1:48 He-111 H-16 - interior 3D decals for ICM kit

A bomber that flew the whole war

The Heinkel He 111 came about in the mid-1930s as a fast transport machine and appeared in combat form over Spain, Poland and Britain. The H-16 version of 1943 received heavier defensive weapons, including a 13 mm machine gun in the upper position, and Jumo 211F power. By then daylight raids were costing far too much, so the machines of this series flew mostly in the dark.

A glazed nose changes the rules

Where on a fighter the viewer sees only a section around the seat, here the whole tip of the fuselage is glazed. The pilot sits on the left in an offset dome, next to him works the bombardier, who lies on his stomach during the run, and below the floor the ventral gondola continues with the rear gunner's position. The sheet therefore also reaches places where detail is not usually put on other types: the distribution boxes on the bulkheads, the floor areas and the seats with their securing harnesses.

The procedure in a roomy interior

A large space tempts you to stick everything on at once. It is better to keep to the order of the build: first come the areas that will disappear at the back once the fuselage is glued, and only then the front panel and the side consoles. A degreased and dry surface is a condition on all the parts. It is also worth trying a dry fit, because the space between the bulkheads of the ICM kit tends to be narrower than it looks.

The result under the glazing

On this type the interior is seen from practically every side, and a uniform gray-green surface would give it away. Printed dials and harnesses lend a depth that paint alone could not, and they do so even when viewed from a distance.