ZM Henschel Hs.129B-3 pics

[Kagemusha]

Thanks for the clarification Radu, much appreciated.

[Artful69]

8 hours ago, Radub said:

 

The Hartmann Bf 109 G will not contain the bombs or the under-wing gondolas, they are not relevant to the model. The parts photos shown in the Old Man's Blog are photos of the Bf 109 test shots and they cover a number of versions that will be issued in the future. I have the complete assembly manual for the Hartmann kit and the runners with the bombs and under-wing cannon gondolas are not included on the page listing all the runners. 

It makes absolutely no sense to include three different cannons in a Hs 129 kit and only parts to make one single model. By default you will be forced to use only one cannon and throw the other canons away. As I said above, there was some ambiguous wording in the original announcement and there was never any intention to issue a kit with two different types of cannon in the box. I was part of the team that designed these kits. 

Radu 

 

There's a LOT of things 'included' in various kits out there that don't make sense - one version to the next ... Including the HS.129.

I don't understand why a centreline rack for bombs would be included in a kit designed to carry only a Mk.103 and maybe wing mounted bombs? ... or B-1 styled engine cowls? ... but there they are, regardless! It's obviously some sort of engineering decision in sprue design WAY above my understanding of these things ...

 

However I understand the decision to 'separate' the cannon versions ... not only better marketing in the end - but better cost efficiency in production! (given the separate sprue) - I was just surprised in the initial marketing description didn't make this clear - but I knew the Old Man would have set us straight somewhere along the line 

 

Rog

 

[Radub]

On 6/28/2022 at 10:09 PM, Artful69 said:

 

There's a LOT of things 'included' in various kits out there that don't make sense - one version to the next ... Including the HS.129.

I don't understand why a centreline rack for bombs would be included in a kit designed to carry only a Mk.103 and maybe wing mounted bombs? ... or B-1 styled engine cowls? ... but there they are, regardless! It's obviously some sort of engineering decision in sprue design WAY above my understanding of these things ...

 

However I understand the decision to 'separate' the cannon versions ... not only better marketing in the end - but better cost efficiency in production! (given the separate sprue) - I was just surprised in the initial marketing description didn't make this clear - but I knew the Old Man would have set us straight somewhere along the line 

 

Rog

 

 

All the bombs are all grouped together on a runner. Even the Hs 129 armed with cannons on the centreline also carried one bomb under each wing, so that was why the runner with the bombs was included in the kit. 

What you are calling the "B-1 cowl" was also used on some B-2, check the serials. So, they were included in every kit, just in case anyone was looking to build one of those. The many types of cowls were included because of the variations in the cooling slots. 

You can only use one cannon per model. Each type of cannon is on a separate runner. Putting different runners in the box while you will ever only need one is just wasteful. (Whichever one you use, the other will automatically become waste) You cannot use those "spare" cannons on anything else. 

Radu 

[monthebiff]

4 hours ago, Radub said:

 

All the bombs are all grouped together on a runner. Even the Hs 129 armed with cannons on the centreline also carried one bomb under each wing, so that was why the runner with the bombs was included in the kit. 

What you are calling the "B-1 cowl" was also used on some B-2, check the serials. So, they were included in every kit, just in case anyone was looking to build one of those. The many types of cowls were included because of the variations in the cooling slots. 

You can only use one cannon per model. Each type of cannon is on a separate runner. Putting different runners in the box while you will ever only need one is just wasteful. (Whichever one you use, the other will automatically become waste) You cannot use those "spare" cannons on anything else. 

Radu 

Having built this one Radu is completely correct but you would expect this as I believe he has been involved in the design process. 

Look at what's provided in the kit as also different exhausts are included so do your research and you will find you have plenty of scope of airframes to build.

 

Regards. Andy 

[Artful69]

9 hours ago, Radub said:

 

All the bombs are all grouped together on a runner. Even the Hs 129 armed with cannons on the centreline also carried one bomb under each wing, so that was why the runner with the bombs was included in the kit. 

What you are calling the "B-1 cowl" was also used on some B-2, check the serials. So, they were included in every kit, just in case anyone was looking to build one of those. The many types of cowls were included because of the variations in the cooling slots. 

You can only use one cannon per model. Each type of cannon is on a separate runner. Putting different runners in the box while you will ever only need one is just wasteful. (Whichever one you use, the other will automatically become waste) You cannot use those "spare" cannons on anything else. 

Radu 

 

Thanks for the response!

 

It's obvious that you've had a fair bit of input into the research here with types and features - and this has flowed onto kit engineering and sprue design ... I definitely understood the reasoning behind the '1-cannon-per-boxing' rationale - once the sprue engineering layout became clear - an independent sprue for the cannon ... Thanks also for clearing up the idea behind the inclusion for the other bits and pieces - very clever to allow for limited variant options without too much wastage!! - I think you also mentioned (somewhere) that there was the ability to make different variants directly from the Bf109-G14 boxing also? ... It's a great insight into 'behind the scenes development' that we don't normally get access to ... so thanks for taking the time to explain this to those of us that don't get to walk through this process.

 

Rog

 

 

[Magneto]

17 hours ago, monthebiff said:

Having built this one Radu is completely correct but you would expect this as I believe he has been involved in the design process. 

Look at what's provided in the kit as also different exhausts are included so do your research and you will find you have plenty of scope of airframes to build.

 

Regards. Andy 

True but the cowlings are moulded completely wrong because you have to saw them in half to show the engine.  A poor design choice to mould the halves left and right instead of top and bottom and a real pain to fix

[Radub]

8 minutes ago, Magneto said:

True but the cowlings are moulded completely wrong because you have to saw them in half to show the engine.  A poor design choice to mould the halves left and right instead of top and bottom and a real pain to fix

 

It is the right design choice considering how injected plastic moulds work. I presume that you would like to display a model with the lower cowl somehow clinging to the engine and the top of the cowl removed. Have you seen a photo of a real Hs 129 with the lower cowl hanging on the engine? The engine cowl is literally clamped around the engine where it is held in place by friction pads at the top of each cylinder. When the latches are released, the lower cowl has nothing to hold it in place, so it is simply lowered to the ground. If you want to show the engine, just do not use the cowls.