Airfix Model World – July 2018

INTERMEDIATE BUILD
HENSCHEL Hs 123

INTERMEDIATE BUILD

HENSCHEL Hs 123

http://www.airfi xmodelworld.com 71

once again in a random fashion,

these mixes were added to areas

that would have suffered extreme

wear on the real aircraft, such as

walkways, wheel spats and wing

leading/trailing edges.

High shine

Prior to decal application, a

generous coat of Humbrol gloss

varnish was airbrushed over the

airframe and detached upper

mainplane which, once dry, was

wet-sanded and polished with

3,200-grade and 12,000-grade

Micro-Mesh cloths respectively.

The polished varnish would

provide the perfect surface

upon which to apply the superb

Cartograf decals. A blemish-free

surface ensures no pockets of

air can become trapped beneath

the decals, and so cause the

phenomenon known as silvering

• a reflective patina that can
  appear under the clear carrier
  film and mar the finished model’s
  appearance. A smooth, glossy
  surface also eases the positioning
  of decals.
  Five colour scheme options
  were provided, all but one
  displaying the early Luftwaffe
  tri-colour splinter scheme on all
  or part of the airframe. The single
  exception was an example from
  the 15th Bomber Squadron of
  the Chinese Air Force, finished
  in an unusual but attractive
  overall mottle, with blue and
  white-striped rudder. The German
  machines included two Condor
  Legion Hs 123s, a late-war
  Russian-based aircraft of SG 2,

wearing partial splinter just on

the upper-wings, and a pre-war

aircraft (portrayed by this build)

from II./St.G 165. The decals

performed faultlessly, conforming

to the model’s contours with a

single application of Micro Sol

decal softener.

Final construction proceeded

apace with the attachment of

the cowl-mounted struts, and

associated rigging made from

short lengths of Uschi van der

Rosten elastic thread (available

from http://www.albionhobbies.com.

The engine was cemented to

the nose and the multi-piece

exhaust attached; the cowling

ring was then assembled around

the engine. Lastly, the aerial was

attached to the upper wing, the

steps cemented to the fuselage

sides and the tail struts added,

before a final layer of satin

varnish was applied. This last

application gave a uniform finish

to the entire model and, because

it was a quick-drying mix of

approximately 80 parts thinner

to ten parts matt and ten parts

satin varnish, it allowed little time

for dust to settle on the model’s

meticulously prepared surface

before the thinner evaporated.

An aerial wire was attached,

once again via elastic thread and

utilising a tiny metal eyelet from

Bob’s Buckles (www.bobsbuckles.

co.uk), which was drilled into the

tail. Finally, the propeller was

pressed home to complete a

truly excellent kit.

Gloss varnish has been applied

and wet-sanded with polishing

cloths to remove all imperfections.

Prior to application, those areas

to receive decals were further

worked to a high shine.