ICM WWII Luftwaffe Airfield Set (DS4801) 1:48

[Mike]

WWII Luftwaffe Airfield Set (DS4801)

1:48 ICM via Hannants

 

 

During WWII the Luftwaffe operated from all manner of airfields, from rough temporary strips to fully furnished airfields with all mod cons of the time, including brick-built barracks and even a specially oversized bath for a visiting Hermann Göring.  They often hosted numerous aircraft types at once, plus all of the attendant crew, in groundcrew and aircrew flavours.

 

 

The Kit

This is a boxed set of three kits that have been brought together to fit the theme, and includes a Messerschmitt Bf.109F-4 fighter (48103), a Henschel Hs.126B-1 Reconnaissance aircraft (48212), and a set of Pilots & Ground Crew (48082) to finish off the set.  All of these kits have been released previously under their own individual codes, but in this compact box they represent excellent value and an exercise in convenience too.  The kit(s) arrive in a small top opening box with ICM’s usual captive inner lid, and inside are three bags of sprues for the three kits.  The Henschel has three sprues and two wing halves in grey styrene, a small clear sprue and decal sheet, the 109 has three in grey, one clear and a decal sheet, while the figure set is on a single sprue, each one also having their own instruction booklet and painting guide.  They are all relatively modern toolings with good detail, engraved panel lines, and in the case of the figures, realistic sculpting and fabric drape.  We’ve not reviewed any of these kits previously, so let’s get on with it.

 

 

Henschel Hs.126B-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

This kit originated in 2010, so is of recent vintage and has plenty of detail included.  Construction begins with the cockpit, which has plenty of parts, including a clear two-part instrument panel that is augmented with styrene details and is arranged around the floor panel with a rear bulkhead, rudder pedals and other controls, then the cockpit sidewalls are decked out with a substantial number of boxes, instruments, ammo cans and other parts that liven-up the interior.  The gunner’s section of the cockpit is a more spartan affair with a rear bulkhead, simple seat and machine gun with concertina dump bag hanging from the breech.  The fuselage can be closed up around the sub-assemblies once the engine mount is attached to the bulkhead behind, and a donut (not a real one) is inserted into the front ready to accept the engine later.  A group of inserts are fitted around the front of the fuselage, and the top deck closes over the forward portion, then main wheels are made up either with or without spats and two-part wheels that are surrounded by a teardrop-shaped fairing for the spatted version.  At the rear a single-part wheel, yoke and mudguard are inserted into the space under the tail, permitting the aircraft to stand on its own three wheels for the first time.  The 126 has a large greenhouse canopy that affords the crew a good view of their surroundings, which is key to any recon bird.  The gunner however isn’t given a canopy, so he’d better dress warmly!  The pilot’s windscreen and canopy are separate parts, and are accompanied by a pair of handrails, one down each side.

 

The engine is next, and a full rendering of the Bramo 9-cylinder radial engine is provided, from the bell-housing at the front, through the piston banks and out the back with the ancillaries.  It is fitted to the donut at the front of the fuselage, then the cowling is assembled round it, after which the three-blade prop is built on the boss and secured in place with a ring that is covered over by a spinner.  The wings are of the parasol variety to improve situational awareness of the crew further, totally supported by two large v-shaped struts and a set of cabane struts in front of the windscreen.  All the flying surfaces are separate and have separate hinges, so can be fitted deflected, as can the rear feathers, which are supported by two struts each, almost parallel to each other.

 

Markings

You get a generous and disparate three markings options from the decal sheet, one more traditional with splinter uppers, one in a winter distemper, and the other in a North African sand camouflage.  From the box you can build one of the following:

 

• 1.(H)/32, Finland, December 1941
• 4.(H)/23, Russia, Winter 1942
• 2.(H)/14, North Africa, 1941/1942

 

 

 

 

Decals are printed by ICM’s usual provider, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas.

 

 

Messerschmitt Bf.109F-4

 

 

 

 

 

This kit harks from 2006, and while it isn’t the newest 109 in the world has all the parts you’d expect, although time has introduced a little flash here and there, but it’s always preferable to short-shot parts any day of the week.  For a change construction begins with the DB601E engine, which is quite well-detailed and includes exhaust stubs and flame-guards over the top.  The cockpit is straight-forward, based upon an L-shaped floor with the cannon breech between the pilot’s knees, the instrument panel supported on a panel projecting from the forward bulkhead.  The clear gunsight, rudder pedals, control column and seat pan finish that off, then the engine is attached to the front by joining the bearers between the two sub-assemblies, with machine guns and ammo cans between them.  With the addition of a trim wheel on the sidewall and some paint, the fuselage can be closed up around the completed interior.  The elevators are each single parts, and are installed in their slots, then joined by a separate rudder that can be posed deflected.  The fuselage is completed by fitting the four-part cowling around the engine, adding the windscreen with bullet-proof insert, fixed rear canopy and the opener, which has a set of head-armour installed inside.

 

The lower wing is full width and the upper halves are glued to the top, then the wingtips are inserted into the newly formed slots.  The wings are brought together with the fuselage, and underneath the nose the chin intake for the oil cooler goes in, and the two radiator baths are inserted into their underwing positions then the flaps are put into their tracks in the trailing edge.  The narrow track main gear legs are each made up from strut, captive bay door and wheel, which are narrow enough to be moulded from a single part each.  The tail wheel is a single part and slots into the rear under the tail, then it’s back to the front for the supercharger intake on the port side, and the prop with spinner and retaining ring.

 

Markings

Four markings options are supplied for the 109, again all pretty varied and colourful.  From the box you can build one of the following:

 

• Ofw. Eberhard von Boremski, 9./JG3, Ukraine, May 1942
• Hpt. Hans Philipp, Gruppenkommandeur of I.JG54, Siwerskaya (Leningrad area), March 1942
• Lt. Hermann Graf, Staffelkapitan of 9./JG52, Rogan (Ukraine), May 1942
• Lt. Heinrich Ehrler, Staffelkapitan of 6./JG5, Petsamo (Finland), July 1942

 

 

 

 

German Luftwaffe Pilots & Ground Personnel (1939-45)

 

 

This set includes a combination of three pilots and four ground crew on one sprue, one of the former bearing more than a passing resemblance to Adolf Galland, complete with his customary moustache.  The other officer is wearing riding trousers and boots, with his hands folded behind his back, while the third pilot is being helped into his parachute harness by one of the groundcrew.  The other three figures are groundcrew in overalls, one standing with a toolbox, another with his hands out in front of him, while the final figure is on his knees working on something, screwdriver in hand.  The instructions show the figures complete, and points out parts and painting suggestions for each one.  The paint codes are referenced in a table overleaf using Master Model colour codes and colour names in English and Ukrainian.

 

 

Conclusion

A compact and bijou boxing that is full of modelling fun.  The Henschel is the better of the two kits, and the inclusion of the figures is a bonus.  Make sure you have enough gloss black in stock for Mr Galland’s perennially slicked back hair.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd.

 

Review sample courtesy of

 

[Mancunian airman]

They have done the same thing with an RAF airfield diorama which contains two marks of Spitfire and their RAF pilots and groundcrew figures . . . 

 

[Mike]

2 hours ago, Mancunian airman said:

They have done the same thing with an RAF airfield diorama which contains two marks of Spitfire and their RAF pilots and groundcrew figures . . . 

 

Yup.  That's next in the queue