Bombers)

john,

the 388 is looking good.

keep it up!

jason.

Jason:

Best wishes for the wife. I little break before you tire of a kit is always a good idea...you come back refreshed and inspired and that tends to produce a better end product. I still can't wait to see her finished...the Condor is such a neat airplane.

John:

Hang in there...you definately have one of the most challenging kits in the build! But just thionk of the feeling of accomplishment and (well deserved) pride that awaits at the end. I always like to read on-line reviews, but for some reason hearing from fellow GB members is a much more personal way to hear about various kits. Even though you may be struggling a bit, it's great to hear about the issues and solutions. I appreciate your posting.

Looking good John I have a hard enough time with a one piece vac canopy.  Can't imagine doing a multi-piece affair.  Keep us posted.

I have actually managed to get some time at the bench lately.  All 4 main bodies (wings and fuselage) are completed with putty and sanding completed on two of them.  I decided to get that out of the way before starting on the cockpits.  I hope to have pics of something worth showing soon.

Hey John very nice looking so far...have fun masking that greenhouse...

Updating my 177....

What can I say...after several tubes of putty and wearing out a couple of files and boxes of sandpaper I have the fuselage closed up and wings on... that of course has now left nice wing root gaps...I think Im going to use the stretched sprue method to fill in first. At leasts a dry fitted and sanded so the top seam is as small as possible. This kit is a fit nightmare!!! I even had to putty the two wheel halves....the only parts with locater pins and they were useless!!

Well after all is said and done its looking good. I need to upload some pics....not to sound like a broken record...THIS BIRD IS HUGE!!! The end is nearing though and I cant wait to start the mottle camo on it...on top of everything else with the kit i have had to sand so much I lost lots o' panel lines, so i had to rescribe almost all the lines over again.

Question with putty....how do you thin out the putty when its too dry or so you can brush it into tight spaces. I think also my putty has dried out the tube is a bit old, I guess I will stop by the HS and get a new green putty.

Post pics soon

Carlos

You know Jeaton that is true....the squadron putty is very grainy and does dry really fast i never have time to smooth it out. I should get some spot putty and try it out...

Thanks for the tip.

 CS

Hey all...

 here are a couple of pics of my He-177 so far...know as the "putty eating beast". Check out the mat underneath to get a sense of scale and the numbers are inches.

Ive got to say a great subject because its a very nice looking plane but the kit is a nightmare! Hopefully the finished product turns out well.

CS

looking great carlos.

that cockpit is awsome!

Whoa CS, that is a huge beastie isn't it!!!  She's looking good though and I'm sure you'll do the rest fine judging by the nice job you did on the cockpit.  Looking forward to seeing more. 

Enough jabbering on the computer, it's off to the work bench for me.

Carlos, she's big, large and massive. It's amazing to think that only two engines could move that  beast!

You make it look easier than it sounds!

mucker wrote:

Carlos, she's big, large and massive. It's amazing to think that only two engines could move that  beast! You make it look easier than it sounds!

Believe it or not but the He 177 actually had 4 engines.  There are two engines coupled together in each engine nacelle   These coupled engines would enter record books as being the most fire-prone engines in normal cruising flight.    The He 177 was detested by both it's crews and mechanics. 

It's a shame really, as the tandem design came into being by the ridiculous RLM requirement that all bombers be capable of dive bombing, even strategic bombers!   

It is a cool looking plane however, and about 700 of them, many with either a 50mm or 75mm canon ended up serving on the Eastern Front in a tank busting role.  A few were even used to perform a (shallow) dive bombing mission at about 400mph on London, with no means of aiming the bombs.    

espins1 wrote:

mucker wrote: Carlos, she's big, large and massive. It's amazing to think that only two engines could move that  beast! You make it look easier than it sounds! Believe it or not but the He 177 actually had 4 engines.  There are two engines coupled together in each engine nacelle   These coupled engines would enter record books as being the most fire-prone engines in normal cruising flight.    The He 177 was detested by both it's crews and mechanics.  It's a shame really, as the tandem design came into being by the ridiculous RLM requirement that all bombers be capable of dive bombing, even strategic bombers!    It is a cool looking plane however, and about 700 of them, many with either a 50mm or 75mm canon ended up serving on the Eastern Front in a tank busting role.  A few were even used to perform a (shallow) dive bombing mission at about 400mph on London, with no means of aiming the bombs.

Scott:

I actually, and embarassingly, didn't know that. Strike up another lesson learned in a GB!

I have heard that the engines were fire prone...man that would suck. You're flying around at a decent speed and altitude and you look out the window to see flames...

...are you telling me that the 177 was used as a DIVE BOMBER!?!?! I believe you but....that's insane!

To all of you, a safe and  happy Memorial Day weekend, regardless of which country you call home.  

mucker wrote:

Scott: I actually, and embarassingly, didn't know that. Strike up another lesson learned in a GB! I have heard that the engines were fire prone...man that would suck. You're flying around at a decent speed and altitude and you look out the window to see flames... ...are you telling me that the 177 was used as a DIVE BOMBER!?!?! I believe you but....that's insane! To all of you, a safe and  happy Memorial Day weekend, regardless of which country you call home.

Isn't that silly?  After the successes with the Stuka at the beginning of the war, they issued a decree (more or less) that all bomber aircraft would have to be capable of performing in a dive bombing role in addition to whatever roles the aircraft was designed for.  This led to huge delays in engineering and design, not too mention the compromises which then made the planes a jack of all trades, but master of none. 

The more I read and learn about the Third Reich, the more I realize how inept and short sighted all the top leaders were, it's mind boggling. 

As a side note, I picked up a much finer tip and needle for my airbrush.  Once I got it working properly last night I practiced spraying the spaghetti wave pattern that I'm planning on putting over the splinter scheme of my Ju88.  With just a little more practice I think I'm going to be able to freehand the wave pattern!  

that silly?  After the successes with the Stuka at the beginning of the war, they issued a decree (more or less) that all bomber aircraft would have to be capable of performing in a dive bombing role in addition to whatever roles the aircraft was designed for.  This led to huge delays in engineering and design, not too mention the compromises which then made the planes a jack of all trades, but master of none.  " border="0" width="19" height="15" /> The more I read and learn about the Third Reich, the more I realize how inept and short sighted all the top leaders were, it's mind boggling.  " border="0" width="15" height="25" /> As a side note, I picked up a much finer tip and needle for my airbrush.  Once I got it working properly last night I practiced spraying the spaghetti wave pattern that I'm planning on putting over the splinter scheme of my Ju88.  With just a little more practice I think I'm going to be able to freehand the wave pattern!  " border="0" width="15" height="15" /> " border="0" width="15" height="15" />

Imagine the world today had the Third Reich been led by competents instead of the likes of Hitler, Goerring et al.  They produced some of the finest, if not occasionally strangest, looking aircraft, but like you said, requirements from high up resulted in jack of all trades, master of none.  This is the same military that demonstrated the Blitzkrieg to devastating and fantastic success, but the problem was (among many, actually) they didn't see things through to the end.  Leaving England undefeated in the West was a mistake considering they then opened operations against Russia in the East - the result was a two-front war that no nation on Earth at the time, save one, could manage to fight.

The thing I always think of when I consider this is Hitler's interference with the Me 262.  It was intended to be a jet fighter but he insisted that it be capable of performing in a bomber role as well.  That set back development and resulted in a too little, too late outcome when the 262 finally did start showing itself in the skies over Germany.  What might the war have been like had there been squadrons of those birds in late '43 or so to intercept the B-17s and B-24s that were pummeling Germany?  The Allies had nothing to compare at the time, and only England fielded a worthy jet fighter during the war (Gloster Meteor).  P-51s were great but were no match in a dogfight with an aircraft they couldn't (a) catch or (b) out-run.  (Mustangs and other prop-driven fighters could only "catch" 262s when the 262s were in landing mode and thus slowing down).

But thankfully Hitler was an idiot of a military leader and we (at least those of us here in the States) are not all speaking German right now - not that there's anything wrong with the German language (I know a little from high school and am partially of German descent) but I would not have wanted German forced on me.

Now let's see that spaghetti scheme on that 88!

Steven

Aggieman wrote:

But thankfully Hitler was an idiot of a military leader and we (at least those of us here in the States) are not all speaking German right now - not that there's anything wrong with the German language (I know a little from high school and am partially of German descent) but I would not have wanted German forced on me. Now let's see that spaghetti scheme on that 88! Steven

Agreed my friend.  It's a good thing they lost (I'm German, and very proud of being German, but very glad the Nazi's didn't win).  From a purely military perspective, their initial successes were ultimately their downfall.  After Poland and France, and even the next year or so, they were very successful, which led to extreme over confidence. This led the high command to believe that they didn't need to develop new and better aircraft designs, nor worry too much about long term resources.  As far as Hitler and his cronies were concerned even the war in Russia would be over in a matter of months.  So, they stopped, or drastically impeded new aircraft and tank development, and completely failed with developing any strategic air power.  Hitler was always obsessed with attack attack attack.  So all projects and measures taken were of an offensive nature.  Hitler was horrible when it came to defensive strategy.  Most of his field commanders were masters at the art of mobil warfare, and Hitler clearly misunderstood that.  His orders were always to defend every last inch of ground.... stupid.    And all his high command henchmen were more concerned with their own political clout, and being in Hitler's favor than they were in actually properly running the war.  It amazes me how those people were so blind and stupid..... and so obsessed with other issues (race in particular, but let's not start that discussion here ). 

Anyway, I'm still having a bit of a tough time getting the fine tip and needle to spray properly.  I'm going to have to experiment with different thinning ratios.  Maybe I just have the air pressure up too high for the tiny tip and needle?    I will master it eventually.  I had it working well for a bit last night when I was able to spray the spaghetti pattern on paper, and at just the right thickness, so I know I can meet that challenge.... eventually. 

Time for an update after a productive weekend.  I have completed one of the cockpits for the Ar 234C.  Keep in mind that this is 1/72 scale.  The rudder pedals got a bit roughed up because I initialy put them on upside down   Don't know how I managed to do that but at least I caught it before I closed it up.  The seat belts and rudder pedals are PE that came from a really old Eduaed set that I had kicking around.  Everything else is otb.  Three more cockpits to go.

Dave, that's a good looking pit especially for the scale.  Keep up the great work!

fyi, that kind of can happen to any of us (the upside-down pedals), but it's good that you caught it before closing everything up.  Several years ago I was admiring my just-completed B-24 (the 1/48 Pro-Modeler kit) and I happened to notice a piece still attached to the sprues.  It was the bulkhead immediately astern of the bomb bay.  By then it was a bit late to remedy the problem, and I was not up to the challenge of dis-assembling a newly completed kit just to put in the bulk head.

For those of us in the States, happy Memorial Day and please remember those men and women who have given us the freedoms to enjoy modeling (and our barbeques today).

Steven

Holy cow, Dave! That's 1/72!?!?

You must have either very good eyes or very good magnifying lenses! The 'pit looks great so far. How did you achieve the leather look on the belts? THey look to have just the right sheen.

Very nice work Dave, another sadist like me who likes 1/72. Cant wait to see this one done.

...Guy

Thanks for the comments Guys.  It's always nice to get a little encouragment.

Mucker, I didn't do anything special for the seat belts.  I used Gunze acrylics RLM 79 with a black wash.  I started using that colour after I bought some eduard pre-painted seatbelts for a He 111 that I did and found it to be a very close match to what eduard used.

razordws wrote:

Thanks for the comments Guys.  It's always nice to get a little encouragment. Mucker, I didn't do anything special for the seat belts.  I used Gunze acrylics RLM 79 with a black wash.  I started using that colour after I bought some eduard pre-painted seatbelts for a He 111 that I did and found it to be a very close match to what eduard used.

RLM 79...excellent tip. Thanks for the info. 

Dave.....great job on that pit....i like the fact you left the xacto next to it for scale...shows your talents for such a small scale.

Keep up the good work.

CS

<BUMP>

How is everyone coming along? Is the 388 bending to Jeaton's will? Is Dave waiting for gas prices to fall before he fires up all FOUR 234's? Has Invertman got his Groove back? Will espins use spaghetti, airbush, or those aerosol stringy things you find at party stores to paint his camo?

Find out all this and more in upcoming posts!

Mucker

Constuction on the Ju 88 will start soon, just need to finish up my 109G-14 and the P-38J. 

For Invertman...a little something to get the "mojo" back:

http://www.hyperscale.com/features/fw200c8cw_1.htm