From the Workbench - 4

A little while ago ......  OK, nearly three years ago, I started a Ju52 Floatplane project.  A couple of weeks ago I finished making it and got it underpainted.  Here is this weekend's work - the paint job.  Here goes:

As you can see, you get quite a lot of Ju52 for a penny!

In addition, I've increased the WW 1 collection a little:

HP 0/400 Heavy Bomber

Halberstadt CL2 in camo fabric.  These were used to bomb targets from low level, so I added rear MG (of course!) and bomb racks for the gunner to drop on the Tommys!

I am quite pleased with the "pointillist" camo result.  

Once they have been gloss varnished I'll apply transfers (decals) and we'll see what the finished result looks like.

On the workbench - July part 3

When I got my TD Ju52s, at the bottom of the bag I discovered a float, which quickly proved to be designed to fit the big holes that I had earlier spent a lot of time filling in.  That got me thinking....

A quick blitz on the internet provided some nice pictures of Ju52 floatplanes, so at Salute I picked up 3 packs.  I also ordered some 1/600 photo-etch ladders, as pictures of these planes shows a permanent ladder attached from the left float to the passenger cabin door.

I then set about working out how to attach the floats with a more intricate structure than the original model.  The TD model as supplied is quite sturdy (always a positive attribute for war-games kit) and as the floats & undercarriage are under the plane, you won't see the attachment much.

But, what the heck!

Here are photos of the project so far - this is my "Mark 1", the ladder is not attached but otherwise it is finished......

The TD Ju52 Floatplane, what you get.....

I only "push-fit" attached the floats - they hold up well without glue

The "Mark 1" Ju 52 FP, which has all the add-ons from previous blogs plus detailed landing gear, which of course is invisible in this photo !

Not the best photo, but you can see that the gear consists of four struts per float.  There is a cross-wise brace that may be added to the "Mark II" model.  No ladder, as I was worried whether it would survive transport back to the UK for undercoating.

The Ju52 Floatplane was used by the Luftwaffe in all theatres of war (yes, in N Africa too, as it could load/unload in harbours or the beach).  There are some nice colour schemes to experiment with.

Tumbling Dice Ju 52 - part 3

The first batch of Ju 52 are now painted.  4 are from 2./KGrzbV 172 (in Tunisia), 1 is from the Deutsche Waffenstillstands Commission (based in Morocco).

Having spent all that time getting the undercarriage looking nice, you now don't see it.... !  They do sit correctly when landed and I'll photo them on stands, and thus flying, soon.

I'm looking forward to getting them varnished, probably in the Autumn.....  They will then have a short career as cannon fodder.....  roll on Operation Flax.

Tumbling Dice Ju 52 - part 2

Tumbling Dice Ju 52 - undercarriage conversion & detailing

The second part of this blog looks at some other small additions to enhance your fleet of Ju 52s, thus enabling them to strike more terror / die with greater gallantry, depending on who has air superiority.

If part 1 seems too much, you can just use the wheels as supplied and add the following:

Ju 52 - post 2 - starboard exhaust

Ju 52 - post 2 - port exhaust

Ju 52 post 2 the dorsal gunner position

Ju 52 post 2 - gunner & MG

Ju 52 post 2 - the end result!

So there you have it, a neat Ju52 ready to take to the skies.  Due to my nomadic nature, my planes have yet to be painted, but I hope to add pictures of the final results later.

Thanks for watching!

Colin

Tumbling Dice Ju 52 - part 1

Tumbling Dice Ju 52 - undercarriage conversion & detailing

Tumbling Dice makes a Ju 52 transport plane, which is a nice little model.

As presented, it has the early landing wheel arrangement, where the main landing wheels are covered by "spats".  Once the Ju 52 was used in combat, it was found that the spats were very easily clogged by mud, etc.  So most Ju 52 planes in World War II had the spats removed.

The following series of pictures shows how I converted my Ju 52s.  I hope that it inspires you to have a go!

We start with the original casting (below) and a shinier one above that has been brushed with a suede shoe cleaning brush.  I do not own any suede products......

So, if you have got this far, you now have a Ju 52 with the most common version of the undercarriage.

Part 2 will detail the top half of the plane......