Revell 1/32 Junkers Ju 88A-4 with Bombs

[Tarasdad]

On Black Friday my wife had the unenviable task of driving into her company's office in Woodland Hills (Los Angeles basin) to pick up her paycheck. While there she stopped by a hobby shop and picked up a nice gift for me:



It has been a long, LONG time since I last built a 1/32-scale aircraft kit. The last was a kit of the F-4 Phantom, also by Revell if my memory serves. I know that was sometime in the mid- to late-70's. Long enough to have forgotten just how darned big a kit in this scale is! Building 1/35 armor just doesn't prepare you for a model with a 19.8" (45.3cm) fuse and 24.8" (63.0cm) wingspan!

After looking over the kit I'm quite impressed. There's a ton of detail to be had, especially in the cockpit. I had though about getting the Eduard aftermarket bits for it but my wife already spent $50 (£ 31.94) and I just can't justify spending that much again -if not more - for them. So I'll be making do with what the kit has to offer. Believe me, that's quite a lot!

Building starts with the cockpit walls. I'm taking things slowly with this one, trying my best to get a decent paint job done. Given the scale this kit just cries out for proper weathering. I haven't started that just yet, I'm still getting the basic paint down.

Cockpit wall, right side:


I've also started assembling and painting the fuselage bulkheads as well as base coating the cockpit and tailwheel areas of the fuse:



This kit is so big I'm having trouble taking photos of it on my workbench!

If anyone has any suggestions on painting what you see, weathering (how and what colors, etc) or just plain corrections please let me know!

[SyntaxModels]

I'm anticipating this mate!

[UKguyInUSA]

Nice gift from the wife, mate, and a big beauty too! Not the wife, the plane, I mean!! Enjoy building this baby....I'll be watching this one closely!

[Tarasdad]

Found a paint chart listing equivalents for Revell paints and realized I've been using the wrong color for the interior. Everything is now repainted in the correct darker grey and waiting to be re-detailed and weathered.

Grr.

[Tarasdad]

This build is going a lot slower than I had anticipated, mostly due to a series of cold fronts that left me unable to do fine detail work because of arthritis issues. I have been getting a bit done here and there by building various sub-assemblies. Detail painting and such have been on hold but I'm finally able to start getting things done again.

One of the things I've been working on is getting the instrument panel finished. The panel is first base painted dark grey and then the instrument decals are applied. Yes, decals - plural. 21 of them to be exact. Here's where I am so far, with exactly 1/3 of them in place:



I'm not sure whether the person who thought of this is a genius or a sadist of epic caliber.

[edit]
I was just looking at this pic and realized I neglected to paint the bezels black! D'oh!!

[Tarasdad]

Well I just managed to screw up royally. I painted the bezels with slightly thinned flat black. In order to speed up the drying time I put it under my work lamp, a 50W halogen light. Stupid me got the lamp too close so not only did the paint dry but the panel curled up and shrank about 1/8" in width. No choice but to try and salvage what I can, I guess.

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Unfortunately there is just too much damage to the panel for it to be used. I've put in a parts order with Revell but since this is a Revell-Germany kit it could be 8 weeks before I see replacements. In the meantime I'll work on what I can on this kit and the others I have, especially when my kit for the Tiger SIG gets here.

[Tarasdad]

Before and after the heat incident:




Well, at least I know how to soften sheet plastic if I want to do a quick stretch mold....

[mincemeat]

Ah man......what a bummer. Did you know you can request a parts replacement from Revell? I messed up a prop and cockpit assembly on an Apache once due to the shaft being too snug. They sent me the two pieces I requested at no charge and they fit much better. You may have to request a new decal sheet too, since you've already committed 1/3 of them. Why not give it a shot?

http://www.revell.com/support/parts-request-2.php

[Hillbilly]

Yea,I don't think that will buff out..... I know if I don't stuff up at least one part I don't consider it a good build

[Tarasdad]

Ah man......what a bummer. Did you know you can request a parts replacement from Revell? I messed up a prop and cockpit assembly on an Apache once due to the shaft being too snug. They sent me the two pieces I requested at no charge and they fit much better. You may have to request a new decal sheet too, since you've already committed 1/3 of them. Why not give it a shot?

http://www.revell.com/support/parts-request-2.php

Parts requests are in for both the part and the decal sheet. Could take a while since this is a Revell-Germany kit.

[EagleOnyx]

Ouch! it hurts to see that! Hopefully you can get the replacement parts quickly!

[mincemeat]

Parts requests are in for both the part and the decal sheet. Could take a while since this is a Revell-Germany kit.

I guess I missed that part of the post.

[CJSomerset]

OUCH..... but we learn by our mistakes!

Or in this case, we have all learned by your mistake, so that's a good thing, right?

I'm looking forward to the rest of the build ( and hope you don't learn anything else! )

[Tarasdad]

The cockpit is ever so slowly taking shape:



I'm especially happy with the plywood floor for the bombardier:



Still have a LOT of detail painting to do, then weathering and chipping.

[SyntaxModels]

I like that wood effect! Keep it up!

[Tarasdad]

More done on the cockpit, still quite a bit left to do!



After I finish the detail painting I'm going to try and fabricate seat belt harnesses.

[JediBoer]

Looking good Barry! Great work!

[shortCummins]

that plywood effect is great, how did you do it?

[Tarasdad]

that plywood effect is great, how did you do it?

I base coated with Tamiya XF-59 Desert yellow, then dry-brushed with Model Master Rust for the grain pattern. I used a scrubbing motion to get the swirling grain pattern.

Received the replacement panel and decals from Revell today so I'm all set to get back to work on it once my Tiger project is done.

[Thomas2542]

Looks great. The plywood is really good. which camo scheme are you doing?

[Les0012]

Have just ordered this kit from Wonderland Models in Edinburgh for £24.99. So will be watching for this thread to kick off again.

The office is looking bloody good so far.

Les

[Avgas]

Stupid me got the lamp too close so not only did the paint dry but the panel curled up and shrank about 1/8" in width. No choice but to try and salvage what I can, I guess.

Don't beat yourself up about it, I have done exactly the same thing. I have two builds on the desk at the moment both of which I have royally flipped up. The secret is to make it look like you haven't...

Pit is looking great by the way.

[Tarasdad]

After a two-year respite this will be going back on the bench soon. I have a 109 in the works right now but as soon as its done this one gets my full attention again.