LetLetLet ~ Warplanes

Let Let Let - Warplanes => Aircraft Modeling => Topic started by: Second Air Force on June 16, 2014, 03:16:43 AM

Title: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on June 16, 2014, 03:16:43 AM
Here's a start on another WWII era biplane that I've often wished to build, the Henschel 123. While browsing about, I found a package sale of three AMTech (ESCI, Revell, and Italeri also released this kit) Hs 123s. These also include three full resin cockpits by Black Box. Two comprehensive decal sheets and two sets of unspatted landing gear finished the deal.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/HortenPrimer004_zpsdb163c07.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/HortenPrimer004_zpsdb163c07.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/HortenPrimer003_zps28742120.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/HortenPrimer003_zps28742120.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/HortenPrimer002_zps07b18b54.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/HortenPrimer002_zps07b18b54.jpg.html)

The first item on the agenda was to set out one of the resin cockpit sets and clean the pour stubs from them. These are beautiful pieces, expertly mastered and poured. The instructions tell where to trim inside the cockpit and after doing so I can confirm that these fit GREAT!:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Hs123Start001_zpsd4306834.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Hs123Start001_zpsd4306834.jpg.html)

Then the cockpit components received a coat of RLM02 and while that was drying I glued the wing parts together:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Hs123Start002_zpsa03f6961.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Hs123Start002_zpsa03f6961.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on June 16, 2014, 03:59:59 AM
Good luck with this build mate :-ok
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: modellius on June 16, 2014, 10:26:17 PM
Nice project, keep it rolin'
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on June 19, 2014, 12:12:51 PM
Okay, rollin' on with this one! Cockpit parts fixed to the fuselage, then start of assembly:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Hs-123interior001_zpsa2718063.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Hs-123interior001_zpsa2718063.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Hs-123interior003_zpsde6cd064.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Hs-123interior003_zpsde6cd064.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on June 19, 2014, 12:21:39 PM
Amazing!!!!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on June 19, 2014, 11:27:18 PM
This is a really quick build, actually. There are a few fit problems (so far, at least) but nothing very dramatic. Getting the lower wing assembly to have the correct angle takes some filing and sanding. It isn't a "modern" kit by any means but I am still enjoying it!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on June 21, 2014, 04:12:44 AM
After satisfying myself that I had filled the seams properly on the fuselage and lower wing, I moved on to other details. This model will be of a very early production machine, so I filed off the small fairing just in front of the tailwheel installation. Then I took an old DF "football" from the spares box and fashioned a tailwheel fairing. These were really neat, sleek looking little covers over the tailwheel that were deleted later on. Here's a couple of photos of this small modification, including the first time the airplane was able to sit on its own "legs":
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Henscheltailwheel001_zps05f6ad36.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Henscheltailwheel001_zps05f6ad36.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Henscheltailwheel002_zps8f4e3014.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Henscheltailwheel002_zps8f4e3014.jpg.html)

The next item was to install the fuselage-to-upper wing struts and get the alignment adjusted for this important step:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Henscheltailwheel003_zpseb616165.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Henscheltailwheel003_zpseb616165.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on June 21, 2014, 05:50:18 AM
I have find somewhere info that Germans ask even in 1944 to get this type back into production, it proven very good in attack role
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on June 21, 2014, 01:19:15 PM
These were very efficient at ground troop support, so much so that units flying the Hs-123 (and Hs-129, also) were sometimes awarded the Infantry Assault Badge. I can imagine that infantry units fighting in the East would have wanted them put back into production!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on June 21, 2014, 01:22:44 PM
What sample machine do you plan to built, maybe there could be good source image?
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on June 21, 2014, 01:58:29 PM
This first one is a pre-war airplane in the three-color splinter. I actually have several photos of it. The other two will be wartime birds, though!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on June 21, 2014, 01:59:56 PM
All right then, good luck :))
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on June 23, 2014, 04:02:39 AM
Finally I have attacked the hardest part of this kit, the cowling. For some unknown reason, ESCI decided to mold the cowl in two parts with the seam running right down the middle, giving a front and rear half. This wouldn't be so bad except that the seam runs right through the 18 cylinder fairings........ The engine was built up and painted, then installed in the cowl and the halves glued together. A first coat of putty and sanding then, and after that, primer:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/EggcrateDog007_zps6c4cda5e.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/EggcrateDog007_zps6c4cda5e.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on June 23, 2014, 05:50:14 AM
It look like you have assembly engine cowling into very good shape ;)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on June 23, 2014, 12:09:38 PM
Not yet, mate.....the first coat of primer shows how many spots I missed on that seam :-wall. It'll take more work to get a good finish on this cowl. The people who built the master for this should have placed the seam fore-and-aft so we only had longitudinal seams to fill, but that isn't how they designed it, so this is the only way. The engine has to be "trapped" between the two halves before gluing and that also complicates matters a little.
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on June 28, 2014, 09:53:11 PM
Finally the cowling is smoothly shaped. A final coat of primer to all seams shows that it is time for camouflage, but I first decided to do a test-fit of the main parts:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Henschelcontinued001_zps7c47bb08.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Henschelcontinued001_zps7c47bb08.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on June 28, 2014, 10:00:36 PM
It look perfect now, I could just imagine what a huge work was included here
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on July 04, 2014, 11:58:51 PM
RLM65 on the bottom:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/G-105F12001_zpsb8995653.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/G-105F12001_zpsb8995653.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on July 05, 2014, 06:25:26 AM
So party started ;)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: draken35 on July 05, 2014, 08:48:51 AM
:-ok
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on July 10, 2014, 02:43:27 AM
First camouflage on top:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/WNF1002_zps6d38bc95.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/WNF1002_zps6d38bc95.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on July 10, 2014, 06:52:08 AM
Colors, finally :-ok
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Jicehem on July 13, 2014, 09:35:30 PM
Hello,

Great project.

Jicehem :-wave:
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Akinator98 on July 18, 2014, 12:03:48 AM
Great work!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: draken35 on July 19, 2014, 11:06:57 AM
:-ok
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: modellius on July 20, 2014, 08:32:57 PM
great !
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 15, 2014, 07:50:23 PM
Small update on this one--I haven't forgotten it........
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/HenschelSplinter001_zps2601d79d.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/HenschelSplinter001_zps2601d79d.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 15, 2014, 09:51:55 PM
Very good update :))
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: draken35 on August 16, 2014, 06:22:39 PM
Very nice!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Akinator98 on August 21, 2014, 06:04:49 PM
Nice! :-ok
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 21, 2014, 06:55:22 PM
Thanks, friends! :-cool

This is taking a long time--no good time for modeling right now. :-wall
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 21, 2014, 07:22:02 PM
But good time for something else :)) :-ok
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 27, 2014, 06:59:26 PM
Today the top wing was mounted to the airframe. I've read several horror stories about how this assembly doesn't fit, but no problems here. No photos due to time but I'll explain later.
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 27, 2014, 07:07:16 PM
Nice to hear it is near complete :)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 27, 2014, 07:23:06 PM
Yes, not too far now. Nice thing about Hs-123 is that there is almost no rigging--just four diagonal wires at the cabane struts. Still, I have several small details to accomplish before calling this one complete.
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 31, 2014, 05:10:28 AM
Finally I found some few minutes and this little biplane is finally finished.

Now I can tell the story of wing assembly. I've read on the internet that people have struggled somewhat when gluing the upper wing to the rest of the machine, especially the outer struts causing the glue to come loose on the cabane struts. On mine I simply left off the two large interplane struts entirely while the glue cured on the fuselage struts. After a day or so of drying time I then just slid the left and right large struts into their slots and everything aligned beautifully. So, a few photos:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Hs-123Completed001_zps3c1c7a7b.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Hs-123Completed001_zps3c1c7a7b.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Hs-123Completed007_zpsebc2a9d9.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Hs-123Completed007_zpsebc2a9d9.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Hs-123Completed014_zpsc753a037.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Hs-123Completed014_zpsc753a037.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Hs-123Completed003_zpsd07838b5.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Hs-123Completed003_zpsd07838b5.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Hs-123Completed010_zps18f28bda.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Hs-123Completed010_zps18f28bda.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 31, 2014, 06:11:29 AM
Result is great and I hope I could have good result with mine one day when I make it ;)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Jicehem on August 31, 2014, 10:19:28 AM
Hello !

Nice looking. Great work.

Jicehem :-wave
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: draken35 on August 31, 2014, 12:18:42 PM
Very nice; I like it!!!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 31, 2014, 03:26:19 PM
Thank you, friends!  :-flo

I should make known that this isn't totally from the box. I used thin wire to make the triangular cowling support on front of the engine. Also, the "stirrup" steps on each side of the fuselage are also of wire and styrene strips. The original styrene parts in the kit are quite a lot too thick and it was simply easier to make new ones. The wing bomb racks were modified with wire for the bomb stays, again because the kit parts were far too heavy and thick. Another modification was to add a covered tailwheel, and for this I modified an old B-17 ADF loop antenna football fairing. The last change was to use aluminum tubing for the exhaust system.

In review, I rather liked building this machine. The cowling is a bit of a challenge but not one that can't be overcome. Really, I would recommend this as a first biplane kit for someone who has never wanted to build one, simply because of such minimal rigging. A good learning tool, I reckon.

The best part is--I still have two more of these kits to build! :-ok
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 31, 2014, 03:48:57 PM
Can you copy resin set from one of those for my sample? Hope I don't ask much :(
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 31, 2014, 04:16:37 PM
The cockpit parts, No.1? I must make a mold of one half anyway as one of my kits has two right sides and no left side. It would be little trouble to do the other side.
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 31, 2014, 05:07:44 PM
All right ;)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Akinator98 on August 31, 2014, 06:09:27 PM
Wonderfull!  :-clap
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: modellius on August 31, 2014, 11:48:04 PM
Great
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on July 20, 2015, 06:38:22 PM
Here's the start of my second Hs 123, exactly same kit as started this thread.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1570_zpsbc8gnxtp.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1570_zpsbc8gnxtp.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on July 20, 2015, 06:40:36 PM
Gooood :))
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: draken35 on July 20, 2015, 10:39:25 PM
Excellent!!!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: modellius on July 23, 2015, 03:44:08 PM
great !
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on July 23, 2015, 05:01:34 PM
Thanks, y'all! I'll start some more work on this as time allows.
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 03, 2015, 05:05:42 AM
Not a whole lot of progress here, but the cockpit parts at least have received their coat of RLM02.....
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1578_zpssohdjdeo.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1578_zpssohdjdeo.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 03, 2015, 06:24:22 AM
Good base, now details ;)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: draken35 on August 03, 2015, 05:56:59 PM
:-ok
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: modellius on August 04, 2015, 11:17:14 AM
Nice start
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 12, 2015, 07:25:11 PM
Thanks, friends!

I've neglected to take many photos of this one, but it is nearly identical to the first build on this thread. Each day this week I have had a few minutes to tinker with it and now it's to this point:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1585_zpsvalcjd8v.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1585_zpsvalcjd8v.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 12, 2015, 07:31:00 PM
Just enjoy and go!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 13, 2015, 07:27:28 PM
Some small modifications for this one, and a chance to use the unspatted landing gear set that AMTech provided. First I ground down the small fairing segment molded to the lower wing surface and applied a bit of putty where I went too deeeeeeep... :-wall Oh, well, it was a good excuse to brew a cup of coffee and relax! Really the conversion will be quite easy and the optional bare landing gear set will be a nice element to this late-war machine:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1598_zpskvbvjbiw.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1598_zpskvbvjbiw.jpg.html)

Assembling the fuselage and lower wing of this kit was more of a challenge than the first one as the halves were warped somewhat. As you may recall, I bought three kits all packed in one box and I think this one got bent a little as it was the bottom one. No problem, some CA glue and putty fixed it!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 13, 2015, 07:28:35 PM
Reelax, take a new coffee and go again :)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: draken35 on August 13, 2015, 07:50:12 PM
Nice work anyway!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 17, 2015, 01:26:20 AM
Application of more filler and sanding has been accomplished. The landing gear elements were then assembled (these fit great and are really nice!) and the openings in the wing opened up just a little for a good fit of the new gear. After this was satisfactory the upper wing was trial-fitted and the cabane struts adjusted just a little. At the same time the engine and cowling were temporarily slid in place to get an idea of the fit of these parts. Next was a bit of primer to the various seams and now a little more filling and sanding will be on the agenda:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1599_zps5ialppla.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1599_zps5ialppla.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1600_zpslst8ra07.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1600_zpslst8ra07.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1601_zpsvjyr47ye.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1601_zpsvjyr47ye.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 17, 2015, 07:40:23 AM
Work on struts can be complicated sometimes, your look good. Interesting to see it with gear spats removed ;)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: draken35 on August 17, 2015, 04:55:07 PM
:-ok
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 19, 2015, 07:18:02 PM
You mentioned the struts, No.1, and on this model the fuselage struts fit quite nicely with regard to alignment. A lot of filler is needed to close up the gaps where they fasten to the fuselage, however. My technique on this was to glue the struts in place and align them to the wing. After the glue was fully cured I started filling and sanding until satisfied.

Today the cowling was finished and theatre markings applied:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1602_zpsssqzkxgk.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1602_zpsssqzkxgk.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 19, 2015, 07:20:21 PM
You have make nice joints, nothing seen!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: draken35 on August 20, 2015, 05:07:22 PM
:-ok
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on August 24, 2015, 05:42:59 AM
Time for some painting, first underside, then top. While that paint was drying the bomb pylons were modified and detailed a little, then some extras put on each landing gear strut including brakes and brake hoses. After the extras were added, the bombs (Airfix provided these) pylons, propeller and struts received the appropriate colors:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1603_zpsh2qfwx0f.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1603_zpsh2qfwx0f.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1604_zpsiqjbkguu.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1604_zpsiqjbkguu.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1605_zpsx31cyfdz.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1605_zpsx31cyfdz.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on August 24, 2015, 07:37:27 AM
Excellent!!!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 03, 2015, 06:30:39 PM
Here's the final product on this one, depicting an airplane serving in the East in 1943, not long after returning to the front after being refurbished. These little machines were faithful to their design and served far longer than anyone thought they would!
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1608_zps9eauyqdd.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1608_zps9eauyqdd.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1614_zpsxzlgnpg8.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1614_zpsxzlgnpg8.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1611_zpsvaga6ife.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1611_zpsvaga6ife.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_1609_zpsoihjhrho.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_1609_zpsoihjhrho.jpg.html)
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: santynus on September 03, 2015, 06:50:15 PM
Great work mate!  :-clap :-wave
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: No.1 on September 03, 2015, 07:40:49 PM
Great finish!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 04, 2015, 04:03:53 PM
Thanks, friends!

There's still some small things to do on this before it goes onto the display shelf, some more weathering and little things.
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: draken35 on September 04, 2015, 11:02:06 PM
I like it!
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: Akinator98 on September 05, 2015, 11:46:31 PM
Very nice!  :-clap :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: AMTech Hs 123 1/48
Post by: modellius on September 23, 2015, 06:32:39 PM
a bit too much wash on the under surfaces for my taste but still a nice work