1/72 Matchbox He-70

[UKscalemodeller]

A trip down memory lane

The Heinkel He-70 ‘Blitz’ was a ‘30s German mail plane and fast passenger aircraft. It was used by the military in bomber and reconnaissance roles.
It had a relatively brief civilian career before it was replaced by larger, more cost effective types. The He 70 was a leading design for its day, setting eight world speed records by the beginning of 1933.
It was the direct ancestor of the well-known Heinkel He 111 which used its distinctive oval wings and streamlined fuselage in a twin-engine configuration, and was at one point referred to as the ‘double blitz’.
When the Messerschmitt Bf109 won the Luftwaffe fighter competition it’s main competitor was the He-112, a scaled down single seater version of the He-70.
The He-70 saw action as a fast recon aircraft during the Spanish civil war when nearly 30 aircraft served with the Legion Condor.
The Luftwaffe had relegated the He-70 to training roles by the time of the Second World War.
The final chapter in the He-70’s story was as a re engine recon aircraft, the He-170 used by the Royal Hungarian Air force in 1941-42.

This is the old (1988) Matchbox tooling of the kit. However the ‘new’ Revell issue is the same tool and therefore the same kit. I shall post an inbox review as soon as I can (be bothered ) )

01.jpg

There are several parts to the main cockpit. ( the rear seat is replaced by passenger seating for the civilian version) with an instrument panel and control column for the pilot.

02.jpg

03.jpg

[UKscalemodeller]

The wings are a simple affair with both raised and recessed panel lines

04.jpg

The cockpit and interior is painted a light grey with a darker wash to add some texture

05.jpg

Tape belts are added and the instruments painted very basically as most of this detail will be hidden. (apologies for the blurred photos)

08.5.jpg

[UKscalemodeller]

The internal sub assembly is a snug fit into the fuselage

06.jpg

But there are a few gaps in the 4 piece engine section. This is all filled with squadron white and sanded down to fit.

10.jpg

The top of the fuselage goes on and you can see just how much……….errr….you cannot see!

BUT WAIT!!!! You have forgotten the windows!!!!

I intend to try using Humbrol clearfix to create the windows, hopefully it will look better than the kit parts.

11.jpg