Hi Martyn,

Thanks for the compliments, although the credit goes to the kit for it`s manufacture in excellent detail.

Plenty more of this detail to come.

Next update will bring together more of the parts already built and then we are onto some new lovely brass etch for the next parts.

Watch this space.

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Looking great there Del!

Even in this scale, its only with the penny shots you realise just how small those bits are!
Fantastic work! Keep them coming M8.

Robin

Hi Robin,

Many thanks for the comments.

If you think those parts are small, wait for the switches on the pilots console.

Without a magnifier it`s hard to see the bits in the brass fret.

Good news is I have a macro lens for my main camera, so should be able to get you a view of the parts.



Thanks for looking in and happy building.

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Very impressed with this kit Del, and even more impressed with what you're doing with it- amazing work

Steve

Loving this one Derek, you really are doing a cracking job.... .. Am now firmly glued to this build.... Very well done....

Regards

Alan

Hi All,

Here`s the update for build section 22 of the Stuka.

Some careful bending is required to construct the box sections, because if not bent accurately you will end up with gaps in the boxes.

As with all the previous brass frets, there are pre-scored bend points to make the job easier.

The first pic shows the fret issued with part 22.Pic 1



Cut the largest part from the fret and file any rough spots as before.
This part along with the part that is slightly smaller, make up the pilot`s console mounting plate.

When making the first bend on this piece, be very careful and bend it in gentle stages along it`s length.

Result in next pic. Pic 2


The next two pics, show the side plates bent into place.

NB: These side plates must be at 90 degrees to the back plate, the reason for this will become apparent in a moment. Pic 3-4


The last two bends in this piece are a bit more difficult.
It`s the two sections in the centre of the piece.

I found the easiest way to start the bend, was to gently push the parts that needed to be bent with a pair of snub nosed pliers.

Once the bend is started, you can complete the bend using the pliers until the parts are at 90 degrees to the back plate.

A pic of where we are at the moment. Pic 5


Now remove the second part that makes up the mounting plate for the console.
As before file any rough spots around the edge of the part.

It is now you will find out how accurate you bent the fist part, as this part now fits on top of all the parts previously bent for this to mount onto.

The test is to make sure all the lugs fit right, the side plates are in line and that the curved top edge of both parts are level for their complete length.

(Be careful not to bend parts back and forth too much or they will snap along the scored mark)

When you have as good a fit as possible glue the two parts together along all touching points.

The end result should be as below. Pic 6


I am afraid at this point, the instructions are vague as to what exactly you are making, suffice to say they call them control boxes for the pilots cabin.

I`m sure things will become more apparent as I progress through this build. I Hope

As can be seen from the next pic, this box is very small and the bending of this part requires a bit of time and care.

The two sides are bent at 90 degrees, then when the part is on a flat surface the very small top section is bent until it is parallel to the surface it sits on. Resultsin Pic 7


The next part makes up another box section for a control lever and requires some six bends on a very small part to complete.Pic 8


The next sequence of pics shows the bends required to construct this piece.
When happy that all the sides of this control box were correct, I ran some super glue along the joins to hold the box in place.Pics 9-12


The end result, when joints/touching edges are glued.
The etched arc in the brass is a track for a control lever. Pic 13


The final box for this section of the build, was possibly the hardest to get things in line.(Eight bends in total)

Once removed from the fret, file rough edges as before. Pic 14



The following three pics show the sequence of bends required. Pic 15-17


When all is correctly positioned, glue along all touching edges.

Very small gaps may still be visible, but with the glue in the gaps, when painted they will become invisible. Pic 18


When you turn the box over, you can see where the brass has been etched.
Other parts will be fixed at a later stage in the build. Pic 19


So, that`s all for issue 22.

Last pic shows where the build is at the end of issue 22. Pic 20


All the parts are detailed to a higher level in later stages in the build.

So for now,

Happy Building,

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Fantastic piece of work Derek on all that etch... looking fab....

Regards

Alan

Hi Alan,

Thanks for the compliments and looking in.

Part 23 at the weekend, with detail for the control boxes made in part 22 and then construction of some more boxes for detailing at a later stage.

Will update when done.

Happy Building

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Hi Spencer,

Stunning and big are understatements.

As for being sick of the sight of brass etch, well, if I strain my eyes any more I won`t be able to see it anyway.



Thanks for looking in and glad your enjoying it!!

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Hi All,

Well here we go with issue 23.

The brass fret is shown below, but only the lower half of the parts are used at this time, the rest at a later date.Pic 1


As before when parts are removed from the fret, any rough bits need to be removed with a file.

With the next box section removed, there is a fold to make that is very close to the edge, it can just be seen at the top of the next pic.(Hold and fold tool makes it easy).Pic 2


At this point I went a little off the recommended folding order.
The reason for this is from previous box components I found it difficult to bend the three strips to the correct angle.
So I folded the three strips now.Pic 3


Next the sides were folded up.Pic 4


Then the ends in turn.Pic 5-6


With adhesive applied to points where edges meet, you get this end result.Pic 7

With the box complete, you now start with the detailing.

WATCH OUT FOR THE ETCH CARPET GREMLINS - THESE BITS ARE SMALL.

As before the detailing is achieved by stacking parts together.

First part:

A circular dip can be seen on the top of the box in the next pic. This is where the next parts will be added.Pic 8


If using a fast setting superglue, then your positioning of said parts must be exact first time.

First detail part fitted.Pic 9


The next two parts are identical and are easier stuck one on top of the other before fixing in place.
With the two parts together they are then fitted on top of the first detail part.Pic 10-11


The last part of detail to be added to this point is a flat circle of brass.It fits over and around the last two parts added as the pic below shows.Pic 12


The last part to be added to this section of the build is a facia plate.

NB: The orientation of the following part is "CRITICAL", as other parts to be fitted later pass through the facia into holes in the box.

The part:Pic 13


And fitted with the correct orientation.Pic 14


That`s it for the detailing of this part of the build.

Now it`s time to detail some parts previously constructed.

The first part and the first detail piece:Pic 15


The detail piece is fitted into the etched arc on the box.

Sorry about the pic quality, but will become more apparent in later pic.

"PROBLEM", if you look back at the pic above you will notice that in the top right hand corner, there should be a hole drilled to accept the next part.

This is the very first error I`ve found with this kit, but easily cured with the use of a micro drill. Hole can be seen in pic.Pic 16


The last piece to be added to this section is shown below.Pic 17

This part shown fitted below is a control lever used inside the pilots cabin. Pic 18


Onto the last part of this issue.

Again we bring back a previously constructed part. Pic 19


I still as yet have not been able to determine what this part is from the translation, but it looks like a foot controlled push button, or hand controlled depending on where it eventually gets fitted.

As before the next two parts are identical and I stuck them together before fitting to the main part. Pic 20


The resultant piece is then stuck into the etched recess on the top face of the box. Pic 21


The next part must be fitted the correct way up, on top of the two previous parts.Pic 22


There are two etched recesses in the last part added and the next two parts are fitted into there relevant places.Pic 23


To finish off this piece, you now add three very small discs of brass.

The first two are just plain discs and the third has an etched upper surface.Pic 24




It was at this point I had a ten minute fight with the "CARPET GREMLINS" to retrieve one of the plain discs. They hid it under my computer desk!!



Having retrieved the part, I stuck the discs together in the correct order and stuck them in place toward the top of the piece.Pic 25


So, this is where we are at the end of issue 23.
Unused parts carefully stowed away for later use and the parts completed in this section shown below. Pic 26


That`s all for now, gonna lay down in a dark room with a cold compress on my eyes.



Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)