Diving In! Airfix 1/48 Stuka Ju 87 B1

[msk]

This will be the first aircraft kit I've built in over 30 years. And the first 1/48 scale one ever. I have built other models in the intervening years, so I'm not coming at this as a complete newbie. Still, it's going to be a learning curve. Like so many other people signing up here, I was inspired by Paul's YouTube video builds, especially the Bf109s.

The new(ish) Airfix Stuka looks to be a good kit and I was tempted to it by the Condor Legion colour scheme. I realise there's a SiG for Stukas but that's got a closing date that's only a few weeks away and I've no chance if finishing this kit by that deadline. Hence starting a thread here. At present the plan is to build pretty much out of the box and make use Eduard cockpit masks. But we'll see...

Just to get into the swing of things, I'm going to start in an unconventional place with the rudder which Airfix has thoughfully made as a separate part. I'm going to paint and weather this separately to try out some of the tools and techniques I want to apply to the rest of the kit. Plus, it'll look nice done in a Condor Legion black cross on white background. Photos to follow but the idea is to airbrush a metal finish first, masking fluid application for some edge wear, then white, mask for the cross and airbrush that (i.e. not use the decals), oil dot filters and then some mud splatter along the bottom edge to finish. That may seem like a lot of effort for one part but I'm thinking of it as a warming up exercise to get me into the swing of things before tackling the cockpit's fiddly parts.

[AdamLuscombe]

Good luck with the build, I've recently just finished that kit and its excellent, no problems at all

[msk]

Thanks Adam.

Here's a quick shot of the rudder after priming with Vallejo gloss black primer and, after 30 mins drying time, airbrushing Vallejo Metal Color aluminium. Airbrushed both at 15psi and they both went on really smoothly and clean up was really easy. The trick is to mist paint on gently to start with and then build up coverage. It's the first time I'd used these two products so I had a scrap piece of plastic on hand to test with first. I'm impressed with the Metal Color finish and it seems a shame that I'm going to cover up most of it!

I drilled a small hole in the underside of the rudder where it won't be seen to accommodate a cocktail stick so that I could hold the part easily for painting.

[Avgas]

Nice smooth finish on the rudder.

[Apaleftos]

looks great, have them, havent used them yet, cause im still strugling to get good results with model air