1/32 Battle of Britain build part 2- Stuka! Trumpeter's Ju 87 b-2
- Thread starter tr1ckey66
- Start date
Thanks Richi, Vaughan and Joe for your continued support it's much appreciated.
The build progresses at a pace...
The Brian Fawcett Ju87 b-2 Nose Correction
I'm going to spend a little time going over the resin nose correction from Brian Fawcett. First of all I can report that the resin is of high quality, bubble free and the fit is extremely good. Only a small amount of CA glue was needed to fill seam lines and when this was sanded back the join is perfect.
I painted the rad and the louvres before closing up the nose section...
The fit is good and the seams are easily fixed...
The exhausts are well moulded and although bigger than their Quickboost equivalent actually match drawings better...
PE was used for the oil cooler rad as well...
The bulkhead, to which the nose is joined, was given some plastic card additions to give better purchase for the nose section to adhere to...
Further plastic 'shims' were necessary to force the walls of the nose section out just a touch...
The fit is superb...
Now on to the Henri Daehne Propeller set
I cannot praise this detail set high enough it is quite simply stunning - almost a model in itself! The detail is breathtaking and is superbly cast. The set is complete with very detailed technical drawings that illustrate exactly where items should be cut to give a very exacting propeller...
The very exacting standards of this propellor also go someway to confirming the dimensions of the Stuka nose. It seems that Brian Fawcett got the nose correction just about right as this 3rd party propellor fits very well. By contrast if you see Henri Daehne's promotional shot of his Stuka prop on the Trumpeter kit it looks way too big (This isn't Henri's fault but it does go to show how Trumpy got it wrong).
Now it's on to the wheels and the spat corrections...
A bit of time was taken to locate the axel in the locating holes of the resin spats. It didn't seem to be all that precise a process but did work out ok.
And here's a shot of the progress so far. The Stuka is really taking shape now and I've gotta say I really like it. There's just something special about the Stuka...
Next time it's armament corrections and a look at the canopy.
Cheers
Paul
The build progresses at a pace...
The Brian Fawcett Ju87 b-2 Nose Correction
I'm going to spend a little time going over the resin nose correction from Brian Fawcett. First of all I can report that the resin is of high quality, bubble free and the fit is extremely good. Only a small amount of CA glue was needed to fill seam lines and when this was sanded back the join is perfect.
I painted the rad and the louvres before closing up the nose section...
The fit is good and the seams are easily fixed...
The exhausts are well moulded and although bigger than their Quickboost equivalent actually match drawings better...
PE was used for the oil cooler rad as well...
The bulkhead, to which the nose is joined, was given some plastic card additions to give better purchase for the nose section to adhere to...
Further plastic 'shims' were necessary to force the walls of the nose section out just a touch...
The fit is superb...
Now on to the Henri Daehne Propeller set
I cannot praise this detail set high enough it is quite simply stunning - almost a model in itself! The detail is breathtaking and is superbly cast. The set is complete with very detailed technical drawings that illustrate exactly where items should be cut to give a very exacting propeller...
The very exacting standards of this propellor also go someway to confirming the dimensions of the Stuka nose. It seems that Brian Fawcett got the nose correction just about right as this 3rd party propellor fits very well. By contrast if you see Henri Daehne's promotional shot of his Stuka prop on the Trumpeter kit it looks way too big (This isn't Henri's fault but it does go to show how Trumpy got it wrong).
Now it's on to the wheels and the spat corrections...
A bit of time was taken to locate the axel in the locating holes of the resin spats. It didn't seem to be all that precise a process but did work out ok.
And here's a shot of the progress so far. The Stuka is really taking shape now and I've gotta say I really like it. There's just something special about the Stuka...
Next time it's armament corrections and a look at the canopy.
Cheers
Paul
Thanks Steve
I think that a certain amount of modelling experience is necessary to get the most out of any resin correction parts. That said, these 2 sets are very good examples and should prove no problem at all to most modellers.
I'm going to sum up my thoughts at the end of the build with an honest appraisal of both the kit and the after market sets used.
Back soon with the bomb load and the Trumpeter machine gun mystery?!!!
Cheers
Paul
This is looking fantastic so far. Great photos as well.
Ian M
Ian M
Thanks Ian
I'm trying (where possible) to describe any alts, build techniques and deviations from the kit instructions in pictures as well as words. I'm trying to make the pictures clear and describe what's going on visually. I hope in this way that the build is useful to anyone reading.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that the tail wheel has changed colour. I don't know why I painted it RLM 02 to begin with it's now RLM 65!
Cheers
Paul
I missed that. I did note that the main struts are well painted and then hidden in the spats... You know its there...
Ian M
Ian M
Thanks Joe, shouldn't be too long before I get some paint on this now...
Cheers Ian, I know that not much of the landing gear is seen inside the spats but if you turn the model over and peer in you can still see the struts (just). In my book that's enough for the parts to be painted
A little more progress...
Stuka Bomb Load and Wing Machine Guns
Trumpeter really messed up with the bomb load for this Ju87b-2. Normal load out for a B-2 would have been a main 250kg bomb with a pair of 50kg bombs suspended under each wing. For some reason Trumpeter have supplied only two 50kg bombs, ten x 10kg(?) bombs (in a rack and configuration I've never seen before), and a 1000kg 'Hermann' bomb. The B-2 Stuka would not have had the power to carry such a large bomb. With this payload it would have simply taxied to to the channel coast and plummeted onto the beach below!!! The B-2 could have carried a 500kg bomb but at the expense of the 4 x 50kg bombs and probably the observer!
The Trumpeter bomb sprues...
For the build to continue obviously replacement bombs have to be obtained from somewhere else.
One of the easiest and most cost effective I've found is to use the Eduard 109 Bomb set...
This has the 4 x 50kg bombs and the 250kg bombs required
MDC also produce nice 250kg and 500kg bomb sets...
Bomb Comparisons...
Left to right: MDC 250kg, Eduard 250kg, Eduard 50kg x 4, Trumpeter 50kg (with air burst fuses) x 2, Above - Trumpeter 10 x 10kg(?) bombs in racks, Trumpeter 1000kg 'Hermann' bomb, below - wing racks. Note: I lost one of the bomb sways to the carpet so had to make another from plastic strip. Also, this is my first look at 'the looper' and it did prove useful for glueing the PE fins and struts to the bombs.
In my build I plumped for the Eduard SC50s and the MDC SC250 (I felt this had the edge in terms of detail)
Once the bombs were finished the bomb swing was altered to take the smaller payload. This was by far the most difficult part of the build so far but I think it turned out ok. Again, my reference proved a bit contradictory so I went for a configuration that seemed both most plausible and achievable in plastic.
The next Trumpeter conundrum is the wing machine guns which are completely missing from the instructions, not a single mention or picture! The B-2 Stuka would have wing machine guns which are housed in fairings. Trumpeter actually provide these parts but have elected not to let you know about them?!!! So for anyone following this the parts are: Fairings - B2 + B3, B5 + B16; Machine gun muzzles A32 x2.
Note: I elected to use replacement brass MG barrels from RB Models
Once assembled these parts can be placed on the wings. Marks on the wings are provided although they seem to be slightly too high up the wing as the muzzle does not line up with the MG in the Gun bay. Check references. Also, the 2 fairings may be handed so experiment which fairing fits best on which wing.
...And that's it for now. Next up is the canopy framing, building a few final parts and then it should be time for some paint...
Cheers
Paul
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T
tommy1drop
Guest
Excellent work Paul, really looking forward to seeing more
Looking rather tasty Paul.
I might of missed it, but have you any links to all those rather nice resin bits, or just where you have found them....
I rather fancy a "kannonvogel" version.
Ian M
I might of missed it, but have you any links to all those rather nice resin bits, or just where you have found them....
I rather fancy a "kannonvogel" version.
Ian M
tanktrack
SMF Supporter
I am mainly a British armour builder , but there is no doubt that the Germans built some beautiful equipment such as the stuka . it is like some of the German armour- prehistoric, looking like a tyradactyle I like your work Paul well done on a fantastic build so far , you never know I may stray over to the dark side at some time
Hi Ian
The Canopy - Internal Framing?
There has been much made of the fact that the Stuka has some of it's canopy framing on the inside. The 1/24 Airfix kit follows this notion by not moulding some of the vertical framing on the outside. Looking at other builds I've determined that the internal framing should be as shown on the photograph below (Chicago Museum of Science and Industry Ju87B-2).
I've got to say, looking at this museum piece, I just don't see it. For instance, the canopy for the pilot definitely looks to be all external framing.
It is possible that this Stuka had the framing added in restoration work, and reading all the expert advice on the subject the weight of opinion is leading me to believe that this is the case.
I've therefore decided to take the plunge and sand back these frames from the kit canopy and polish back to a clear finish. This is obvoiusly a task I would rather not do so if anyone has any documentary evidence to the contrary then please get in touch!!!
Back with the altered canopy soon...
Cheers
Paul
At the end of the build I'll round up by giving all the reviews and product info. In this way it will be easy to find rather than having to sift through the thread. A Kannonvogel is a popular Stuka choice and I've seen some very, very, very good examples online. It is a cool looking aircraft and one I wouldn't mind modelling myself somewhere down the line. Hasesgawa is the only player in town in terms of kits of this type (in 1/32) but I'm sure you already knew that.
The Canopy - Internal Framing?
There has been much made of the fact that the Stuka has some of it's canopy framing on the inside. The 1/24 Airfix kit follows this notion by not moulding some of the vertical framing on the outside. Looking at other builds I've determined that the internal framing should be as shown on the photograph below (Chicago Museum of Science and Industry Ju87B-2).
I've got to say, looking at this museum piece, I just don't see it. For instance, the canopy for the pilot definitely looks to be all external framing.
It is possible that this Stuka had the framing added in restoration work, and reading all the expert advice on the subject the weight of opinion is leading me to believe that this is the case.
I've therefore decided to take the plunge and sand back these frames from the kit canopy and polish back to a clear finish. This is obvoiusly a task I would rather not do so if anyone has any documentary evidence to the contrary then please get in touch!!!
Back with the altered canopy soon...
Cheers
Paul
Hi Steve, I also build armour as well (you may have seen my 1/16 Tiger). There seems to be a growing number of modellers going over to 1/32 and if you ever decide to build something with wings on it I for one would welcome it. I'd count myself as a modeller and not an aircraft modeller and I think it's fun to build different things.I am mainly a British armour builder , but there is no doubt that the Germans built some beautiful equipment such as the stuka . it is like some of the German armour- prehistoric, looking like a tyradactyle I like your work Paul well done on a fantastic build so far , you never know I may stray over to the dark side at some time
I'm glad you like the build and thank you for the kind words.
Cheers
Paul
M
mobear
Guest
you are making this stuka look mighty sexy mate thnx