This is the Kora model of the Hirth Lastentrager, another Luftwaffe 'What If' that never left the drawing boards. The Lastentrager is stated as a cargo carrier but cross-section views show it carrying two SC500 bombs, one on top of the other. The undercarriage looks to be of the reuseable type as it's not present in the flying picture. Parts for the Lastentrager are resin with the Bf 109G-6 being the AZ Model in plastic. This kit appears to be generic as there are early and late type wheels as well as two types of rudder and propellor blades. Scalemates shows the lineage from the G model through H to K so this could be the case. As this kit is well detailed I'm going to replace it with a G-6 from the Airfix Dogfight Double set. The propellor blades in that kit are undersize so I'll use one of the AZ offerings. There are 3 marking options for the Mistel but as ever I'll make my own up for Luft46 items.
Something a bit different.
You certainly like the 'what ifs' Chris. Another one for the 'what if' squadron.
Quote from: chriswil42 on January 14, 2025, 03:15:56 PMYou certainly like the 'what ifs' Chris. Another one for the 'what if' squadron.
What is the German translation for 'What if'............
You could then quote your 'what if's' as from "................."Geschwader maybe.
If they got some of these what ifs off the drawing board I wonder if the world would be different.
At least you are getting them an airing.
Bob c
I've made a start on the AZ Bf109 with the cockpit painted and the etch, which was a bit thick, fitted. The fuselage was then closed up, with only a small amount of filler required.
It'll keep you busy and the filler manufacturers in business.
Quote from: chriswil42 on January 19, 2025, 04:01:18 PMIt'll keep you busy and the filler manufacturers in business.
You can have the shares in Filler Chris, the other Chris (W) can have shares in Tamiya Tape......
Watching to see how this beast progresses.
Will it be ready for February meeting?
I'm not going to be at any Meetings until at least April Kev, I start radiotherapy on Feb 6th until Mar 8th so am avoiding crowds/groups indoors.
Onto a more cheerful subject. The rear radiator grills in the wings have to be sanded down to enable the wing halves to meet. Once done the fuselage was joined to them and the tailplanes were fitted to the body. As I'm going to use the larger bladed propellor, which research tells me was for the higher powered engine fitted to the G-6AS, I've fitted the larger rudder. Not so much a 'What If' as a 'Feld ersatz'.
Hi Chris,
Hope the treatment goes well. Good job you're not mixing with us strange lot, you don't know what you would be exposed to. Hahaha ha.
This will keep you out of trouble in the meanwhile.
Nice work so far.
All the best.
Look after yourself Chris, I hope all goes well.
Thanks for the positive comments. I'm lining things up on the production line so as long as I keep my 'mojo' I should be ok.
Good luck Chris.
In between decalling the Hs 123 I made a start on the Airfix Bf 109, this kit really shows it's age. Despite many locating pegs and holes the fuselage still didn't match up correctly so a lot of time has been spent correcting that. As it will be a 'wheels up' build I fitted the wheels to the u/c legs and doors and glued them to one side of the underwing half. There was a big gap to the other which I hoped would meet up once the wing tops were fitted. After this it appears that the wheels aren't sitting deep enough so I will remove and sand them down. As previously mentioned I'm using the AZ propeller to replace the anorexic Airfix one so had to open up the holes in the spinner to accept it.
Another labour of love Chris.
THe AZ Bf109's legs look a little wide to me but they're in the locating holes provided and reference photos show some that appear that wide so I'll live with it. The tailplanes went on at a slight upward tilt for some reason and wouldn't correct easily so I left as is. The canopy was masked using bare metal foil and it's the first time I've used this and will do again. Camouflage is based on a Bf109 F-4 from 6/JG5 flown by Rudolf Muller and consists of Xtracrylic RLM 76 Lichtblau, as are both a/c, with upper surfaces RLM 70 Scwarzgrun, RLM 74 Graugrun and RLM 75 Grauviolett. Decals are a mix of kit and stock with the Kora decals being on a continuous backing sheets which caused a few problems if not trimmed enough.
The Airfix Bf109 was masked using Tamiya tape and Maskol with upper camouflage based on a F-4 Trop from 9/JG3 flown by Ofw. von Borenski. with RLM 70 and 75 as above but with a brighter blue RLM 78 Himmelblau. As this is a 'What-if' I used Vallejo Deep Sky Blue as a near enough match. Some sources give this colour as RLM 79 Sandgelb which is a possibility as these aircraft were initially due to be sent to North Africa. Decals again from kit and stock. Spinners and propellers on both a/c are RLM 70. Once the main painting was done all the small parts were fitted.
The Lastentrager resin was tidied up and weight put in the nose before joining the fuselage halves. The upper pylon had to be adjusted to take the Airfix Bf 109. The wings are a once piece moulding and went on well as did all the tail parts with minimal filler used all around. The axle between the main undercarriage is supposed to be a resin piece but as this was missing brass rod was used instead. When it came to fitting the wheels I wished I'd drilled through the legs and extended the rod to take the wheels. Instead I cut an old glue nozzle and pinned them. I managed to break the nose wheel in a couple of places but recovered that! Painted over RLM 65 Hellblau overall with sqiggles using Tracy's grey and brown acrylic pens. She also has a green which was too bright once applied so I went over it with RLM 70. AK Interactives acrylic pens are now on my 'must get' list. Decals are from stock. A cross section drawing shows two SC500 bombs internally but with the undercarriage fitted the axles would be in the way of loading, perhaps thaay went in through the nose? The u/c must drop off after take-off as it's not shown in the flying drawing on the box top. Without the Bf 109 it reminds me of a modern day drone.
All parts are on hold a I ran out of Satin varnish!!!!!
You assembled these pretty quick Chris. Looking good.
Certainly a colourful and strange looking machine.
You certainly keep us guessing with what's next from the Hansell Aerowerks
Spoiler alert Kev, there should be a Rheinbote, sometimes called the V4, on the production line anytime soon. A few other things to get out the of the way first though.