Hi everyone,

Here's my build for the 1:48 Mirage Halberstadt CL.II. The interior goes together pretty well but I have added some details.






I made a floor for the area behind the observer. You can see back into the fuselage and this will cover the seam on the bottom of the fuselage. I also added the ammo rack right behind the observer. The instructions are a little sketchy on this area.






And here is the test fit. Almost ready to close it up.





Mark

Mark,
Great build to date my friend. I do have one question for you though,was the interior painted a very light green on the actual aircraft? Having asked that I may be guilty of making an assumption that it would be finish in the usual clear vanish.Either way excellent work.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Hi Gregory,

I'm following the kit instructions for the painting. There is a surviving example that the kit is based off of that is partially painted green. The cockpit and observer's floor was metal so I would assume that it would be painted and possibly carried over to the sides of the cockpit areas. A photo on page 31 of the Datafile (27) seems to me to have a painted interior as I see no woodgrain.

Mark

A lovely start, nice work as always Mark

K

Great start on this kit Mark . Nice to see it being built on line . This will not be dissppointing at all . ( Hope you are doing the flame one )

Will you be adding the lozenge to the top part of the framing ? Some photos seem to show this while others don't . Can be hard to tell some times . I'm a little iffy on the framing , it seems to be over scaled . What is your take on this ?

Looking forward to more progress Mark

Thanks Keith and Terri. I really like the skull and crossbones profile so I think I'll do this build wiht that one. Here's some update pictures. I have a little touch up here and there and I'm about ready to close it up.







Mark

Really first rate work Mark. I am looking forward to seeing more of your progress.
Nice clean detail, really looks great.

I'm all smiles Mark !

The skull and cross bones are nice markings . I will be using those ones on the Bluemax kit .

Better and better with each new update.Keep'em coming my friend.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Thanks everyone. I'm going to close the fuselage tonight and I'll have more pictures. A lot of pieces but a very fun build.

Mark

I've got the fuselage together and have added the gun........






I decided to replace the kit engine with a more detailed Vector engine. I still have some detailing and weathering to finish it up....




And I pinned the upper wings to the center section...........



Mark

Very nice Mark !

It is a great kit , but the engine is the weakest part on the detail in the kit . The vector replacement looks really good and more to scale . How are you finding the fit so far ?

Go Mark go!

Mark,
Excellent progress my friend.Great details in the fuselage interior,your brass fuel tank really draws the eyes to itself. Beautiful paint and weathering of the tank are very realistic.

I wonder how the kit compares to the Blue Max example Terri wrote of? I wouldn't mind building the same aircraft myself at some point,just not certain which kit is the better. At any rate Excellent project to date and I look forward to the next update.

Regards,
Gregory Jouette

PS: The Vector Mercedes is outstanding. It's amazing how far the details of these new kits and aftermarket details have come since the days when Aurora was king.

Thanks for the input everone. I appreciate it.

Terri, the fit is pretty good on most parts but the cowling takes some real work. You've got me rethinking the flames profile....................

Gregory, thanks for the kind comments. Perhaps we can talk Terri into posting pictures of her Blue Max Halbie sprues here. I don't mind at all.

Mark

HI Mark: Looking good. I really like your ammo drums. It looks like you have mastered the art of making them real. Plainly one can see the individual rounds. Very nice.

Best
Mark

Very nice work.

I can do that for you Mark

And here you go !

Here is a bit of fun on the subject.
Click here.

Thanks Terri and Stephen. That is some nice info on the Blue Max kit. that should give everyone a good idea of the differences in the two kits.


Mark

Here is an update on the cowling. The fit is a little "gappy". It's a little hard to tell how much of the flash to take off of the parts so I just sanded a little at a time until they were close. The port cowling also has a sink mark on top that will need to be filled in with putty. You can fill the small gaps in with Elmers glue thinned with water.




The Vector engine fits nicely................




Here is the front cowling test fit. The starboard (pilot's right) side doesn't meet the rear cowling. In the datafile it looks like it should. The instructions are no help here because the engine blocks the view. The exhaust stack covers this area later. What to do, what to do.............................





Cowling suggestions welcomed..............

More soon,

Mark

Add a trianuglar piece verticallly to the pilot's right side upper cowling edge. Have the engine cowling butt against it.

Thanks Stephen. That's what I was thinking. It seems the only way around the gap although there seems to be some piping that needs to go through there from the engine to the wing radiator. I'll finish the engine and test fit a little more to find out so I don't paint my self into a corner.

I had some time to detail the right side of the engine today.




Mark

Nice detailing on the engine Mark .

I would agree on test fitting the rest of the parts to make sure you will have enough clearance and room for the rest of the parts before backing the cowl like Stephen has suggested . I look forward to more progress , this is shaping up very nicely