1:72 Fieseler Fi 156C Storch

A pair of German Storch machines of the beginning of the war

The liaison and observation Fieseler Fi 156 could do what no other machine of the Luftwaffe could: put down on a road, on a town square or on a mountain meadow. It owed that to enormous lift flaps, slats across the whole span and landing gear that sprang almost like a sled. The C series was given a flexible machine gun in the rear part of the cabin and was used for everything from carrying away the wounded to directing artillery fire.

Two subjects, both early

The sheet offers two machines. The first belonged to a long-range reconnaissance group named after the site of a First World War battle and is captured in 1939, that is practically at the start of the fighting. In its markings it has a four-character code divided by the cross on the fuselage. The second subject carries a code as well, but period records do not give its unit. The smaller number of variants is offset by the fact that this early German form reaches sheets far less often than the later wartime states.

Masks and preparing the surface

Masks for the glazing of the pilot's compartment are part of the package as well. On this type the glass is faceted into many planes and masking it with tape tends to be the most drawn-out part of the whole build, so ready-made cutouts save a great deal of patience. Before you reach for the markings, let the gloss coat cure properly, ideally overnight. A fresh layer softens under water and the motif presses into it askew, which can no longer be put right without damaging the paint. Once dry, go over the whole model with a semi-matte layer, which evens out the sheen and hides the edges of the film.