Hi, guys... I hope I can add this kit here into the group build, which I hope will be continuing for a while yet as, scarily, it's just over a year now that this has been running. How time flies, if you'll excuse the pun... :-).

I was rather pleased to learn recently that this kit would be available in plastic, as I understand the manufacturer had previously offered it some years ago as a resin kit. The external surface detail is very nicely rendered and the kit generally goes together well. I think the main issue is the underside join of the wing to the fuselage which needed some TLC to persuade it to be co-operative.

I decided to complicate things by removing the flaps, ailerons and single elevator to reposition them. The flaps have been rather obstinate in adjusting to my preferred angle, but I think I'm slowly getting the better of them! For surch a small aircraft kit, the cockpit details is rather good, and enhanced by the provision of seatbelts on a PE fret along with replacement float rudders and a couple of other small attachments.

Such was my interest in progressing the build, I don't have many of the early stages to show you here, but then again, there's nothing overly complicated, interesting or just plain bizarre to show you; the model's main draw will be once it's finished, I would think, and largley due to the unusual subject.

The main float struts you see in the images are relatively sturdy items, with the front set having separate side struts to attach, these incorporating small steps. The floats are well reproduced and only need some attention at the lower join which is a little over-sized at the edges. There are a couple of strange things in the instruction sheet, this kit being one of two variants currently available. The two seperate kits have small differences such as engine cowling panels, exhaust outlets and the rudder, but despite this kit being the 'late' version, the instructions show details of the aforementioned parts for the 'early' version, so if buying this, just be aware of what parts you should be using. Both offerings provide for three different sets of markings, and in this kit, I will be finishing it as a training aircraft based at Bug on the island of Rügen in 1944.

I set out to spray paint the model, but my ham-fisted attempts with attaching and tidying up the flaps, and their subsequent poor presentation when painted, caused me to strip the paint twice, and as my spraygun was acting up - again my fault as it wasn't quite as clean as it should've been - I elected to brush paint instead.

So, at this point, I have eventually got a decent colour scheme applied and gloss varnished. Hopefully the next task will be applying markings in the not too distant future.

I'll catch you again soon... :-).

Regards,
Paul

9 attached images. Click to enlarge.

I agree with @johnb, @paulh!
Looks fantastic!

Well, here are the final images from this build. The thing with small kits is sometimes they're fininshed before you realise it... or is that just me?

There wasn't much additional construction required, but I have spent time applying the markings and some blackwash as well as doing the little bit of rigging between the struts. The PE rudders fought back so I opted for the plastic ones provided in the kit. The other PE items such as seatbelts and the access ladder were more accommodating and look good in situ.

The one area that did hold things up for a bit was the canopy. It's a little on the thick side although clarity isn't bad; however, it sits high at the front where the diagonal of the windshield angles back towards the front of the forward canopy section. The inner edges at these points had to be very carefully thinned, and although this did improve the sit, there was still a noticeable gap all the way along the lower edge of the windshield where it should've met the fuselage. I got round this after attaching the piece, by applying some 'Perfect Plastic Putty' under the windshield front and smoothing it out with a damp cotton bud to ensure it took the correct shape before drying out. Being able to manipulate this putty using water is a godsend, particularly on a small kit. Once dry, I only had to paint up the white putty to match the colour scheme.

Markings, with the exception of the swastikas, are all from the kit and are very good indeed. I think this would make a good and unusual addition to a Luftwaffe collection; two versions are available from RS Models, this being the later variant, and is finished in the markings of Seefliegerschule Bug, on the island of Rügen during 1944. The beaching trolley shown in the last photo is not provided with the kit, sadly.

As well as being a trainer, the aircraft was used on air-sea rescue tasks in Norway. A total of 31 airframes including prototypes was produced.

The short video on YouTube can be seen via this link - https://youtu.be/afpqHjak6QM

I hope you like the end result... ;-).

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Grear result, Paul @paulh
The PE ladder does indeed add something extra to your excellent build.
A pity the PE rudders were a bit troublesome, but the original ones looksgreat as well.

Thank you, guys... :-).