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This is the Airfix 1:72 Henschel Hs 123A-1 kit I built back in 2006. It represents "Red F", of 8./SG1, Luftwaffe, in Russia, 1942. It was built mostly OOB with some details added in the cockpit and the engine. I thinned the fins of the bombs. I reworked the spinner and thinned the propeller blades. The side ptoto probe was added as well as the wires. The kit was painted with brush and only the varnish was airbrushed. Thanks for looking. As usual, all comments are welcome. Miguel

Sorry about the essay, but this one needs a bit of an explanation. When I was a 1/2 scale model of my current self, I didn't do biplanes – they were old fashioned and in my naive, expert opinion they were written off as 'crap'. An open cockpit showed that they were even crapper. I don't know why, but the Hs 123 was allowed a special dispensation. Probably because of the action packed Airfix box art. I've just strained the think muscles and it was my only biplane back then and it has, so far, been my first as a born-again modeller (although there are two more biplanes in my micro-stash). As the mojo has been at an all time low, I decided to do a quick, out of the box build. That is until I found that the ESCI/Revell/Italeri cockpit is almost entirely a work of fiction. I would have loved doing a Gaspatch, but my budget didn't stretch that far. The Brengun PE was also reject on the same grounds. The only reason this work in progress exists, is that it has turned from a quick mojo restorer, into a minor millstone. I should have shoved it back in the box and never meet it's gaze ever again. I'm my own worst enemy (although there are others who may believe they deserve that honour, please form a queue). I always think to myself 'how can I improve that', which translates as 'how can I make that as complicated and as time consuming as I possibly can'. I knew that I would have to completely re-scribe it, but after years of running scared of re-scribing, I now find it quite therapeutic, and god knows, I need therapy. So…. All the flight surfaces were razor sawed off; the cockpit was almost completely scratch built; the engine and exhaust was 'improved'; anything remotely drillable got drilled, anything fillable got filled and I considered buying shares in Albion Alloys. Most joints needed some degree of filler (a masters degree in some cases) the fit of the parts generally in this kit I would describe as 'grating'. The seem around the engine cowl was an absolute requiring two hours of careful filing and sanding. I have never had a 'shelf of dooooom', if I start a kit, I finish it, but this kit got me thinking which shelf would be the most appropriate. Not because it was difficult, just because dealing with all the 'fit' problems became dreary. I would do half an hours work on it and then get peed off and stop for the day. The next day I would think 'It can't be that bad', but after another half an hour work, I would realise that it most definitely was. It was progressing like it was being worked on buy a ageing, lethargic sloth, with narcolepsy, which isn't that far from the truth. To cut a long story short, there are less irritating skin conditions with Latin names than this kit. Each kit should be equip with a tube of antihistamine. I found that the more filled joints I had to deal with, the more interested I became in the posts on Britmodeller. So basically, this WIP it part motivator, part procrastination. To date, I have worked (and at times it has felt like work) on this for three months and I'm not throwing that time away so FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION! I'm nothing if not suborn. Progress to date: As always with my scratch building, it's more about getting an essence of reality more than accuracy. The unpainted panels are what the kit provides. The kit also had a full floor (wrong); which the seat is attached to (wrong); there was no forward bulkhead; the instrument panel was flat, featureless and the wrong shape and the joy stick wasn't up to the job. I'm always surprised how duff things look when they are ten times their actual size. The seatbelts also look much better than in the photo. When I haven't got photo etch belts, I print some off on good quality paper, so these cost about 20p. The rear edge of the cowling has been thinned and the exhaust hollowed out. Putting these three bars in led to many an interesting word (if I had a swear-box, I would have been able to afford the Gaspatch kit). Also note the three 'straps' around the cowling Words of sympathy welcome, as are contact details of any relevant support group. Thanks for looking. Gorby

Hs 123 update set & masks 1:48 Eduard - For Gaspatch models Kit The Gaspatch kit is an excellent one. Eduard are now along with an update sets to further detail the kit. Update Set & Seatbelts (49860) This set is for the interior and exterior. There is one nickel platted coloured fret and one steel one for the seatbelts. The colour fret is dominated buy the large instrument panel. Also on this fret are parts for the engine, cockpit, pilot entry door, rudder pedals, and the cowling straps. There is also a template for marking the aerial positions on the tail. If wanted the zoom set has just the steel seatbelts. Set & Belts Zoom belt Set Masks (EX563) This set provides all the masks for the glazing and wheels in the yellow tape. Review samples courtesy of