Hello all, here is my take on the relatively new Zveda F-2 I built for the Messerschmitt Group Build. I added a PE cockpit set and Quickboost exhausts to spruce it up. Its in the markings of JG 26 ace Gustav “Micky” Sprick in June of 1941. On June 28th of 1941, he was jumped by Spitfires and was KIA when unlucky black 13 lost a wing during evasive manuevering. It’s also possible his wing was shot off but that was never confirmed. He would end up with 31 kills.
Reference the kit. Where do I start. Ok…I’ll be nice because it is afterall an inexpensive kit. Let’s just say that Hasegawa has nothing to worry about (soley my opinion). I just wasn’t impressed. Why these companies can’t figure out how to offer a closed option so you don’t have to use the engine is beyond me. I had to carve off half the engine to make it fit. Also, the panel lines are anorexic especially on the fuselage. Yes I could have scribed them deeper but I didn’t feel like it. After repeated Flory washes, I finally got a trace to remain in there. The tail wheel was a poor design and I kept breaking the #$% thing off. I ended up super gluing it on there. As I indicated earlier, I don’t like the wing dihehral either. It just looks wrong to me.
To be fair, there are some good things. First, like I already indicated, its cheap. I paid 22 bones for it. It’s also nicely detailed in the gear bays, the canopy sill top and the luggage door, which are either void or weak Hasegawa kit. I thought the prop hub was better than Hasegawa’s too and it easily held a wash (unlike the rest of the kit…lol). All of the controls surfaces are separate too, a nice touch.
On this kit I pushed my personal boundaries with the weathering. I left more Flory wash “residue” than usual and dirtied up the yellow nose with postshading and exhaust staining. I added prominent gun powder staining to the spinner cannon as well.
Knocked it outta tha park Joe!! Can’t tell you how cool it was to have you in the GB with your builds. Always a pleasure (although short lived because you build so dang fast! lol ) to watch these come together.
Another beauty, Joe, thanks for posting it. The finish and weathering are first rate, (I agree, the wing dihedral seems a bit exaggerated.) I’m curious, there appears to be a second windshield in front of the canopy, was that for protection while on the ground? Never have seen anything similar. Great work.
Thanks guys. Patrick…I knew it!..I’m not crazy…it is exaggerated. I think thats the windshield armored glass, but most kits mold it in place. I have no idea if it belonged on this plane, but I figured since it was on the sprue I might as well use it…besides, it looks cool.
Very nice Joe. Some F-2s did have the armored windscreen added later on, so no probs there. Its real hard to say if the dihedral is too strong?? I think I wouldn’t have noticed anything if you wouldn’t have pointed it out. So I wouldn’t worry about it. Despite your problems with the kit, it sure looks like you easily conquered it!
Spitfire, to quote jgeratic, It’s 8th Staffel’s (JG26) symbol, which is “from a Swedish wordless cartoon strip named Adamson,created by Oscar Jacobsson and was based on the misadventures of this character. It was also published in the States as Silent Sam. The staffel was sometimes referred to as Adamsonstaffel” We collectively agreed he looked more like Homer Simpson…Doh!
