Here you are Harri :-) Bet you thought I wouldn't do it :-)
This is "Historic Plastic Models" 1/48 Blohm & Voss BV 141B. An unusual and interesting aircraft which I believe was developed for the reconnaisence roll. I think the Focke Wolfe FW 189 eventually took on this roll. As you can see the main cabin is moulded in clear plastic, which is quite a good idea because of the amount of glazing. However it presents it's own unique problems, in as much as some of the glazing crosses the join line and this join will be seen if left as is. My solution for this problem is to cut out and file to shape the glasing panels that overlap the join and reinstate them after joining the gondola halves. How I'm going to do this I'm not sure, at the moment I'm thinking of using Krystel Kleer?


I had actually started this a couple of years ago. Well I had made one part cut into the side of one glazing panel. I only had a razor saw and realised that it wasn't really fine enough for the job. I mentioned this kit to Harri (Jetprovost) at work and he said he would rather see this done than the Stormovick I started a few days ago. I made a deal with him, I do this BV 141 and he is going to do an article that will be a bit different and you are going to enjoy. OK Harri, not only have I started to keep my half of the bargin but I have told the world as well :-)
(Thinks..........How the hell will I fit this in with all the others ...................should have kept my big gob shut )
Mal

Hi Oldfast!

I too have this kit in my stash and will probably build it... one day! I think this one really is a "morceau de bravoure" for everyone and I guess I willl wait a little to deal with it!

I wish you good luck!

Ooo-er, better start writing!

Just remember Mal, there aren't any bits missing, it's meant to look like that!! :-)

I am looking forward to seeing this one finished though!

Harri

The hardest part of this kit is going to be the masking of the gondola and cleaning the parts to get a good fit. I wont be able to use my normal method of masking canopies, Parafilm-M, because the windows are outlined with fine raised lines. I will have to resort to lengths of tape to define the edges, then fill in. With Parafilm it would be a dodle, the tape method will take forever. There is other work that can be done, so I will do a bit of masking and a bit of cleaning up and building. I started on the fuselage halves this evening, I didn't realise how big this thing actually is. Without the engine egg, the fuselage is 9.5" long (FW 190D-9 is 2.5" shorter).


Yes, me too. I will try and get it into the MOM before the end of the year
Mal

Hi Mal

Nice to this kit finally getting the limelight!

Ironically, I was looking at the same kit the other week and debating whether to start it! We always think alike! With my record, it's probably best that I picked something else...

I'm really looking forward to seeing how this build goes - kits like this add so much extra interest to our hobby.

All the best

Rowan

Yes Rowan we certainly do seem to think alike. It's quite a nice kit, although relatively expensive (£19.99), but it is, I believe, limited run. There is a small etch fret with film instruments and the cockpit is fairly well appointed. There is a surprising amount of info on the net, mainly pictures. I have gathered some good interior shots, so I might do a little scratch building in the interior. The engraving on the fuselage is poor, compared to the wings, but it shouldn't take much to re-scribe, using my EEZEE method I have decided that the gondola glazing needs poloishing and I have come up with a method that, hopefully preserves the raised detail. It means I will have to polish each pane individually, a real pain, but I can do one a day at work for a couple of months :-) (during break before you get any ideas that I might be sciving). I'll put up some pics, when I have them.
I'm also thinking that I will paint on the markings, should be simple enough
Mal

Wow this is some 1/48th kit... How much is the kit in US Dollars$$$ ?

Hi Mal

i never got round to making a proper start to the kit but, like you, I decided the clear fuselage halves needed polishing. It made a big difference; they actually polished up quite quickly and easily and the frames are engraved deeply enough not to disappear in the process.

All the best

Rowan

Any update on this build?

Tamiya Model Magazine has news that Hobbyboss will also be releasing a 1/48 BV 141. Might be an interesting alternative.

Mal,
I'll be following your build if for no other reason then it's a 1/48 scale model. I've never seen a clear fuselage or part of one before, so it's certainly going to be rather interesting to say the least.

Joel

Hi there

Don't forget this thread is 9 years old. Mal may have finished the build or put it out to pasture many years ago.

The new HobbyBoss kit is already available (see the Postman thread) but does seem to have some issues of its own.

All the best

Rowan

I have the kit myself. I remember opening the box and saying, "Oh, this is interesting," then putting it away.

"You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din," for taking it on. Will follow this with interest.

Brian,
Rowan just posted that this thread was from 9 years ago. There isn't any build. Don't feel too bad, I also posted about following it.

BTW, I haven't heard anyone refer to Gunga Din in ages. I still remember that movie.
Joel

A build lost in the Twilight Zone of Cyberspace, I guess!
Thx for heads up.

Mmmmm, thanks for resurrecting this thread I think that I sold the kit when I had to thin out my stash when I moved I didn't get very much further with it; at the time I had 30+ models on the go and it was just to much like hard work to deal with polishing the glazing and I had subjects that I wanted to build.

No chance of getting back to the wonderful Bv 141 Mal?