This thread is a combo build of the Revell/ESCI 1/48 Henschel Hs123A1 done by Spiros, @fiveten, and myself.
It will be part of the amazing Imperial German Air Service / Luftwaffe Group Build started by Louis @lgardner
We will do our best, as usual, to get the most out of these older kits.
Any experience already gained by fellow modellers on this kit is ofcourse very welcome.

Henschel Hs123 background:
It was a clear 30's aircraft but still served succesfully in the WWII, even till 1944, on the Russian front.
The concept of the Hs123 was to be operated as a dive bomber and that role suited the aircraft perfectly.
First flight of the Hs123V1 was in the beginning of 1935 and the first aircraft in operational service of the Luftwaffe was in 1936.
To gain experience in dive-bombing, several aircraft did fight in the Spanish civil war alongside the Condorlegion.
In 1937/1938, 12 aircraft were sent to China to fight against the Japanese intruders.
Eventually the Hs123 was replaced by the Ju87 but it still served succesfully in the Polish campaign of September 1939.
With a supporting role, it also served in the campaigns of the Low lands, France and Russia.
The last aircraft, still in service with Spain, retired in 1953.

Once again, thank you so much for giving me the pleasure to enjoy a combo build with you, my friend @johnb!
Since the kit was first issued in 1977, your version being the 1978 one means that your molding has a good chance to be crisp, which looks to be the case from the pics.
Love your camo choice, it will look spectacular!
Soon to post my kit contents!

@fiveten, the pleasure is all mine.
@holzhamer, what was your impression back in 1981, like said by Spiros, the current condition of the mold and the decals might be the biggest challenge of this kit.

Great choice, guys! That’s a nice model and you can never have too many Spanish Civil War planes.

Looking forward to your build, Spiros @fiveten
Your decal set seems in better condition than mine, but there is almost three decades in between.

@johnb
Well John, I really can’t recall anything about the decals back used so long ago, besides I was a 10 year old so all decals were just great I guess 🙂
Looking at your photo, the decals you have in the box seem old and yellowed. I would choose another source. Let me look up tomorrow what I have in the 2 boxes, there’s a strong possibility I can send you some much much newer decals for a Legion Condor “uno, dos, tres”;-)

What I can tell you is that the plastic you have there is as much as good as a new one, and the kit, though basic by today’s standards, builds pretty well. Perhaps those engine cowlings need some care assembling if memory serves me.

@holzhamer, thanks Pedro, that would be very helpful. Going to try a decal that is not going to be used anyway this afternoon.

@johnb
Sorry to see that happen, but with honesty, it was kinda expectable right?
I had a very busy day but tomorrow I’ll pm you after I sweep both my Henschel boxes