Ha-1112 K1L Tripala ‘Der Stern von Afrika’

[JeroenPeters]

Here we go. 
The Do335 is set aside and today i start working on the Tripala. Thnx to Espen Tjetland/ Attitude aviation who designed this set and sent it to me, along with the armament set and Revell 109G6 kit.

Have you seen the 1957 black and white movie ‘The Star of Africa’? It tells the story of luftwaffe ace Hans-Joachim Marseille.

I bought a signed photograph of Joachim Hansen. The actor that played Marseille.

It will be featured in the base.

more to follow!

 

 

 

[JeroenPeters]

I started work on the Revell pit determined  not to go loose on after market. I even removed the moulded on seatbelts. Went to the aviation megastore and bought the excellent Eduard pit and fabric seatbelts.

lovely detail on the eduard resin.

Check out the detail on that control stick.

 

[Martinnfb]

This is such a funny coincidence, last night I was looking at  Tripala conversion set from Buchon Scale Models, but chicken out on the purchase due to the price. I will definitely follow this one from the first raw.

Cheers

Martin

[GazzaS]

[Bomber_County]

 big 109...... .........must do a big 109, repeat must do a big 109........

[Umlaufmotor]

[JeroenPeters]

Ok guys.

I have received many reference photo's of the surviving example in the Madrid museum. From both Espen Tjetland and Steve mcCready.

Some things that stand out:

- The appears to be a nose gun housing between the rudder pedals... but the Tripala did not have one. Maybe a leftover from the 109G?

 - There is no gunsight mounted, but the gunsight base is present and shows a late Revi version.

 

 

 

[Martinnfb]

Fantastic pictures Jeroen, thank for sharing. Interesting oxygen regulator as well.

[Wingco57]

Yess, a very nice project. Strange to see Spanish labels in an obviously 109-style cockpit

[JeroenPeters]

This set is designed for the hasegawa kit but can also be used for the new Revell 109G6 kit. But you need to do some modifications.

The whole breakdown is different. Mainly the belly. Now i need to decide whether to cut off the bottom plastic wingroots or modify the resin. We’ll see. There is a 1.5 mm gap behind the nose section, which should be an easy fix. 

[JeroenPeters]

Also did some research into the gunsight. Note that i am building the movie star and not a standard ha-1112 k1L Tripala. And also no typical 109G. So i was wondering: should i go for a Revi or QBI spanish gunsight. I watched the movie and saw that there was no gunsight installed. Only in the mockup cockpit closeup shots which showed a Revi.

This is the QBI sight (thnx to Espen Tjetland):

Here’s a shot from the movie. No gunsight in sight:

Closeup mockup shot with Revi:

 

 

[JeroenPeters]

Dryfit of the Eduard pit reveals a problem. Pretty nasty one too.

the rear deck is a few mm too short. Causing the rear bulkhead to sit way too far to the front. The knife points at the slot where the rear bulkhead should go. I think i might prolong the horizontal deck. 

[Wingco57]

Keep at it, it would be too boring if it all would go too well.

[Kais]

Jereon,
Could it be that the cockpit resin is not far enough rearwards in the fuselage?
Isn't the instrument panel meant to line up to the front of the fuselage in your photo?
Measure twice , cut once and all that guff!

[JeroenPeters]

11 hours ago, Kais said:

Jereon,
Could it be that the cockpit resin is not far enough rearwards in the fuselage?
Isn't the instrument panel meant to line up to the front of the fuselage in your photo?
Measure twice , cut once and all that guff!

Sadly no.. the instrument panel should fit in the combing of the front windshield which sit a few mm forward of the sidewalls you see. I fixed the issue. Pics soon. 

[JeroenPeters]

The tripala did not have an oxygen system installed. Mine has

[harv]

Wow, awesome work !.......harv 

[JeroenPeters]

Seatbelts in.

[Martinnfb]

Beautiful ! 

[harv]

25 minutes ago, Martinnfb said:

Beautiful ! 

EXACTLY......harv

[Bomber_County]

Seconded & thirded.........

[JeroenPeters]

This pit is ready. Made a mistake by glueing the yellow tripala placard to the sidewall. It should be higher. On the canopy framing
when using the Revell kit you do need to make the nose fit. I added shims along the edges and i thinned the resin sidewalls.

i also used a spare hasegawa windshield since it’s a bit wider and fits better.

 

[Clunkmeister]

On 5/18/2020 at 2:21 PM, JeroenPeters said:

The tripala did not have an oxygen system installed. Mine has

High altitude ground attack.

[Clunkmeister]

Jeroen, is the Revell kit that much nicer than the Hasegawa?  I’m no 109 expert so I’m in the dark.  I have both of these sets, the Hisso and the Merlin, so I’m interested in knowing all I can.

[JeroenPeters]

19 minutes ago, Clunkmeister said:

Jeroen, is the Revell kit that much nicer than the Hasegawa?  I’m no 109 expert so I’m in the dark.  I have both of these sets, the Hisso and the Merlin, so I’m interested in knowing all I can.

To be honest the Revell kit offers more options and detail. Way more parts too. But the Hasegawa kit has crisper and smoother surface detail and the plastic is easier to work with. I had little to no problems making the Buchon set fit the Revell kit but to make the Tripala set fit you need to do a fair amount of work..