Mainly28s
Senior Airman
As I may have mentioned in another thread, I only do 1/48th aircraft, and only those types flown by Hans-Werner Lerche, a Luftwaffe test pilot. Last year I started a second-hand Esci kit of the Hs 123. I didn't realise that there were a few issues with the model (some interesting warping of the upper wing halves, as well as several other bits that were deformed) caused by poor storage. When I discovered the problems, I stopped the build and let her sit in a box, unappreciated and unfinished.
After finishing my Fiat G.55, I decided to quickly finish her up while waiting for decals for my next GB to arrive, and incorporate the faults somehow. As I don't have references on the exact Hs123 Lerche flew, I decided to "what-if" it a little, given the state of the kit. I assembed the kit (yes, I know the upper wing does not sit straight, but it's fine with me) and let the paint speak. She's painted in standard early-war Luftwaffe colours (70 over 65). As the Hs 123 was a pre-war plane, and already well-outdated by mid-war, they were used as trainers and hacks. At Rechlin, where Lerche flew many aircraft, I'm assuming that she would have been a hack, and any parts that broke would have been replaced with whatever stocks (even outdated ones) were available. To reflect this, there are a couple of parts painted in the earlier three colour of 61/62/63, and even a couple in 02. The BB+DA code was assigned to an HS123, but I'm not sure where she was assigned.
Anyhow, I decided to go with a fairly grimy, dirty machine, and a fair bit of fading to boot. I may have overdone the fade a little, but it's OK. At least she's not a shelf-of-doom kit anymore. I think the fade will ease a little more, as I took these pictures about 25 minutes after painting her last coat of matt.
After finishing my Fiat G.55, I decided to quickly finish her up while waiting for decals for my next GB to arrive, and incorporate the faults somehow. As I don't have references on the exact Hs123 Lerche flew, I decided to "what-if" it a little, given the state of the kit. I assembed the kit (yes, I know the upper wing does not sit straight, but it's fine with me) and let the paint speak. She's painted in standard early-war Luftwaffe colours (70 over 65). As the Hs 123 was a pre-war plane, and already well-outdated by mid-war, they were used as trainers and hacks. At Rechlin, where Lerche flew many aircraft, I'm assuming that she would have been a hack, and any parts that broke would have been replaced with whatever stocks (even outdated ones) were available. To reflect this, there are a couple of parts painted in the earlier three colour of 61/62/63, and even a couple in 02. The BB+DA code was assigned to an HS123, but I'm not sure where she was assigned.
Anyhow, I decided to go with a fairly grimy, dirty machine, and a fair bit of fading to boot. I may have overdone the fade a little, but it's OK. At least she's not a shelf-of-doom kit anymore. I think the fade will ease a little more, as I took these pictures about 25 minutes after painting her last coat of matt.