Short Run Kit: WK 1/72 Heinkel He70
I don't remember how I ended up with this kit and I'm not familiar with WK models. The plastic was hard reddish brown with a rough surface just like early MPM kits. Maybe MPM made the molds for the kit. It did sit on the to do pile in the back of my bench for years. I had started the model and sanded it. What kept me from building it was the coke bottle canopy. So there it sat for years.
A couple of years ago I decided to build all my kits that had been sitting on the back burner. I brought out my Mattel Vac-U-Form machine and wasted lots of clear sheets trying to get a decent copy of the canopy. I painted the canopy one frame at a time. I did learn, and here's a tip for cutting out vac-form canopies from the sheet, is to use thin Tamiya vinyl tape to run around the base of canopy and slowly and lightly score the plastic with an Exacto knife until it comes loose of the sheet. The tape prevents accidental cuts into the canopy itself. I could not figure out the landing gear at all, and to top it off some struts were short shot as can be seen in one of the photos.
Comparing this kit to the Matchbox version I think Matchbox captured the outline much better. It is painted in RLM70-71-65. So here is WK's kit #1 of the He70
Magnificent job on her this challenging kit, David! The canopy looks spectacular.
Well done for finishing yet another one!
Thank you Spiros! You are correct, it was a challenge.
Nicely done! Some subjects only come in short-run kits, so you take what you can get... This turned out really nice for what you started with.
Thanks Greg. I don't mind unwanted kits from the island of misfit kits. I like to see what I can do with minimal corrections.
Very nice build! I do not have the strength for such sets 🙂
Hi Lis, Well it did sit for years awaiting completion. So it is doable. Thanks
Very nice result indeed, David @thevid
Great work on the canopy.
The landing gear does indeed look quite complex.
Hi John,
I just can't get how the landing gear is supposed to work. Even Matchbox's version is hard to figure out. I know it's just me but somethings just don't make sense. Thanks.
Looks great! I always fear vac u form canopies.
Hey Robert,
Thanks! Like I mentioned don't cut the vac-form canopy in one swipe, use a new blade and gently score along the edge of the canopy. After one does that several time the canopy will separate from the plastic. Now I use Tamiya vinyl tape to protect the edges of the canopy to prevent accidental cuts.