1⁄48Horten IV
10
Comments
In my opinion (and I think not only in mine) the Horten IV is one of the most beautiful and elegant aircraft ever built. It was even rather successful in its time.
My friends know all about my usual method of modelling a kit. Severe surgery and modification has nothing to do with the preliminary quality of the kit. Especially this nice little piece manufactured from Planet Models - it‘s very well done, crisp and with lovely detail. There is only one thing to complain about - compared with the original, the centre section is far too short and needs some work.
Of course, I was not able to build this kit OOB and I decided to represent the wooden areas of the airframe by applying real veneer. A kind of fever overwhelmed me while working on this model, bending all these tiny veneer pieces around the contours of the Horten!. I had serious doubts if it would ever look like an aircraft again, having been tortured so during the whole process. You may call me crazy, but after all I think it was worth the effort.
The kit itself is an easy built as there only are 3 main parts. Even I should be able to fit them accordingly. Epoxy glue and brass reinforcement is recommended to align these components properly.
Finally, there was the question how to display the finished model. Stuck to the ground this wonderful craft looks somewhat lame. It needs to be flying to maintain all its beauty. But how to manage that? After trying several variants and a lot of thought, a wooden block with a thin aluminium stand was more or less satisfying.
I truly hope the pictures of the building process speak for themselves. For further advice please feel free to contact me with questions.
Pics of the finished Model were taken by Wolfgang Meindl
The following aircraft were manufactured:
Production no. 22, year of construction 1940/41, registration no. D-10-1359, LA-AA Production no. 24, date of construction 11.2.1943, registration no. D-10-1450, LA-AB Production no. 25, date of construction 28.4.1943, registration no. D-10-1451, LA-AC, BGA 647, N 79289 Production no. 26, dat of construction 20.6.1943, registration no. D-10-1452, LA-AD
The plane with production no. 25 is actually displayed in „Deutsches Museum in der Flugwerft Schleißheim“. Links: http://www.acsol.net/~nmasters/H-IV-report.html http://www.nurflugel.com/Nurflugel/Horten_Nurflugels/horten_nurflugels.html http://www.segelflug.de/gallery/Horten-IV http://www.horten-iv.org http://www.deutsches-museum.de/flugwerft/sammlungen/segelflugzeuge/horten-iv/
Bibliography: Nurflügel, die Geschichte der Horten-Flugzeuge 1933-1960 from Raimar Horten and Peter F. Selinger Weishauptverlag Graz, ISBN 3-900310-09-2
My friends know all about my usual method of modelling a kit. Severe surgery and modification has nothing to do with the preliminary quality of the kit. Especially this nice little piece manufactured from Planet Models - it‘s very well done, crisp and with lovely detail. There is only one thing to complain about - compared with the original, the centre section is far too short and needs some work.
Of course, I was not able to build this kit OOB and I decided to represent the wooden areas of the airframe by applying real veneer. A kind of fever overwhelmed me while working on this model, bending all these tiny veneer pieces around the contours of the Horten!. I had serious doubts if it would ever look like an aircraft again, having been tortured so during the whole process. You may call me crazy, but after all I think it was worth the effort.
The kit itself is an easy built as there only are 3 main parts. Even I should be able to fit them accordingly. Epoxy glue and brass reinforcement is recommended to align these components properly.
Finally, there was the question how to display the finished model. Stuck to the ground this wonderful craft looks somewhat lame. It needs to be flying to maintain all its beauty. But how to manage that? After trying several variants and a lot of thought, a wooden block with a thin aluminium stand was more or less satisfying.
I truly hope the pictures of the building process speak for themselves. For further advice please feel free to contact me with questions.
Pics of the finished Model were taken by Wolfgang Meindl
The following aircraft were manufactured:
Production no. 22, year of construction 1940/41, registration no. D-10-1359, LA-AA Production no. 24, date of construction 11.2.1943, registration no. D-10-1450, LA-AB Production no. 25, date of construction 28.4.1943, registration no. D-10-1451, LA-AC, BGA 647, N 79289 Production no. 26, dat of construction 20.6.1943, registration no. D-10-1452, LA-AD
The plane with production no. 25 is actually displayed in „Deutsches Museum in der Flugwerft Schleißheim“. Links: http://www.acsol.net/~nmasters/H-IV-report.html http://www.nurflugel.com/Nurflugel/Horten_Nurflugels/horten_nurflugels.html http://www.segelflug.de/gallery/Horten-IV http://www.horten-iv.org http://www.deutsches-museum.de/flugwerft/sammlungen/segelflugzeuge/horten-iv/
Bibliography: Nurflügel, die Geschichte der Horten-Flugzeuge 1933-1960 from Raimar Horten and Peter F. Selinger Weishauptverlag Graz, ISBN 3-900310-09-2
About the Author
Comments
Hi Peter,
Excellent work and a the base you did is a great way to present the model. Very impressive!
Jean-Luc
NOV 08, 2010 - 08:35 PM
Lovely model of this glider- thanks for sharing it. Like Jean-Luc, I admire the stand- I shall be attempting something similar when I needs something in-flight.
NOV 09, 2010 - 02:14 AM
Thank you all for your kind comments. I just returned home from Scale Modelworld in Telford. Was really a great show.
With best regards Peter
NOV 17, 2010 - 07:59 PM
I am wondering what material you used for the veneer?
And your comment about the short centre section is curious. The first IV was built with quite a different pod and centre section to the latter aircraft being built around the pilot (sorry his name eludes me today) who was not that large. Subsequent aircraft were able to fit a larger pilot. So is the model correct for an A model (which AA was) but not a B model? Bear in mind the pod on the AA I think was scratch built well after the war to be mated with original surviving (and partly re-built) wings. This is actually mentioned on the Deutsches Museum web reference to the aircraft.
JUN 26, 2013 - 06:05 PM
Peter,
Outstanding work! Ingenious use of veneer! What kind is it? Might you use some scraps to demonstrate the technique.
JUN 27, 2013 - 03:13 AM
Peter, Just an outstanding build and presentation.
The real wood veneer is a great touch. Looks like real wood because it is real wood. And the display base is not only unusual, but in it's own way enhances the lines of the aircraft it supports.
Joel
JUN 28, 2013 - 04:34 AM
Great job Rowan. I've always loved Sinatra's song "I Did It My Way".
JUN 28, 2013 - 04:35 AM
Copyright ©2021 by Peter Plattner. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. The views and opinions expressed herein are solely the views and opinions of the authors and/or contributors to this Web site and do not necessarily represent the views and/or opinions of AeroScale, KitMaker Network, or Silver Star Enterrpises. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved. Originally published on: 2010-11-04 00:00:00. Unique Reads: 8511
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