1/72 Me-410 Hornisse, Frog F178
One of those planes that looked like a winner and didn't quite pan out that way, I always considered the Me-410 looked like a mean machine. It did do considerable damage once the Me-210/410 design was finalized, but the history books do not treat this plane favorably.
The FROG kit F178 has been on my shelf for a few years and recently I figured I should try it. I decided to see how quickly I could put this one together without using any filler. The mold is a product of the ‘60s with decent enough panel lines, all being raised of course. Things went together okay until I got to the canopy. It is molded in two separate pieces that do not match up very well; also, the canopy is a bit shorter than required. With no filler being the rule, I considered using Kristal Klear to fill the voids was not breaking the rules. The Microscale product was utilized all along the entire canopy seam and for the gaps encountered at the rear fuselage and in the front nose area.
The forty-year-old decals were not useable, so the spare decal box provided the required decals, with the Kampfgeschwader 51 "Edelweiss" (KG 51) emblem and codes borrowed from the Italeri #074 kit.
First primed with Tamiya rattle can and some airbrushed pre-shading, Mr. Hobby Aqueous paints were used throughout, those being RLM70/71 and RLM65.
Since I did not use any filler, I had to show a photo using the FROG Skybase to justify leaving the big gap on the underside of the fuselage. Also decided to add the bottom antenna using stretched sprue.
Start to finish was about 2 weeks, with some babysitting of the twin grandkids taking up some time in between.
Thanks again for viewing.
Nice job George! This is a great looking Me-410 and it is great to see a nicely built Frog kit.
Excellent Me-410, George! Amazing you did not use any filler!
Thanks Spiros.
It could have used some filler, but not much. It's a pretty decent kit considering its age.
Very nice work on this Hornisse, George @georgeswork
You did a fine job on this classic kit , George @georgeswork ! I enjoy seeing these older kits built more so then the highly detailed newer kits.
Thanks Jay.
The word 'collector' always pops in my head, but they made 'em to build 'em.
Nice work on that old kit!
Nice work, George. While we had plenty of Airfix, Heller, and US brands available when I was a kid growing up in Chicago, Frog kits were pretty exotic. Nice to see one built.
Looks like fun. Love the final result!
Thanks Bob, 'Fun' is the name of the game - and it was.
Neat job, and so diminutive at 1/72. We don't see so many 410s built. It really has nice lines. Makes me want out break out my old Monogram kit.
Thanks Colin, if it's the ProModeler 1/48th kit - that's a beauty kit. Would like to see that posted!
An excellent result from this old kit (and your skillful hands). Well done!
Thanks Greg, I thought you had built this kit. But I think I'm wrong.
It would be a treat to see this kit (Frog or Revell) completed with your technique and skill.
Great job on this one from memory lane. The memory doesn’t serve so well though at this point. Does it actually have separate control surfaces?
Sure does - rudder, stabs and ailerons. A tight enough fit that no filler needed, just a little extra Tamiya thin cement.
Well done, George.
Nicely done George.