1/32 Trumpeter JU-87D Stuka

[BarryW]

More progress.
here is what the pit looks like at the moment.



Some localised washes are needed.

The wheels. I will mask the tyre and spray before fitting these into their housings.


the rear guns with etch sights.


I got a nice strong join for the tail. There was a bit of a gap that I filled with Mr Surfacer 500. I will ‘sand’ this with a cotton bud so I don’t lose detail.



pulling the wings together.

 

[BarryW]

I have cemented into place the central wing section. It is a perfect fit to the front and sides but at the rear there is a bit of a gap and a step to deal with.







As usual I first apply some Vallejo Plastic Putty.



My David Sander will be ideal for sanding this down to a feathered edge but some more VPP is likely to be needed in the process and also some Mr Dissolved Putty to finish off.

 

[BarryW]

Bombs together and seams dealt with ready for primer

Main wheels ready to glue into place. I will mask the actual wheels beforehand. I made sure that they were cemented to the axles so they don’t turn.


First wing cemented into place and this is where, apart from that sI had the first real fit issue. Nothing to worry about but some filling and sanding needed.


speaking of that step, sorted. It may need a little more work after I can see it under a primer but like this it looks pretty good, nicely feathered and smoot



those bombs are now primed

 

[BarryW]

I painted the transparencies off the model but I have changed my mind. I have decided to have the canopy closed up on this one and to mask the pit using them.

So the front three firmly cemented in place, yes cemented... thin cement carefully applied to the join using capillary action.



I want to be able to remove the rear piece to fit the machine guns. So a bit of masking inside it and for a temporary join liquid tape.



All transparencies fit perfectly.

oddly there is some armour plating on the starboard side. Three sections done but there are two more at be attached to the sides of the canopies as part of final fitting. There is no armour plating on the port side giving a slightly unbalanced appearance





I am also working on the final touches to the wings.

 

[BarryW]

The bombs have been sprayed RLM70 followed by a matt varnish coat and dry brushed with Uschi Metal Powder, iron type.



I have black primed the main airframe and found only three paces that needed a little attention. After a respray it is ready for painting. I will follow the normal RLM 70/71/65 scheme before applying the winter white coat.

 

[stona]

Excellent progress, watching someone else build one reminds me how big they were!

 

[BarryW]

While painting the underside I realised that there is no mention in the instructions of the prominent air brakes that fit under the wing.

There are three holes into which they would fit, however.

is this a mistake in the Trumpy instructions for the Stuka D or were these air brakes not fitted ?

looking through the sprues I have found two parts that look as if they might be part of the air brakes, the long air brake sections themselves, but I cannot see any sign of the six ‘posts’ that would fix them to the wing.

The combination of no mention of them in the instructions and no ‘fixings’ on the sprue suggest they are not to be fitted. But with Trumpy you cannot be too sure.

any ideas?

 

[stona]

A bomber version should have the air brakes, and those three holes are in the right place.

They were removed on the G series (because of two whopping great cannons) and most of the Ds converted for 'Nachtsclacht' operations.

 

[BarryW]

Thanks Steve. I had better install them then but I need to scratch some posts to fix them to.

 

[BarryW]

Underside painted RLM65 and RLM04

 

[BarryW]

I have had to cut the masks to mask up the underside roundels. I am doing this a little earlier than normal.

 

[BarryW]

 

[adt70hk]

Coming on nicely Barry.

ATB.

Andrew

 

[BarryW]

I don’t normally mask the underside of the wings but as I need to spray the wheel legs it is necessary.

 

[Steven000]

Nice progress Barry, looks all very good
Have fun!
Steven

 

[Jim R]

Hi Barry
Excellent progress, up to your usual high standards. The cockpit looks very nice and the instrument panel is more than acceptable. The good fit is nice to see, apart from the step under the rear. I have read good stuff about the Liquitape, not easy to get hold of. Painting started with your usual well thought out plan of action
Jim

 

[BarryW]

I have been painting the RLM70/71 splinter scheme.


next is is the winter camo. From the Trumpy diagrams the markings have been resprayed over the winter scheme. Additionally it looks to have been roughly sprayed, perhaps wearing off in places which makes perfect sense to me.

so I have had one session resulting in this.



It looks generally OK to me but after a rest I will return to it. I can see some places that need a little more attention and I want to make it a little less ‘even’ and tidy in some places.

 

[BarryW]

I have painted some details, reworked the camo and painted the marking. I did not have crosses of the right size/type for the sides so I will use decals for those.

 

[BarryW]

I have fitted the dive brakes.


Then decals...

not many of them, just insignia, warning triangles and the fuselage crosses...

They went on OK without too much splintering which was helped by coats of decal solution. They did not seem to go down very well even with Microset. So I applied a dose of Microsol and left them overnight.

In the morning I found this...




not one single decal settled at all, every one just curled up.

I tried more softener to see if I could lay them down. No luck, they are so curled and brittle there is no hope at all.

I ended up removing them with tweezers in most cases they came away easily on one piece but some of the crosses were firmly stuck in sections and needed more work.

I have gone through my spares box and found warning triangles and crosses. The latter are a little large but the right pattern and should work.

i have none of the unit badges but I will use badges for a different unit. That is better than none at all.

it really is now just a matter of ‘make do’ to finish off.

let’s hope that these decals actually work. I don’t know what kit they are from...

 

[Jakko]

Surely with your skill you can mask those crosses yourself, given the shape is very straightforward?