1/72 Mach 2 Blohm & Voss Ha 139 V3 (C-Series)

Gallery Article by Karl Wenk on Nov 16 2012

 

 

Story
The Ha 139 V1, V2 and V3 were long range commercial seaplanes built to the requirements of Deutsche Lufthansa for trans-ocean flying. The Ha 139 V3 “Nordstern” (D-ASTA, B-series) embodied a number of aerodynamic refinements. V3 took a number of transoceanic flights 1938 to New York and 1939 from Portugal to Brazil with stopgaps at the Lufthansa-catapult-ships “Friesenland” and “Westfalen”. Shortly after the beginning of WW II the three Ha 139s were commandeered with their crews by the Luftwaffe. V3 was modified for the maritime reconnaissance as Ha 139 B/MS with an extremely glazed nose for the observer, new fins, MGs and later with a mine seeking equipment. This modifying (especially the long nose) destroyed the clean lines of the civil floatplane.

Due to shortage of spares their service with the Luftwaffe was very limited.

 

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Model
The aesthetically attractive 4-engined floatplane Ha 139 V3 was always on the list of my wants. But there is no kit of the “Nordstern”.  Only available are the Ha 139 B/MS form Mach 2 and a vacu-kit from airmodel.  The solution: Modellbau Studio Rhein-Ruhr/Essen/Germany offers in the range Classic Plane Special the Mach 2-kit with a V3-resin-conversion (fuselage, fin and wonderful decals for Lufthansa “Nordstern”).

Poor quality of Mach 2 kits is well known but there was no other way.  It was a puttying and sanding orgy.  From resin fuselage I took the nose and the new fins, built a new cockpit.  The Mach 2 windows were dull but using Tamiyas compound with Q-tips you can made her very clear.  After this secure the clearness with Humbrols Clear Fix.  Some missing details (loop-antenna, hooks, exhausts, stringers etc.) must be added.  The only parts you can fit without putty are the floats.  Paint was RLM 61 with 10% white, Lufthansa yellow on the outer upper sides of the wings.  Decals are very thin without silvering effects.

Karl Wenk  

Niederkassel / Germany

      

Photos and text © by Karl Wenk