Uncle Dick Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 I read with interest a previous Airfix work bench where they said regarding their 1/72 Stuka R2 & Gladiator Dogfight Double release that: "It also includes additional parts to allow the R-2 version of the Stuka to be modelled - this set will be the only kit to include this particular version." What are the additional parts included for the Stuka Ju87 R-2 by Airfix only to be found in their Dogfight Double release ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 It will be the engine cowling and exhaust stubs to make the kit B-1 into a B-2 or R version. The auxillary under-wing fuel tanks [aka drop tanks] were already included in the B-1 kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 The 'R' stands for 'Reichweite,' which is German for 'range.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonar Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 14 hours ago, VMA131Marine said: The 'R' stands for 'Reichweite,' which is German for 'range.' 'Reichweitenausfuhrung'. You've got to love those German compound words. Cheers Steve 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Dick Posted December 9, 2016 Author Share Posted December 9, 2016 (edited) Thanks chaps, Finally got the sprue today and you are quite right different engine cowling and exhausts than the B-1, and the propeller blades are much broader in width and look to be much flatter in appearance than the B-1 by Airfix - should this be correct? Nice decals too Edited December 9, 2016 by Uncle Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 Yes, broader for the B-2 & R. I forgot about the prop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 It seems a bit weird that Airfix are limiting themselves by making the B/R-2 parts only available in this boxing. Then again,I don't work at their marketing department... Cheers, Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 (edited) 3 hours ago, Hook said: It seems a bit weird that Airfix are limiting themselves by making the B/R-2 parts only available in this boxing. Then again,I don't work at their marketing department... I agree. It may be that Airfix are merely saying that this will be the only boxing of the R-2 variant. Not to offer a boxing of the best-known variant, the B-2, would be a major open goal missed. I'm sure there are many modellers who would want shed loads of Stuka B-2s without the side orders of more Gladiators. Edited December 10, 2016 by Seahawk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Dick Posted December 11, 2016 Author Share Posted December 11, 2016 (edited) I agree - they could have made it more interesting for the Gladiator fans as well in this release (with the Stuka R2 exclusive parts), by having exclusive parts for a Sea Gladiator! Namely 3 bladed prop, hook and any other parts required + decals, and since we are on the topic of exclusive parts; a pair of luckless downed Stuka crew figures in 2 different poses in a dinghy as an extra treat for the modeller. And for purely marketing (a bit like the extra treat in the Kellogs Corn Flakes of days old) purposes 1/5 of all the kit boxes to have a downed Sea Gladiator pilot in a dinghy instead of the hapless downed Stuka crew and dingy! With the pilot figures and dinghies being correct for each respective aircraft type - no skimping on accuracy! And 1/20 kit boxes having the ultra exclusive Regia Aeronautica decals and crew with dinghy. Wrong scale and service but something like this - go on Airfix you know you want to! Edited December 11, 2016 by Uncle Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 I'd be very surprised if a single boxing of a B-2 didn't eventuate next year. Note the post above - that's a 1/35 scale (!!!) Verlinden box - look what happened to them. A good reason for Airfix to stay away from ultra-niche marketing (and the resultant ultra-high costs). no skimping on accuracy! Okay, 60% of boxes have downed RA crew, 20% Gladiator, 20% Stuka (:>) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The wooksta V2.0 Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 19 hours ago, Uncle Dick said: Whenever I see this, I just want to do a dio with a pair of sharks circling and the caption "Lunch! And we don't have to use the can opener!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Dick Posted December 12, 2016 Author Share Posted December 12, 2016 No problems - Airfix can include a pair of Sharks as well Tiger, Great White? with decals! Quote Okay, 60% of boxes have downed RA crew, 20% Gladiator, 20% Stuka (:>) And the super rare 1 in 100 boxing with the sole Stuka supplied to Japan (not sure of variant though) and Chinese Nationalist Gladiator! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 27 minutes ago, Uncle Dick said: And the super rare 1 in 100 boxing with the sole Stuka supplied to Japan (not sure of variant though) That was a Ju 87A - considerably different from a Ju 87B. Cheers, Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 For a Malta Sea Gladiator there would be no hooks or dinghies (not sure about the props), whereas on Eagle's examples the 2-blade prop was preferred anyway. So the Airfix kit is nearer than you might have thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Towards the end of their use at least one Malta Sea Gladiator got the cowling and prop from a Blenheim [not sure if it got the engine too] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Yes it did. This was a significant advance because it was a two-position prop. I don't think it's quite clear how many of the Malta Glads got the replacement engine: it is usually linked to the one that had the two guns fitted under the upper wing (a standard Sea Gladiator option, but not otherwise used AFIAK). This has been claimed to be Charity and almost immediately destroyed on the ground in an air raid, but the exact truth of this combination remains somewhat murky. However I think the comparison made in the earlier post was to the alternative 3-blade prop that was regularly fitted to Gladiators, with was a Fairey fixed-pitch unit.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 IIRC my reference book says they had the three blade Fairey prop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Initially yes, but pilots on Eagle preferred the two-blader, so I wasn't sure from memory which was on the ones in the crates. Mason's old Monogram Monograph spent a fair bit of time discussing the trials that went into choosing the prop: it became a matter of top speed vs climb/take-off distance, IIRC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Dick Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) Well chaps - Airfix have done the unthinkable... gone and told (written actually) a porky they have! Is not the R2 the same as the B2? Happy Birthday Work Bench dated 15/7/2016 stated Quote This particularly interesting Dogfight Doubles Gift Set includes additional parts to allow the construction of an R-2 version of the Stuka and will be the only kit in the range to offer the modeller this version of the aircraft. Certain to be a popular addition to the range, A50179 is scheduled for release at the end of September, but please check the Airfix website for the latest information as this date approaches. You will never guess whats coming in their 2017 line up that was just announced! And look they did come out with Regia Aeronautica markings eventually - just not in the dogfight double! Edited January 4, 2017 by Uncle Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 No, the R-2 is not identical to the B-2. The R-2 has underwing racks for drop tanks. The R in the designation is the initial letter of the German for Range. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Dick Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 Right then let me rephrase that to - better not be any under wing drop tanks and associated racks in the B-2 release or it will be porkies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Perhaps they received some well-deserved criticism of the idea and changed their minds? If so then good, but it hardly makes the front page of the Daily Wail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 On 11/12/2016 at 4:52 AM, Ed Russell said: I'd be very surprised if a single boxing of a B-2 didn't eventuate next year. The man's a prophet! Could you PM me your forecast for the lottery numbers? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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