Faraway

I’m currently building a Henschel HS129, and am fast approaching final painting. I’m sort of thinking to do a mottled camouflage, but have never done this before. So if any of you out there have any tips, I would be most grateful. Jon.

Tail finished, as well as the nose underside and gun cowlings. Sorry about the escape of glue, I'll polish it off prior painting.......honest. These next, are the instruments that are attached to the engine cowlings, evidently there was not enough room it the cockpit. Same procedure as the cockpit instrument panel, the decals are applied to the inside surface of the clear plastic panel. When they are fitted to the engine cowlings, I will mask the round windows with liquid mask, prior to painting the fuselage.

Greetings from the West of England. Looking forward to your future builds. Jon

Greetings. You are so right about the changes in models. Jon

Welcome from a sunny West Country. Jon

Side machine guns fitted. Under carriage and engine mounting plate fitted. Top skin of wings in place, not glued down yet. I'm going to see if they can be left removable.

Machine guns (one either side) fitted into the wing roots. I only painted half of the ammo box cover as it will disappear. This is an intro to the parts used in the wing assy. Next, I fitted the wings lower skins. And this is what happens to the detail, when the top skin is fitted.

Wing fuel tanks fitted.

Hatch inner surfaces painted and detailed, air bottles painted, with the amount of internal detail, I think I'll be showing the hatches open. Hatch covers tacked in place with a spot of PVA, once the fuselage is painted I'll pop them off and reattach them open. I think I'm going to need a bigger work space. It's a shame to think all these spars will disappear when the wing skin is attached. I haven't looked too far ahead in the instruction manual, but if there are any inspection hatches in the wings, I might leave them open. Next to be fitted, will be the wing fuel tanks. Jon.

I use Tamiya acrylics and thin them 50/50. Never used enamel, too smelly. I’ve also found that even thinned paint spattered occasionally, you might be right about it drying in the brush. I read somewhere that if using a double action airbrush, you should press for air, then paint and when you finish stop the paint, but let the air continue for a second or two. I try to do this and it seems to work, but it is a bit like patting my head and rubbing my stomach at the same time. On my present build, I’m using Vallejo Model Air, which is supposed not to need thinning. Seems ok, but I’ve found I have to flick the trigger occasionally as the paint doesn’t always flow too well, and I think it’s drying in the nozzle. This airbrushing is a bit of a dark art, isn’t it. I found these videos helpful. https://www.florymodels.org/new-page-1

Seat belts fitted and all fuselage frames, if I glue all the inspection hatches closed all this will disappear. I am going to have the cockpit canopy open and the ladder extended, so I think I'll attach the hatch covers (some of which have detail on the internal surface) in an open position, still won't be able to see much but at least there will be some internal views. Jon.

Thank you. Yes 1/32

I’ve no intention of getting anything from overseas, it’s the same here, the post has slowed down probably due to all the internet shopping. You’re right about the dry fitting, also I’ve found that I have to keep paint away from joint lines. Jon

Vannie. Welcome neighbour. I’m just down the road near WSM. This I a good forum for all things modelling, if you ever have a problem, this is the place to come. Jon.

Carl. Thanks for the update, not sure I can get any of the extras from ZM, in the UK. I’ll settle for the seat belts I’ve just got. I put weighted wheels on a couple of aircraft and to be honest it’s a job to tell. This I a very good kit, expensive, but so far I think worth the money. Would I buy another ZM ? Not sure, yet. There is a huge amount of detail that disappears on assembly. Jon.

Matt. All ZM are doing at the moment for this kit, is undercarriage legs. But the Eduard belts look good, so that’s tomorrows task. There are indeed instruments on the engine cowl, which is understandable, as this aircraft must have the most cramped cockpit of any twin engine aircraft. Jon

Cockpit assembled and then attached to the fuel tank platform and then with the 200L fuel tank fitted. Just waiting for the seatbelts to arrive and then fit. Jon

Greetings Mr F, from a sunny West Country. You’ve come to right place, there are many very knowledgeable people on this forum, on just about everything to do with modelling. Jon

Could be your paint is too thick.

Greetings Viggen Nice to have you aboard, this is a great place for many modelling questions. Jon

I started with Tamiya paints, thinned 50/50 with Tamiya thinners. The airbrush used is a Iwata Neo. The results were ok, but I found I had difficulty controlling the amount of paint I was applying, seemed to be all or nothing. So I’ve thrown caution to the wind and bought a Harder & Steenbeck Infinity and I’ve also started using Vallejo Air, which so far hasn’t needed thinning so less hassle before spraying. I have to say the results so far are really encouraging, the H&S airbrush is very good, and I do like the fact I can adjust how much paint I release.

Started the cockpit this morning, seem to spend most of the time on the instrument panel. There was a choice, a brown plastic one which once painted the decals were applied as normal. Or a clear plastic one, this is the one I chose simply because I thought it might look better, I think I was right. Once I masked the 7 main instruments, I sprayed the whole thing grey then removed the masking from the 7 instruments and applied the decals to the back, so the dial faces are visible through the panel. Never done this before and I think the result was quite good. I have managed to find some seat belts, which were not included in this kit and when I see how they will be fitted, I'll be assembling the parts to finish the cockpit.

Certainly did, and checked the tolerance on the rings.

Andre. Thanks for that, I eventually found some at Hannant’s which are WW2 Luftwaffe seat belts, so they should do. Took a while, as I was searching for the aircraft, but no body does anything for it, to new a kit I guess. The instructions do look complicated, but when you start to follow them and build they are very good. I have to say, that given the level of detail in the engines, they included pistons, which of course disappeared on assembly. You’d think they could have managed to include seat belts, even decal belts would have been better than none. Jon

Both engines now finished, onto the cockpit next. I am surprised, that given the detail in the engines, I see there are no seat belts in the cockpit. Below is an example of the assembly instructions, each stage has this 'here are all the parts you'll use picture'. As I said before, I'm surprised there are no seat belts. And I can't find any after market ones either, if any of you have any ideas, please let me know. Jon