ICM 1:32 Henschel Hs. 123 A-1 - "Special Scheme"

[Fran]

1:32

Henschel

Hs 123 A-1

ICM

Catalogue number 32016

Price: around 50,80€

 

When I saw that ICM was preparing the 1:32 Henschel Hs 123 I sent ICM an email asking with they could do or if they were thinking of doing a determined scheme…

They thanked the suggestion and the information I gave them about it and then radio silence…

After on the ICM catalogue for 2025, I did saw the Hs 123 and hoping to have the scheme I wanted…

They release then, and nothing…

So I thought to myself, well maybe one day, I will getsome after markets decals for it…

Until, one day, ICM just release with a “fantasbulastic” box art!

I first saw this scheme in Luftwaffe im Focus n.º 14 ( (publisher LuftFahrtverlag Start). It has some great pictures of the real aircraft and a profile made by Ronnie Bar.

This “wild” camouflaged Hs 123 were taken in the summer of 1938, being an aircraft of 3./Fliegergruppe 50 (renamed in 1st November of 1938 as III./St.G. 163. In 1939, 1st May, was renamed again as III.Gruppe Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 “Immelmann”

 

This aircraft is the one of Lt. Siefried Hamann. In the summer of 1938, he was Adjutant to the Staffel commander of 3./Fliegergruppe 50. Hamann, at that time, was not a yet pilot but he learned to fly, secretly, in his spare times. At that summer, he informed his Staffel commander Oblt. Heinrich Brüker that he has learned to fly.

 

 

Later that summer, he got permission to show what he could do. So, a Hs123 was selected and the ground personnel overpainted the Hs. 123 markings and prepared it for the occasion.

 

 

The aircraft is cover with sayings

 According:

The right side of the tail – “God save our Adjutant”

On the right fuselage:  “The Last close-support flyer?”

Left side sufelage: “All beginnings are difficult, Lt Hamann BE CAREFUL”

Left side of the tail: “Little Fish, Kurt”

 Hamann in 1939 was a pilot in III./St.G2 and took part in the attack on Poland.

He was still in the Gruppe in that attack in the west. In May 1940, when he was KIA when his Stuka got a direct flak hit.

 

This set is a the early verson that we already reviewd and you can see here.

 

 

 

So this version is quite special for me, and I was wondering how mask do I would have to use to make this one?

And I was quite surprised when I saw the two large decals sheets.

The decals, as usual are very good in color saturation, solid color, quite thin and perfect registration.

 

 

But the have all the “markings” to make this plane on the box art plus two more schemes.

The only “masking” or more complicated zone would be the “drop white” on the engine cowling that the center is painted in white and the decals will surround it.

All the rest of the decals should quite straightforward but be careful in all the process.

 

 

There`s still two schemes extra from the decal sheet.

 

Hs 123A , pre-production aircraft, 1936;

 

 

Hs 123 A-1 3./St.G 165 “Immelmann”, 1937

 

A masking template of the windshield is given. In this model, is a minor job and not hard to do.

The instructions.

The usual standard from ICM with a booklet with the first and last page in satin paper and the rest in normal paper.

Anyway, the instruction manual is detailed and easy to follow. It includes step-by-step assembly diagrams, color callouts, and decal placement guides.

Conclusion

     This is on my bench, cutting already the parts already.

This particularly scheme Hs 123 in 1:32 I was one of the most wanted ones from me so I`m very pleased that ICM have release it, but on top of all, ICM releases it with a fantastic detail and a full decal sheet with all the markings and strips!!

Molding quality is top-tier: No flash, sink marks, or ejector pin scars in visible areas. Panel lines are fine and recessed, with subtle fabric tape effects on control surfaces.

Just perfect!

 

 

 

VERY Highly recommend this to intermediate/expert modeler

 

My thanks to ICM for making this fantastic model.

[Doctorgaz]

Good start.

pleasure in assembly