Here’s one I never thought I would do, then again I said I’d never build a tank so… Anyways, I have been tasked with building an Afrika Korp Fi156C-3 Storch in these markings.
As I researched this subject (perhaps to help me get over thinking I would be building a Cessna or Beachcraft), I discovered some interesting information. They were basically a helicopter with fixed wings, requiring very little clearance to take off and could stay airborne at a mere 30 mph. I remember reading that in 1943, a Storch rescued Mussolini from the rooftop of a hotel!
Anyways, I will be using the recent Tamiya kit which was a milestone kit, being their 100th release. I don’t know if that’s all kits or just their 1/48 aircraft.
Everything I read on this kit is positive. It’s apparently quite innovative in design. I started on the pit. Since this subject was reportedly in service in late 1941 or early 1942, I went with RLM 66 inside in lieu of RLM 02. I’m not sure if it’s correct. I suppose it could have been either. I used XF-24 Dark Grey with a touch of black added as my 66. I added a set of PE belts to spruce it up a bit. Note: The taped off part is actually clear plastic, which is the side fuselage windows and entry door. The fuselage halves are one piece. Somehow Tamiya managed to mold the clear to the grey. Very cool!
The instrument panel got the provided decals for the dials. Turned out ok.
The engine will be closed up, but I gave it a paint job anyways. I wasn’t sure what would be seen in there. That and I guess I needed drybrusing practice?
Tamiya gives you a metal spar to add strength to the parasol wing design. They managed to incorporate metal into the landing gears for strength too. Again very innovative.
I got here in a matter of a few hours. Thank you Eduard canopy masks…
Off to a great start as always. I really do need to add a Storch to the collection, great aircraft. Are you doing the one in the profile you posted, Rommels aircraft.
The Storch which took Mussolini didn’t take off from the roof of the hotel but it was a very small landing area on the top of the mountain.
Thanks for following along Bish. Yep, that exact plane. I’m not sure if it’s Rommel’s or not. The guy I’m building it for sent me that picture and said “build it”!
I read about that particular raid awhile ago and I must have messed up the facts. Perhaps I was thinking about something else. Thanks for clarifying that. Did this thing ever land on a hotel roof? I swear I read that somewhere.
It certainly would not be impossable given the short take off and landing of the Storch. It may be that some articles on the Gran Sasso raid may refer to it being on the roof of the mountain, so that combined with the passage of time can confuse things.
That’s a nice build of an interesting aircraft. Pretty iconic.
For the Gran Sasso raid, the assault was with 10 DFS230 gliders. For propaganda purposes Otto Skorzeny got a lot of exposure and most of the credit although paratroops did the bulk of the operation, not his SS troops.
Skorzeny wanted to use a FA 223 helicopter, but there wasn’t a reliable one available.
The Storck came in light. Mussolini was fat, and Skorzeny was a big guy. He insisted on riding out with Il Duce for the reason I mentioned, and they barely got off the ground.
They didn’t have to fly too far before transferring to a He 111.
The attacking force left by funicular railway.
Again a pretty cool model and it looks like a good kit.
Great start on the Storch! I saw one of these fly about 10 years ago at Fantasy of Flight down in Orlando. It only needed about 30-40 feet to take off and land. It was something to see.
Fantasy of Flight is worth visiting if you get down to Orlando.
Hi Joe! First thing I thought when I saw the post was, “He’s building a what?!” It’s cool you get to learn about a new subject, though.
As far as your build goes, it looks great as usual! Seems you lined up the IP decal a little better than the 109 that made you mad. I always struggle with that as well, gotta be the way the carrier film shrinks over the raised details. The drybushing looks great, your practice paid off. What paint do you use for that, surely not Tamiya?
I remember when this kit came out, there was a lot of fanfare and build up to the 100th 1/48 scale offering. And then the Storch was revealed. I think a lot of people were underwhelmed. But to be honest, I’m impressed they went with a bold choice for such a milestone kit. And they really pulled the stops for this one with a brand new molding technology with the clear and gray plastic, which I haven’t seen utilized much anywhere else.
I’m moving right along on this turkey right here. This thing has been a breeze so far. It will be a C-3 tropical version in a desert scheme, my first Luftwaffe desert scheme. After I pre-shaded the panel lines in XF-1 Flat Black, I went with the Tamiya recommended colors of half XF-59 Desert Yellow and half XF-52 Flat Earth over XF-23 Light Blue. I assume this is their idea of RLM 79 over RLM 78. I started with the XF-23 and added some white to tone it down a bit. I wanted it a little less blue.
I taped off as much of the underside as I could but this was challenging. with all the braces and stuff. I figured I’d be touching up some overspray later. Then I mixed the 52 and 59, which I cut it with Tamiya Lacquer thinner. It went down like silk and I was pleased with the color. I added some white and faded the fabric areas a bit.
I went back and dusted some straight RLM 79 mixture on to of the lightened areas to blend it in a bit. I was going for subtle. Once satisfied, used some diluted XF-1 Flat Black and XF-64 Red Brown mixed together and post shaded a bit to give it a worn appearance without getting too crazy with it. I’ll give it an oil wash and some streaking later.
You know of course that Tamiya did another model with this molding technique ? They did the Two Tone red and grey on the Vosper Perkasa Torpedo Patrol Boat !
Tank, I was unaware. I’m not familiar with boats unfortunately, although someone wants me to build them a Schnellboot eventually. Talk about out of my comfort zone, but interesting none the less.
