Junkers D.I, 1/72, Roden

Junkers D.I was the first all-metal fighter. I like the ugly shapes of this bird and decided to add the model to my collection.
The model was built from Roden kit. Its quality is nice and shapes are in general correct. It is a nice build, only decals were awful, so I used some from other kits. As it was “one week build” I decided to make only necessary improvements.
First – I changed the installation angle of the consoles. To make this I cut the consoles with model saw and clued them with right angle. Then I covered the joint lines with foil strips.
Second – I make new interior in cockpit and landing gear.
Third – new “back” of the fuselage. Roden’s detail is incorrect. New one was made of foil.
I painted the model with Humbrol Enamels. The camouflage was painted with airbrush by hand, without any masks. Interesting thing: most of D.I models in different scales have the same shapes of the camo color fields – as on well known D.I prototype photo. I don’t think this is correct, because all captured serial Junkers D.I’s had fields of different shapes.
This model soon will become a part of a little diorama.

Bisnovat “5-2”, 1/72, Prop&Jet

 

Bisnovat «5-2» was one of the first soviet rocket planes designed for researches of transonic flight. It was build and tested in 1948-1949. Two planes were build. They were carried by Pe-8 heavy bomber converted into flying lab. The «5-1» plane was lost during tests – they were very dangerous – the airfield where tests were taken was rather small. The «5-2» plane was luckier and reached 0,775M speed.

The model was built from Prop&Jet vacu kit. The quality of vacu kits of that manufacturer is really exceptional. Accuracy is high comparing to the drawings published in russian «АС» magazine. So, it was a kind of easy and enjoyable build.

For a long time Prop&Jet model was the only offering on market. Nowadays we also have Amodel’s short-run kit.

Ferdinand Max, 1/700 in-progress

Some in-progress pictures of my Ferdinand Max model. It was an easy build, so I think everything is clear and don’t need much comments. I hope some day I will build another model of this ironclad in 1/350.

Deck close view

Ferdinand Max, 1/700, Scratchbuild

 

My one and only model in 1/700 scale – Austro-Hungarian ironclad Ferdinand Max. She was the flagship of Wilhelm von Tegetthoff fleet at the famous battle of Lissa.

The model was build as a souvenir.

La Nina, 1/150, Scratchbuild

A step aside – a kind of model I’ve never build before – a sailing ship. I just wonder – how does it feels to build something from wood? So, this is a kind of another experiment for me.

I decided to go into small scale for wooden shipbuilding – 1/150. I think it is a smallest scale for building something acceptable. My aim for this build is to try different tips&tricks and have fun. Nothing more. Hope that the model will be at least of Mini Mamolli kits level.

Why Nina? She is small, rather simple and there are a lot of models of her that I can take as a guidance.

I took scaled down Shipyard’s 1/96 card model as a base.

Sukhoi Su-1 1/72 Amodel In-box Review

 

Su-1 was the first in line of Pavel Sukhoi’s fighters. It was built at the Kharkov aircraft factory (Ukraine). Su-1 made its first flight on 15 June 1940. During the tests Su-1 reached 641 km/h speed at 10000m attitude - it was a prototype of new high attitude fighter.

Let’s have a look in the box of the new kit from Amodel. There are 3 sprues of grey plastic and one with clear injected canopy. The quality of molds is quite good for short-run technology, with little flash. But you will have to replace many of little parts like wheels or cockpit detailing.

The box.

Instructions and decal for one option.

Sprues.

Close-up. Note a really good fabric imitation.

Engraved panel lines are, in my opinion, a little bit too thick.

Another close-up. Wheels definitely have to be replaced with aftermarket.

Canopy. It is not bad, but I will make a vacu one.