1/48 Ho-229B by Bob Gignac

Editors note: Please note that the base for this model was completed long before September 11/2001, so don't get any strange ideas.

I decided to represent the Go 229 V4. It could have been V5/V6. None were ever produced although drawings did exist. I chose to depict the twin seat night fighter with Mk108 30mm cannon x 4, Probably the 'A' series.

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First impressions: Nice looking kit. Photo etched parts and not too much flash. Could be fun and it will be easy to paint for first time airbrush user.

Second impression: Humm. Sink holes on underside of nose section, canopy is one piece. No crew, thick trailing edge and numerous ill fitting parts

1) Cockpit interior - No seat belts so no sanding necessary to add after-market items. I used vinyl tape and daubs of silver paint as I was leaving canopy closed. To have the canopy open would require a second canopy because of the compound angle cuts needed to display in open (slid back) position.

You might as well ready cockpit parts now and then set aside. Photo etched part MA1 is a nice touch although you can't see it once completed. Set aside with cockpit parts. I used white glue to enhance the dials. I did not assemble cockpit until model was almost complete.

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2) I recommend not assembling cockpit just yet. Unless you want a very difficult masking job to do later do not install parts B7 (2) into A1 upper fuselage half at this time. So basically ignore step 2 until later. Good idea: Align parts A1 and A8. Use some scrap styrene as tabs to help. Don't expect the nose section of the nose wheel well and the lower fuselage part of the wheel well to align 'cause they wont. You will have to sand away just enough to make it look good and also enable part A18 and the nose wheel to fit properly. Use part A2 to assist in alignment, but do not glue. Now completely paint assembled parts A1 and A8 then install painted B7s and B9s. You will note that B7s when added to A1 leave a gap that would be visible on completed model. I used electricians tape on inside of fuselage to cover this gap.

I added stainless steel tubing to better represent the Mk 108 30mm cannon barrels to part A8. Now it's OK to assemble part A2 to complete fuselage section

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3) OK. Just try to locate the pinholes! I added styrene sheet to Part A21 to hide fuselage interior

4) Now it's OK to assemble part A2 to complete fuselage section. The trailing edge will not match up so you need to spend some time here. Also make sure that the wings make a smooth transition to the fuselage (Another reason for the yellow tail).

5) Assemble A5, A8 MA3 and put in a safe place as this should be last piece added to model. I used brass wire to replace part A5.

6) Assemble E4, E5 and A12 then set aside with other cockpit parts until later. You can take a break now, get the 'Bare Metal' foil out and do the canopy. I did not paint the foil, as I wanted it bright to depict realistic hasty construction. The rear of the canopy was painted RLM82 and left flat for contrast with the 'gloss cote' area.

7) If you want to add the missiles don't forget to drill holes in lower wing D1. Expect to do some fill and sanding on the leading edges. The trailing edges are too thick so extra work is needed here. Leave off C2 until final assembly stage (I used shaped brass wire here as kit tube did not appeal to me). Be prepared to so a lot of filing and sanding to make the wings fit the fuselage. If you take care here by adjusting the tab holes in the fuselage to accept the wing tabs very little filler will be needed.

8) Missiles? B5 needs to be sanded, as fins are too thick. I left these items off my 'night fighter' and dropped the 'B' designation.

I painted the underside Floquil RLM 76. To get a straight mask and to go around the intakes I used 1/8 vinyl tape to get a contour edge then low tack masking tape to cover any previously painted areas. Press hard to stop the bleeding.

9) Take your time here. Sand the flash ridge out of the nose wheel, being careful with the slight tread and it will look great. I recommend that you do not assemble parts C8, C9 and C10/11 until installing nose wheel on fuselage but do install part A18/E3 (from step 12). Note that there is no tab on part A18 as depicted so just attach it to C33 on nose wheel assembly. " Warning Will Robinson" I had an idea to have the nose wheel turned about 15 degrees for aesthetics.

The wheel must be kept straight otherwise part C9 won't fit correctly and of course I always use Super Glue. I used buffed 'Humbrol' # 27003 steel for 'shocks' and Testors Model Master RLM02 for the under-carriage and good old Testors flat black for the wheel. Before assembling the wheel I used a cotton swab to buff up the flat black on the brake disks/rims.

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10) Main gear - instructions vague for attaching C14/15 in wheel well. Install C12/13 onto fuselage then add C14/15 and wheels. Leave parts A14/15 until step 11 to assist in aligning with parts C22/23 (main wheel doors). Note C23 designation is given to wheel half and also main wheel door.

11) With parts C14/15 attached to fuselage add A14/15, C20s. Take care with alignment of parts C20x2, C22/23 (main wheel doors) and C12/13. Add part A14/15 now and align with C22/23 (main wheel doors).

-- OK, now complete the cockpit assembly and top off with your Bare Metal foil enhanced canopy (don't forget the 'Future')

The supplied decals were adequate with Microscale Micro Set. I added the swastika on the tail from a Revell-Monogram Pro Modeler kit. The yellow tail and the swastika were figments of my imagination but I'm sure Herr Goring would have approved.

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As soon as I applied the Testors Gloss Cote my beautiful, clean finish went 'orange peel' and I went nuclear. I ended up stripping off most of the paint and with untold grief masked and repainted. Of coarse I re-applied the gloss cote after a few days and ended up with the same results only this time with thick paint build-up in a few places like leading edges and rivets. Next time it's 'Future'. Man, I see why people do Armour, but heck that's what modeling is all about.