Airfix 1/48 Ju87 B-1 Stuka, Condor Legion

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi gents,

 

As there are only few steps left to completing my P-61 (WIP here - ), I thought I would slowly start a new build.

This time I picked Airfix's 1/48 Ju87 B-1 Stuka from the shelf and will be finishing it in Condor Legion markings.

 

As usual, I will be building it OOB, although I might add aftermarket seat belts or I will make them from scratch.

 

Again, I will be using my Complementary Pre-Shading method which I think was a success with my previous two builds.

 

As a result of Airfix packing all the sprues in one bag, two of the aileron counterweights broke (pics below) so that's a good start.

 

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 27, 2020 by Nikola Topalov

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi gents, 

 

I have a question - what was the true material of the munition bin in the gunner's office? Airfix instructions show it as metal, the same color as the rest of the interior, but I've seen some pics with those made from canvas or something similar. Which is correct? 

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

Cheers, 

Nikola

Edited March 27, 2020 by Nikola Topalov

[exdraken]

Nice project! Will follow for sure...

 

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi gents,

 

A little progress with the Stuka:

 

Cockpit primed with German Dark Yellow, then "complementary pre-shaded" with German Red-Brown and highlighted with White. Next is base coat of RLM02.

I chose a red based hue for my complementary pre-shading method again since the RLM02 has a greenish tint to it. This time I decided to experiment with red-brown instead of plain red for pre-shading. We will see what it turns out to be.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

 

Best,

Nikola

 

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi guys,

 

Below are a few photos of the base coat laid over the complementary pre-shading. I tried to represent the true colours as I see them in real life and this is as good as it gets for now with my photographing skills.

The finish itself is not great, as I realized some problems with my compressor and air pressure only after I finished painting (I noticed there was something odd during the process but was stupid and lazy enough not to check immediately). 😕

 

Anyhow, thanks for looking!  

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

 

 

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi gents,

 

Almost out of the "office".

Everything is OOB so no seat belts and all that jazz. 

 

You can see the subtle effects of complementary pre-shading method, but I wish it was a bit more pronounced. Next time I will try to go lighter with the base coat.

Some of it gets lost in weathering and washes. Most of this won't be seen anyway so it was more of a practice.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2020 by Nikola Topalov

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi gents,

 

Well , this was unexpected from Airfix's new tool kit - a gap, ca. 1mm, between the instrument panel and the fuselage! (Pics below; dry fit only)

 

Did anybody else have this issue?

 

Also, no gun sight in the kit! 

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2020 by Nikola Topalov

[exdraken]

No idea about the gap, but nice progress!

[Marklo]

Hmm I’d check references. It is possible that it’s supposed to be there. I’ve noticed particularly on Luftwaffe types they the ips weren’t always completely faired in .

Alternatively the ip is in the wrong place. I’d be surprised if Airfix got something like that so wrong.

Edited April 19, 2020 by Marklo

[0viking0]

Very nice work... Gap thingie is suspicious.

Edited April 19, 2020 by 0viking0

[Nikola Topalov]

16 hours ago, Marklo said:

Hmm I’d check references. It is possible that it’s supposed to be there. I’ve noticed particularly on Luftwaffe types they the ips weren’t always completely faired in .

Alternatively the ip is in the wrong place. I’d be surprised if Airfix got something like that so wrong.

Thanks Marklo, 

 

I'll dig a bit deeper into the references. I saw only on one Airfix 1/24, that there was a gap, but that again might have been the modeller's mistake. 

 

I doubt that it is a misalignment as the kit has beed very good so far in terms of fit. Almost fool proof. But then again I might be a bigger fool than they anticipated, haha. 

 

So far the refs show it all the way up. Again, there is no gun sight provided in the kit. It might be that it used to fit in that place, but Airfix should have adjusted that no doubt. 

 

Anyhow, thanks again. 

 

Best, 

Nikola

[Nikola Topalov]

20 hours ago, Nikola Topalov said:

Hi gents,

 

Well , this was unexpected from Airfix's new tool kit - a gap, ca. 1mm, between the instrument panel and the fuselage! (Pics below; dry fit only)

 

Did anybody else have this issue?

 

Also, no gun sight in the kit! 

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

 

Hi gents,

 

The only hint I found about the "issue" is in the instructions themselves. From what I can see, the image does not show the ip going all the way up to meet the fuselage.

 

 

 

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi gents,

 

With your help and your valuable info, in the end I decided to extend the ip all the way to the fuselage (pics below).

 

Another strange thing from Airfix which I have found, besides the gun sight not being provided, is that they have provided the gunner's back support strap in the kit, but haven't shown the piece in the instructions at all. I saw this back support in a few photos and recognized the piece only because of them, so I included it in the model as it gives additional interest to the cockpit in my opinion. I hope that it is in the right position because I eyeballed it (pics below). (pics below).

 

Before I saw the photos I was wandering what it might have felt like for the gunner without the back support when the Stuka went into a dive!

 

Thanks for looking guys!

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

 

Edited April 23, 2020 by Nikola Topalov

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi guys,

 

A little progress with the Stuka...

 

The IP decal was very good in terms of fit and the decal softener did it's job OK. All faults are of my own doing.

All tail parts are in place, with elevators in down position for more visual interest. Had slight challenge with aligning the horizontal stabilizers and bracing struts but pulled it off in the end.

 

Next: Landing gear, ailerons, dive brakes, etc,  and on to priming. The engine and the prop will be last.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Edited April 26, 2020 by Nikola Topalov

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi gents,

 

A little progress with the Stuka - I am attempting the multi layer paint chipping technique using Vallejo chipping medium for the first time so we'll see...

 

Step 1, 2 and 3 are completed and were as follows (pics below): 

 

1 - Prime the model with Vallejo German Dark Yellow primer.

2 - Apply Vallejo Metal Color Aluminium where I plan to show paint chipped all the way to the bare metal.

3 - Protect the metal layer with Mr. Color GX113 UV cut flat clear coat.

 

Steps to come:

 

4 - Apply the Vallejo chipping medium.

5 - Apply the first base coat of tinted Vallejo Dark Green RLM71 since I want to show chipped-faded base coats as well.

6 - Chip this base coat.

7 - Apply another protection coat of Mr. Color GX113.

8 - Apply the chipping medium again. 

9 - Pre-shade with my complementary pre-shading method using Tamiya Red XF-7 ( and shaded version of the same) since it is a complementary hue to the green camo scheme.

10 - Apply the base coat of Vallejo Dark Green RLM71.

11 - Chip.

12 - Protect.

13 - Repeat last few steps with darker camo hue - Vallejo Black Green RLM70.

 

Earlier I learned not to use Vallejo paints with the hairspray technique as it tends to crack for some reason, probably a chemistry thing. No problem with Tamiya over HS though.

 

Any advice is more than welcome! 

 

Wish me luck and thanks for looking!

 

P.S. Apologies for the phone camera image quality.

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

Edited May 12, 2020 by Nikola Topalov

[veg]

I really like your pre shading ideas, noted them on other builds, and having this kit in my stash its  good to note a couple of things, the IP and the gunners seat support. Lovely build.

[Nikola Topalov]

12 hours ago, veg said:

I really like your pre shading ideas, noted them on other builds, and having this kit in my stash its  good to note a couple of things, the IP and the gunners seat support. Lovely build.

Thank you Veg! Much appreciated.

 

I hope that it turns out at least decent enough.

 

Best,

Nikola

[Marklo]

Interesting preshading ideas. I have a special hobby JU87K in the works and have gone with a grey primer and black pre shade. The only thing I’m doing differently is to mask each colour individually.

 

 

I also did a 1/72 conversion If the Airfix R into an A last year. For this I sprayed the whole upper surface grey then masked for the green and the brown. 

Edited May 13, 2020 by Marklo

[Nikola Topalov]

45 minutes ago, Marklo said:

Interesting preshading ideas. I have a special hobby JU87K in the works and have gone with a grey primer and black pre shade. The only thing I’m doing differently is to mask each colour individually.

 

 

I also did a 1/72 conversion If the Airfix R into an A last year. For this I sprayed the whole upper surface grey then masked for the green and the brown. 

Hi Marklo,

 

Interesting tri-color scheme for the Stuka. I have only seen schemes of two types of green so far. Thanks for sharing.

 

Regarding my complementary pre-shading, if you want to see where it all started here is the link to one of my earlier posts:

So far I have done a Zeke (exterior only) and a P-61 (both interior and exterior) with this method.

The toughest thing for me is to control paint coverage and weathering so the effect does not get lost.

Thanks for looking!

 

Best,

Nikola

[Marklo]

The tri colour splinter was the very early  Luftwaffe scheme typically you’ll see it in JU 86s and early 87s (Both of mibe are A models, the K was the designation gives to export models)by the late thirties they had changed to the 70/71 two colour scheme. 
 

I actually did  followed the Zeke when you were building it. I may try the techniques for a future build, I have a Polikarpov I-16 in the que that it might be good on. It’s mid green I presume by complementary preshading they your using the adjacent colours in the colour wheel ?

Edited May 13, 2020 by Marklo

[Nikola Topalov]

2 hours ago, Marklo said:

The tri colour splinter was the very early  Luftwaffe scheme typically you’ll see it in JU 86s and early 87s (Both of mibe are A models, the K was the designation gives to export models)by the late thirties they had changed to the 70/71 two colour scheme. 
 

It’s mid green I presume by complementary preshading they your using the adjacent colours in the colour wheel ?

Thank you for the info on the paint schemes Marklo. Much appreciated!

 

As for the complementary colors for pre-shading, if it's a greenish scheme, you would want to go with a reddish pre-shading colors, which are opposite of the base coat color on the color wheel. You can use different hues of red of course, as well as various tints (white added) and shades (black added) of the same to get even more interesting color variations. 

 

You can probably go with analogue colors (adjacent on the color wheel) as well but I haven't tried that. I assume that it will not give good contrast, but it's worth experimenting definitely.

 

Best, 

Nikola

[Marklo]

1 hour ago, Nikola Topalov said:

, if it's a greenish scheme, you would want to go with a reddish pre-shading colors, which are opposite of the base coat color on the color wheel

It’s a mid green not unlike rlm 71, so based on what you’re saying use something like Tamiya hull red? perhaps flat red mixed with flat brown? Or a lighter  hue?

Edited May 13, 2020 by Marklo

[RadMax8]

Hey Nikola, saw this one when you first posted it but lost track. I’m all caught up now. You’ve made great progress, cockpit looks  great. Curious about the gunsight... I know Quickboost makes resin replacements of various German models, should you decide to go that route. 
 

Thanks for sharing!

[Nikola Topalov]

7 hours ago, Marklo said:

It’s a mid green not unlike rlm 71, so based on what you’re saying use something like Tamiya hull red? perhaps flat red mixed with flat brown? Or a lighter  hue?

Hi Marklo, 

 

Yes, something like that. Doesn't have to be exact at all. 

Looking forward to seeing your build! 

 

Best, 

Nikola

[Nikola Topalov]

3 hours ago, RadMax8 said:

Hey Nikola, saw this one when you first posted it but lost track. I’m all caught up now. You’ve made great progress, cockpit looks  great. Curious about the gunsight... I know Quickboost makes resin replacements of various German models, should you decide to go that route. 
 

Thanks for sharing!

Hi RadMax, 

 

Thank you! Glad you like it!

 

Also, thank you for the info about the gun sight! I will definitely check it out. 

 

Best, 

Nikola