PE-2 dive bomber FUBAR potentially averted 17/4/17

[dierk]

In an effort to drag myself out of the slump I found myself in after that turd of a Dragon kit, I've decided to crack open a new kit, as I cannot motivate myself to finish the other projects I put on hold whilst doing the DML SU.
My victim of choice is the Zvezda 1/48 PE-2 dive bomber:



Got a few AM goodies too. Wheels by elf and dash by Yahu:



And some, rather nice, Russian-made PE by Metallic Details:



If you want to read up on the plane, have a look here

The kit itself makes a very good impression with excellent surface detail and very good fit.

I've made a start on the wings and will be posting pics soon - still got a few bits and pieces to add, before they're done.

[Leon]

Nice one Dierk! Got a front row seat.

[Wes]

Ill take up a seat next to Leon. Look forward to this.

[deafpanzer]

I will take the seat right behind Wes and Leon to make sure they behave! Count me in too... good luck!

[TRM]

Now that is interesting! A nice little pile of goodies to help and you're off!!

[adt70hk]

Joining the party on this.

Yet again another great choice. I've always had a bit of a thing for the big twin engined WW2 fighter/light bombers!

Andrew

[sturmbird]

I bought that same kit about a year ago. Looks very nice! I have a question for you. Where did you buy the after market parts sir?
gary

[dierk]

Feb 5, 2017 16:36:33 GMT -5 sturmbird said:

I bought that same kit about a year ago. Looks very nice! I have a question for you. Where did you buy the after market parts sir?
gary

I was going to ignore you there - not used to being called 'sir', I thought you'd addressed somebody else The AM goodies all came from Eastern European sellers on fleabay - I can send you links, but the postage to the US would probably be a killer.

Finally got an update, RL and lack of mojo has made for very slow progress. After some soul-searching I decided to go for the option with one engine on display. Mostly because none of the other builds I have seen did. If you look closely you'll notice that I fitted the cylinder blocks back to front, but it shouldn't be too obvious on the finished model.



I think there may be an accuracy problem with the engine: the initial prototype, that was intended as a high altitude bomber escort had engines fitted with super-chargers, the production PE-2 did not. But, the kit engine does have a charger.
Much more serious is a mistake in the instructions: if you follow them, as I did, you won't be able to fit the mounting frame to the engine, as parts C33 and C32 (oil lines?) will be in the way. I managed to detach one end of each of the pipes so I can still fit the frame:





The engine is the fiddliest bit of the kit, the rest (so far) is pretty much plain sailing. The Metallic Details PE set is superb!

Bomb bay (dry fitted)



The interior detail really is nice:



Wings are very nice, even better with the PE:



You have to drill a few holes in the underside of the wings to fit the bomb-mounting and that grill thingy, whatever it is (air-brake?)



The PE for the inside of the wheel-bays is very handy for covering the EPMs (and looks nice too)



So far I'm really impressed by this kit. However, no ointment would be complete with at tleast one fly: I noticed a part's missing from the sprue (it wasn't in the bag either) without which it's not possible to complete the MG station behind the cockpit. I've mailed the European distributor, but have not had a reply. TBH, they look a bit dodgy: their 'website' consists of their contact details, and nothing else. May have to contact Zvezda directly - something I'd rather avoid, as the mail from Russia takes forever (about a month).

[dierk]

C'mon people, it's a wingy! Write some crap will ya!

I couldn't think of a way to keep the landing gear seperate for painting, so the eight parts got glued in place. I was a bit too eager though, and forgot that the suspension arm should go through the container for the oil/hydraulic fluid - got a couple of ideas how to get around that:



Also assembled the back of the engine (super-charger) that may just be visible if you turn the plane upside down:



the part numbers for the bracing struts were the wrong way around, other than that the 10 parts that make up this sub-assembly went together pretty well.

More soon I hope

[adt70hk]

Hi mate

Looking very nice indeed, sorry I've been a bit behind on this.

Andrew

[bbrowniii]

Looks like a fun project and a heck of a lot nicer than that last turd you polished!! 😀

[Rick]

That's looking pretty sweet Dierk

[dierk]

Thanks gents!

Feb 11, 2017 18:52:09 GMT -5 bbrowniii said:

Looks like a fun project and a heck of a lot nicer than that last turd you polished!! 😀

Ain't that the truth! And a hell of a lot cheaper too!

[Leon]

Coming along nicely Dierk!

[panzerjager2]

Very cool PE2. I really like this plane....I can't tell you why, BUT I do.......maybe because it's a dive bomber....who knows..

Really nice work my friend

[deafpanzer]

Like what I am seeing so far especially PE additions.

[dierk]

Thanks Leon, PJ and Andy.

Got a few more bits to add to the bomb bay and then it'll be time to paint the interior, after which MGs and seats will be added.

The level of detail really is very nice indeed, as is the fit:

Right half of the fuselage - totally OOB I might add:





'Scuse the blurryness - but this bit will probably be invisible after the two halves have been joined:



Left half. Still needs the MG and seat fitting. Had to fit the window, as the steering linkage for the tail runs across it:



Driver's position:



And the fuselage halves dry-fitted:



Next update should be more colourful.

[adt70hk]

Hi Mate

I've got to say that the looks fantstic, some amazing detail OOB you've got there!!

Out of interest how much cheaper is it than the last lump you had to deal with?

Andrew

[jpc1968]

Detail looks great!

[TRM]

Looking great Dierk! Clean work my friend!

[dierk]

Feb 15, 2017 16:00:26 GMT -5 adt70hk said:

Hi Mate

I've got to say that the looks fantstic, some amazing detail OOB you've got there!!

Out of interest how much cheaper is it than the last lump you had to deal with?

Andrew

Glad you're liking it Andrew - it really is a great kit, and I'd totally recommend it to anyone fancying a 1/48 wingy. The kit cost me less than 20 euros.

[Leon]

Making nice progress Dierk!

[adt70hk]

Feb 16, 2017 4:37:00 GMT -5 dierk said:

Feb 15, 2017 16:00:26 GMT -5 adt70hk said:

Hi Mate

I've got to say that the looks fantstic, some amazing detail OOB you've got there!!

Out of interest how much cheaper is it than the last lump you had to deal with?

Andrew

Glad you're liking it Andrew - it really is a great kit, and I'd totally recommend it to anyone fancying a 1/48 wingy. The kit cost me less than 20 euros.

Less than a third of the price of Su76, you'd think it was the other way around.

I'd not heard of Zvesda prior to coming back to the hobby but I've picked up a couple of their 1/72 Quickbuild kits from their wargaming range. The British 3" mortar team is very nice and the 88 is stunning for a QB kit.

Keep up the good work.

Andrew

[dierk]

Zvezda (Russian for 'Star' BTW) is a bit like footie: a game of two halves - their earlier stuff can be marginal, lots of cross-fertilisation too (their BT and T-26 are the same as the Iraleri kits, for example) But their newer kits are right up there with some of the better companies IMO - but unlike some of their Chinese competitors, prices haven't sky-rocketed.

[panzerjager2]

VERY BERRY COOL update

[adt70hk]

Feb 16, 2017 9:12:55 GMT -5 dierk said:

Zvezda (Russian for 'Star' BTW) is a bit like footie: a game of two halves - their earlier stuff can be marginal, lots of cross-fertilisation too (their BT and T-26 are the same as the Iraleri kits, for example) But their newer kits are right up there with some of the better companies IMO - but unlike some of their Chinese competitors, prices haven't sky-rocketed.

Thanks for the info on early kits.I'll bear that in mind for the future.

Their 1/72 stuff is very reasonably priced. Their British mortar kit was only £3 and that includes a 4 man crew. The 88 was a bit more, about £8 I think but as soon as opened it I realised it was worth it.

Take care.

Andrew

[dierk]

Getting closer to the paint-slinging stage. Got pretty much all the sub-assemblies finished. No reply from either the German importer, nor Zvezda regarding the missing part

Added some more PE:





Bomb bay - hope I can manage to squeeze in the four bombs...



The belly (?) dorsal (?) gun was well fiddly - numerous parts and not very clear instructions:



Still needs the ammo belt:



Doesn't look like much, I know, but took quite a few hours.
Thanks for popping by and ACW

[Leon]

Making nice progress Dierk! That's some nice PE work.

[panzerjager2]

Really nice update my friend, I really like the PE stuff. You know now that I'm a PE GURU and all......LOL LOL

[deafpanzer]

I love anything with PE... looking good!!!