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Italeri AS51 Horsa Mk 1 1/72


CedB

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First WIP post for me. My 21st build but just got used to the photo / post. Also intimidated by the master modellers but hey, I enjoy building and wanted to share this one. Part of my D Day set - photos of others later.

Horsa_1_zpsb6718d59.jpg

This comes with a set of commando figures but, as I build flying and hang from the ceiling, won't be using these. Here's the rest of the sprues.

Horsa_2_zps2a1ed070.jpg

Horsa_3_zps2276e3ef.jpg

Horsa_4_zps811071d2.jpg

And, good news for me, the decals. Having just masked and hand painted a Dak I'm happy to see these, although perhaps this will change when I try to apply them!?

Horsa_5_zpse0c70ab3.jpg

OK, build time (when I'm not working!)

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As you are building it in flying mode you won't be able to replicate the error Italeri built in to this kit (and repeated by every other manufacturer who released this kit). Namely the two para doors should slide up and over inside the fuselage rather than drop down with inbulit steps, the Horsa was designed to drop parachutists so the doors had to be openable in flight.

Oh yes, and don't even think it can be built as a Mk II as Italeri claim, that needs a completely new nose and major surgery to the fuselage, it is, however, acceptable as a Mk I.

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I've just completed my Airfix Horsa.

At Jet Age Museum we have two members who flew Horsa IIs during Operation Varsity crossing the Rhine,

and are constructing a replica Horsa nose section http://www.jetagemuseum.org/HorsaHeritage.aspx

One pilot, Ken Plowman, autographed the box for my kit, and gave members a talk about his wartime service a few months ago.

Very exciting as he landed without flaps, and the nose broke clean off his Horsa. Fortunately no casualties.

Hence I built mine as an AS58 Horsa II, airborne, steep angle of descent, without flaps - Brace for impact, this is going to be a rough one!

For a flying mode, you'll need pilots from another kit - mine came from an Anson.

I know the fuselage section changed for the AS58 - but went with the kit.

Also for the AS51 Horsa I, the windscreen needs two extra frames - to give 8 panels in front of the pilots.

Four panels of the kit is correct only for the Horsa II.

Best of luck for your build.

Edited by theplasticsurgeon
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I've just completed my Airfix Horsa.

At Jet Age Museum we have two members who flew Horsa IIs during Operation Varsity crossing the Rhine,

and are constructing a replica Horsa nose section http://www.jetagemuseum.org/HorsaHeritage.aspx

One pilot, Ken Plowman, autographed the box for my kit, and gave members a talk about his wartime service a few months ago.

Very exciting as he landed without flaps, and the nose broke clean off his Horsa. Fortunately no casualties.

Hence I built mine as an AS58 Horsa II, airborne, steep angle of descent, without flaps - Brace for impact, this is going to be a rough one!

For a flying mode, you'll need pilots from another kit - mine came from an Anson.

I know the fuselage section changed for the AS58 - but went with the kit.

Also for the AS51 Horsa I, the windscreen needs two extra frames - to give 8 panels in front of the pilots.

Four panels of the kit is correct only for the Horsa II.

Best of luck for your build.

The two extra glazing frames are inside the glazing and that's the reason that on some photos of Mk I you can't see them - due to the reflections on the perspex.

The kit's cockpit needs major surgery if you are going to town on this model as the cockpit floor needs raising and as a result the pilot's seats need reducing in height, the centre console needs reshaping and you'll need to produce the prominent central keel member under canopy just for starters. I did say you can produce a decent Mk I from this kit, but it does need effort. Don't let me put you off. :shutup:

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Bit more progress this weekend.

Some of the finer sprue parts need careful cutting and filing.

Horsa_6Sprue_zps7efa285c.jpg

But the detail is really good - look at these rudder pedals:

Horsa_8Detail_zps0ae7f224.jpg

Challenging with large fingers - make sure you're not shaky!

There's also a problem with the removal marks on some parts (what are these called?) but easily solved with some filler:

Horsa_7Sprue_zpsd8377d40.jpg

Cockpit parts ready for final filing, sanding and touch up:

Horsa_9Parts_zps8931ef4e.jpg

and put together:

Horsa_11_zps78cc35bf.jpg

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More progress. First problem, what to do with all those seats?

FD8AE913-9D4D-443E-B500-E94F72D15B01_zps

Pre-paint (obviously) - first coat. I've used Olive Drab (one of them) as I usually build OOB and follow the instructions, which say:

E3E483FB-71C9-42C3-97DB-329775E2BF68_zps

(can't get PhotoBucket edit to rotate and save, sorry)

Question is how to glue the seats without them falling over. Can't glue the floor to the fuselage in case it's not right. My answer; glue the floor parts together and then glue one side of seats, supporting them like this:

1E47B132-BB52-4DE1-A8F3-998557F56506_zps

and then do the other side.

Meanwhile, rear section goes together really well with a nice fit, if slightly fiddly supports. I like the fact that the tabs sit on top of each other in the slot, making sure that your angles are right. Bit of filing required on the tabs to reduce the gap but otherwise nice...

F5EB29CE-6888-4360-928F-5A0329EC71D9_zps

I love my Berna clamps - they hold the pressure that you want to apply with soft jaws.

The large canopy is quite flexible and needs some help to dry in position. Used the PVA method here and pleased with the resultant fit and filling effect.

DEA62428-479D-4D5E-9A23-E3529661CEF5_zps

and also needs some holes part drilled for the aerial / hook (??) Shown here with poly ready to take parts:

A0CB3C25-F0D7-429C-90D4-A7CBD79E154B_zps

Ready for assembly!

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i like the effect that Humbrol Enamel gives when 'rough brushed'. I usually build 'factory fresh' (no weathering) but this just seems to look right.

I've used ClearFix on the windows (first use) and this seems good as long as you can handle a cocktail stick!

I'm also venturing into the spray world. I usually brush but I'm getting fed up brushing matt black on large areas, and I have B17 in the stash. I have some Humbrol spray cans and a cheap airbrush. More on that later (if I summon the courage!!)

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Interesting project, looking forward to seeing it complete with tug

Roger

Thanks Roger! Already prepared an Italeri C47 for this and will do some photos. I'll make sure I get the tow rope right(ish) and prepare myself for the "this never towed that" comments! And no, I'm not going to buy the 'matching' Italeri Sterling.... already have a Sterling and it's too dear!

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and also needs some holes part drilled for the aerial / hook (??) Shown here with poly ready to take parts:

The Horsa I had two towing points at top of each main undercarriage leg - parts are in the kit.

The Horsa II had one towpoint at top of the nose leg.

Anyway here's my Horsa.

Completed003_zps8441700a.jpg

Edited by theplasticsurgeon
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I'm sorry to be pedantic but the two two points on the Mk 1 were outboard of the undercarriage shock struts on the end of the main spar at the joint with the outer wing section in a fairing that looked like half a pear with the stalk towards the trailing edge.

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Progress this weekend. Assembly of the fuselage was not as easy as hoped and the fit was made difficult because the centre section flexes. Once lined up and glued there was only one way I could think of to keep it straight whilst it dried:

600BA1CB-2B29-4CED-9467-8FD643F86641_zps

All ready now for my first attempt at spray painting with Humbrol Acrylic spray:

7196239B-DAEE-4A38-A898-2CC5E4DC2640_zps

This was also the first time I'd used ClearFix to fit the glass and Maskol to mask the windows and wheel hubs (pre-painted solver). Had a disappointment with the first as the windows hadn't stuck as well as expected and one fell inside when trying to remove the mask. I don't think I put it on thick enough. That said, using ClearFix to replace the window went well:

ED8ADD88-0D22-4D18-93D4-AF3BA1F9E296_zps

Can you tell which is the replacement? Third from the left.

Doors also fell foul of the same problem but I hadn't been happy with the fit so took them off for a refit.

More soon - just completing the final touch up.

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Ready for decals.

8E819ADB-4FD7-43AC-8E30-84E068232555_zps

I need to gird my loins for those huge decals. If my nerves hold up and all goes well expect a RFI in the next few days. If not, see you back here with problems!

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Decals finished with one BIG problem. The two stripe decals for the fuselage are too long. Once they're wet and the DecalFix is drying there's not much you can do except try to line them up...

F6EE3BA2-B738-4294-995D-E52B35474683_zps

As you can see here these should be further back towards the tail and not meet across the bar on the fuselage. Moving them around so they match up while they're drying is, of course, a panic job. It's also pushed the roundels onto cross bars. Nightmare.

The roundels were very thin and creased easily. Not much to be done now. Pity.

Will sort out the tow rope and tug and post to RFI int he next few days.

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I'm loving it!.

Had my eye on a Horsa just because it's a great historic aircraft used at a very crucial time.

I will say though.....damn it's a big bird! Much more than I thought but I guess they were carrying massive amounts of troops.

Great work ......let's see more

Chocks away!

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Thanks all for the kind comments. Not proud enough of this to put out a RFI post so here's the final set of photos.

Pleased with the canopy. A mix of the 'masking tape, cut and spray' and 'brush paint and scrape' methods, both of which worked thanks to the grooves in the plastic:

4BE78A49-6D75-4C2E-98A7-F8ADB23E934C_zps

Some shots of the finished article. Note the Tiffie in the background on 'stands'. These came in a pizza box - great where your models have lots of bits sticking out underneath.

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And with the tug and escort. I know these probably never flew in formation but they all have stripes and I have limited space on my ceiling!!

74DF5FA4-2735-485C-BC09-BC3A79CF0DDA_zps

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