ICM Hs 123 A-1

[MikeC]

Well here's a bit of a first: I'm possibly the first to start a WIP thread on this model.  I don't often do WIPs, let alone the first on a new kit, but there's a first time for everything.  One caveat though: I may be the first to start a WiP, but it is quite possible someone may beat me to producing a finished model.

 

Anyway, here we go.  This arrived Saturday, and I started it Sunday, again something of a record.  It does mean it has not known the coziness of settling down into the stash for a long sojourn before being built, but it will have to live with that.

 

So, the boxtop.

 

I didn't bother with sprue shots as there is a fine set already in @Iain's recent review.  Mine is the A-1 (late) boxing, but the plastic is the same in all three boxings, only the unused parts details in the instructions differ.

 

 

This is one of those rare times when the box art actually drew me to the kit, even though I do have a liking for the subject anyway.

 

I generally start by labelling the sprues with tape for easy ID, and removing a lot of "clutter" from the box by taking the main airframe parts - wings and fuselage parts - off the sprues immediately. 

 

 

There's a little matter of cockpit detail to go into the fuselage, but I did leap ahead in the instructions' build sequence to clean up and glue the main wing parts.

 

 

The fit is excellent - the seams almost don't need any clean-up whatsoever.  I did remember to drill out the hole in the top wing centre section as indicated in the instructions - I don't often.

 

The plan is to do option 4, mainly one green on the upper surface, with the instructions indicating the top wing in pre-war three-colour camouflage.  The third option, the boxtop subject, is tempting as well, and I may well try my hand at a winter white finish. 

 

I've been corresponding and talking with a friend who is very into this type.  First, as would be logical from the time period, the cockpit interior would have been RLM 02.  Secondly, the question of pre-war three-colour splinter camouflage on the top wing of two of the options.  Apparently the entire production run of Hs 123 A and B models emerged from the factory in the three-colour splinter, and thus any machine in a different scheme has undergone repainting.  Sometimes the top wing was left "as is": it was rare, but did happen.  There is a photo (sorry, can't share) showing the fourth option (<4+-);  such is the angle of this that it  could be interpreted as showing the early camouflage on the top wing, or equally could be light effects on a single colour.  I'm ambivalent - if I do this one I am inclined to do the three-colour camouflage purely as it will add interest; but then again, I may do the single colour.  Decision to be made later.

 

And that's where we are, except that I've just ordered up a set of generic "Luftwaffe Fighter" seat belts, given that there are none specifically for this type - yet.

Edited August 11, 2025 by MikeC

[Biggles87]

I’ll follow this if it’s OK with you.
I don’t usually build biplanes because of the rigging, but as there’s a distinct lack of it on this aeroplane I might try one after seeing how you get on with it.

 

John

 

[MikeC]

1 hour ago, Biggles87 said:

I’ll follow this if it’s OK with you.
I don’t usually build biplanes because of the rigging, but as there’s a distinct lack of it on this aeroplane I might try one after seeing how you get on with it.

 

John

 

 

OK? Of course it is, bienvenue.

[FW190A-5]

Will follow this thread as I am on the fence about adding this kit to my stash. I know how this will go. By the end of your build I will be convinced that I positively must have it.   Thanks, John 

[scvrobeson]

Great to see you blaze the trail with this one. Been looking forward to seeing this release. I hope that the build goes smoothly.

 

 

 

Matt 

[spyrosjzmichos]

Been eyeing this kit for some tme.

Looking forward to your updates!

[MikeC]

More assembly: is this displacement activity for getting some paint on the cockpit, I hear you ask?  Perhaps it is, but I like to paint sub-assemblies rather than painting everything on the sprue, and then having to assemble painted parts which is many times more tricky due to the inevitable need for being more careful, then having to do touch-ups anyway!

 

First the wings: I note two different versions of the aileron hinge areas are provided, which suggests to me that we may well see a B-variant boxing in the future (I understand that was one of the differences).  The hinge areas do not quite sit flush with the wing undersides: the upper seam is not glued yet, so I'll let this dry, then decide how to deal with it.

 

 

 

 

Some more flying and control surfaces:

 

 

And so on to the crankcase/cylinder block.  This is one of those radial engines that have locating pins on a small number of cylinders so as to ensure correct alignment: in this case three cylinders.  And as usual, there is the problem of aligning the two halves so that the pins actually line up.  Very frustrating, as it's difficult to see exactly which pin goes where, so it's a case of trial and error getting everything to line up.  But is it?  My solution is a small strip of tape roughly in line with each pin or hole.

 

 

 

Et voila!  Aligned first go by reference to the tapes.

 

 

Finally, some fuselage internal detail added, should be ready for painting.

 

 

 

More when there's more.  Thanks for your interest.

[scvrobeson]

Looks like the fit is really solid on this one.

 

 

 

Matt 

[MikeC]

4 hours ago, scvrobeson said:

Looks like the fit is really solid on this one.

 

 

 

Matt 

It certainly seems to be so far.  That engine has not been cleaned up at all, you can barely see any seams.

[Biggles87]

You’ve sold me on this already, I’m going to put it on my birthday present list next month, along with a spare magazine for my Beretta.

 

 

John

 

[NigTT]

When you get to the engine cowling it is in 9 separate parts, but it is relatively easy to cement the lower 5 parts together and the upper 4 together to create 2 halves that can be added to the engine after painting. The fit is so good that as long as you take care to align each part with the help of a small dab of Tamiya extra thin there shouldn’t be any gaps or steps.
 

 I am currently at the stage where I’m ready to start painting (Legion Condor scheme) and the fit has been so good I haven’t needed any filler and just a quick sweep with a sanding stick.

[MikeC]

Thanks @NigTT, that's all useful info. Your comment about the seams chimes with my experience so far.  Hope your paint job goes well, looks like you'll beat me to finish - although I'm not racing.

[MikeC]

And talking of my progress, there's a bit more.  I'm at a halt in the cockpit until the seat belts arrive, but there's plenty more to do.

 

First thing was to fire up the PC and Portrait 3 cutter, take a trace from the mask templates which ICM provide in the instructions, and cut them into a small piece of masking vinyl. Here they are, just about to cut: I usually provide myself with a backup as well, and whilst the backup does not take up much extra space, it is 50% of the masking set, thus demonstrating how anything can be evidenced by picking the right data ...

 

 

(I've done quite a few masks since purchasing the cutter, but never have I done one that reminded me of a set of teeth before  )

 

The guns were previous painted gunmetal, and when dry the ends carefully drilled.  It really does inprove the look.  Perhaps some enterprising aftermarketer will come up with a replacement, although they really don't need it.

 

 

I used the kit decals for the instrument panel.  They fitted well without having to sub-divide them, and settled down nicely into the detail with some Micro Sol and Set.  

 

 

Hmmm, a few wrinkles still there - not so visible with Mk 1 Eyeball.  Better get them sorted if possible.

 

As we know this type carried bombs under the wings.  Two different types are supplied, with and without the extended fuses. The photo I have of this particular aircraft shows it loaded with the former, so that's what I've gone for.  The drop tank is there as well, as you can see, and I've mounted the prop ready for painting.

 

 

Sadly you don't get a complete set of spare bombs: as you can imagine these come in two halves, and one of the halves is common to both types of bomb.

 

And now the postman's been, so I can get on with the cockpit.

 

 

Thanks for your interest to date.

 

 

Edited August 14, 2025 by MikeC

[NigTT]

2 hours ago, MikeC said:

Thanks @NigTT, that's all useful info. Your comment about the seams chimes with my experience so far.  Hope your paint job goes well, looks like you'll beat me to finish - although I'm not racing.

I usually do WW1 biplanes, so with the almost complete lack of rigging and a simpler cockpit on this one it seems to have gone  together pretty quickly. Makes a nice quick project before another complicated one!

 

To make things easier to paint I also cut the centre part out of the one piece tail struts so that they can be individually slotted in place after painting.

 

May take a while to paint with the multiple colours on the Legion Condor scheme, plus I am also planning to use masks cut with a Silhouette.

 

Keep up the good work with yours, looking forward to seeing the result.

 

Nig

[LSP_Kevin]

Lovely progress on what looks like a terrific kit, Mike!

 

Any chance you could upload your new choppers to Scale Model Paint Masks when they're ready?

 

Kev