RAF Stuka, New-Tool Airfix 1/48

[mumbles]

New tool Airfix 1/48 Stuka B-1 finished as an Italian R-2 captured/stolen by the RAF in 1941. The B-2/R-2 propellor, exhausts, and bomb rack are all in the B-1 box. The B-2 engine cowls though are not, which is why they aren't on the model

The guns were removed from the captured aircraft, so the wing gun fairings were drilled out to remove the barrels, and the mount and ammunition cans left out of the rear cockpit. Decals by LF Models (which turned out to be a little too thin, I'd probably paint the white cross on the tail if I did this again), and some of the more prominent piping added to the engine with solder. 

The kit is mostly brilliantly engineered (there are poorly placed sprue gates and ejector pin marks in a couple of places, and a few sink marks) and is one of the best fitting kits I've ever built. There are a couple of missing instructions though. There is no instruction to add the rear gunners back support strap despite it being included as a part and shown fitted, and there is no guidance at all on fitting the bomb cradle with the cowls off. Aside from those minor criticisms it was a really enjoyable build.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 25, 2017 by mumbles

[Alpha Delta 210]

Beautiful model of an interesting subject.  

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Great Stuka im really impressed 

[Reini78]

looks good, nice captured bird

[russ c]

That`s a little different, great build too. Nice one

[Vinnie]

You've made a really nice job of that. First time I've seen a Stuka with those markings. 

Edited September 24, 2017 by Vinnie

[SimonT]

As above, not seen this scheme before. Very nicely done.

[Valkyrie]

Cracking build, nice paint work and interesting scheme, like it 

[BIG X]

wicked

[Mmarchal]

nice photographs Sam. Something a bit different, I like it.

[gazza l]

A nice clean build.

 

gazza l

[3Chordwonder]

Beautiful build but it messes with my head!!

[tonyot]

Lovely job,....that is the one that I would like to model too.

Cheers

          Tony

[mumbles]

Thank you

Here is a pic of the original machine just to prove I'm not making it up  .When I say "stolen" in the OP it's because it wasn't captured so much as deliberately appropriated. Apparently it was spotted on the ground in no-mans land by 73 Sqn RAF (Hurricanes) pilots after force landing due to fuel starvation. Having ascertained it was unattended they loaded a truck with fuel and went out and acquired themselves a Stuka.

 

[tonyot]

4 minutes ago, mumbles said:

Thank you

Here is a pic of the original machine just to prove I'm not making it up  .When I say "stolen" in the OP it's because it wasn't captured so much as deliberately appropriated. Apparently it was spotted on the ground in no-mans land by 73 Sqn RAF (Hurricanes) pilots after force landing due to fuel starvation. Having ascertained it was unattended they loaded a truck with fuel and went out and acquired themselves a Stuka.

 

In that case it was `borrowed' or `proffed'!!  

[mumbles]

2 minutes ago, tonyot said:

In that case it was `borrowed' or `proffed'!!  

Reminds me of a slightly under-equipped NZ Army unit in Vietnam that was supposely nicknamed "the hydraulics", because they would 'lift' anything they could

[tonyot]

2 minutes ago, mumbles said:

Reminds me of a slightly under-equipped NZ Army unit in Vietnam that was supposely nicknamed "the hydraulics", because they would 'lift' anything they could

You are a poor squaddie if you cannot `acquire' enough kit to make you comfortable, by hook or by crook and `gizzits' are never ignored!

Have you seen the 601 Sqn Ju-87D,.....that is a nice `later' Stuka too, with its yellow undersides;

 

Keep up the great work,

Cheers

          Tony 

[mumbles]

15 hours ago, Mmarchal said:

nice photographs Sam. Something a bit different, I like it.

Thanks Marc. Note that while the aerial wire is fixed in these pics, if you look closely you can see where I reattached the forward part of the pitot tube after breaking it during the photo shoot . . .

[Silver Fox]

Lovely work  Sam, and an eye catching scheme. I'm slowly nailing on together and so far only the rear bulkhead has caused any issues. Have you any further advice?

[mumbles]

27 minutes ago, tonyot said:

You are a poor squaddie if you cannot `acquire' enough kit to make you comfortable, by hook or by crook and `gizzits' are never ignored!

Have you seen the 601 Sqn Ju-87D,.....that is a nice `later' Stuka too, with its yellow undersides;

 

 

Keep up the great work,

Cheers

          Tony 

Yes, I came across it a few times while researching this build.

Thanks, I'm not the most prolific builder but I'll do my best

[mumbles]

13 minutes ago, Silver Fox said:

Lovely work  Sam, and an eye catching scheme. I'm slowly nailing on together and so far only the rear bulkhead has caused any issues. Have you any further advice?

I found not having the "bin" (for empty ammunition magazines?) installed at the rear of the cockpit enabled it to flex a bit more. It was a snug fit but eventually it popped into place more or less (meaning I'm not totally sure of how I sorted it!).

Edited September 25, 2017 by mumbles

[Silver Fox]

12 minutes ago, mumbles said:

I found not having the "bin" (for empty ammunition magazines?) installed at the rear of the cockpit enabled it to flex a bit more. It was a snug fit but eventually it popped into place more or less (meaning I'm not totally sure of how I sorted it!).

. I sanded until it fitted, not at all scientific

 

Andy

[Lawzer]

outstanding!

[RMCS]

Brilliant 

[Mancunian airman]

Something difference and well put together.

Congrats to you for bringing it to our attention, no doubt many, like myself, were not even aware that Stuka's were flown by the British RAF . . .

 

Great presentation