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Having read the call on IPMS Stockholm's site for new modelling
articles, I thought I'll give it a try. Here are the pictures of my Focke-Wulf project VII Flitzer. The
Flitzer was a study for a single-seat, jet powered fighter with
performance superior to that of the Me 262.
The 1/72 kit of the type is manufactured by Revell company. Revell
should be commended for bringing an entire series of Luft'46 aircraft
into mainstream modelling. Among all the speculative German aircraft
designs, Focke-Wulf Flitzer should take prime space because it
progressed beyond the "paper" stage, full-size mock-up and
elements of the prototype aircraft being ready at the time of German
surrender.
The design featured a twin-boom short-fuselage configuration used
(independently) also on the deHavilland Vampire. A novel feature was
the intended use of mixed jet and rocket power, later dropped in favour
of a single Heinkel He S 011A turbojet. The intended armament included
two 30mm in the lower nose plus two 20mm cannon in the wings.
 Revell
kit
Curious about the Revell kit is that it depicts the initial dual-powered version of the Flitzer with
the rocket engine tube placed below that of a turbojet.
The kit comes on 2 sprues of light grey plastic with engraved panel
lines and a wealth of detail. The quality of the moulding is perfect!
The cockpit is detailed with instrument panel, rear bulkhead, seat,
stick and side consoles. Typically for Revell, the canopy is thick but
clear.
The only missing details in the cockpit were seat belts.
I added mine from strips of masking tape.
My project
The construction was simplicity itself and went quickly. I
recollect only one little problem during the work: weight in the nose
of plane. There is only a very little place available for it. I had to
cut the lead shot to little pieces and stuff every millimetre of the
available space with it, then fix everything with epoxy glue.
A decal set is included with one set of markings, but are complete
with finely printed stencils. See the photo:
Revell decal sheet includes fine stencils such as these marks on
ailerons
Painting
I airbrushed the surface and then applied weathering with a brush.
The colour scheme is open for imagination. I have decided to do the
Luftwaffe fighter colour scheme of RLM 74 (Humbrol 27) and RLM 75 (Humbrol
140) with RLM76 for bottom surfaces (Humbrol 87 and 34, 1:1).
Areas of chipped paint were simulated using silver paint - Humbrol
11. I assumed the real aircraft would be built from metal. I couldn't
find a conclusive information about this, but the Luft'46 site mentions
the Flitzer project being cancelled in 1945 due to the excessive
use of metal in the airframe.
Photographing the model
All the pictures were taken with Olympus 2100 UltraZoom digital
camera. I used a sheet of standard white photo background paper and two
spotlights. The close-up shots were taken with a magnifying glass
placed between the camera lens and the model!
Additional images, click to enlarge
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Flitzer
Flies!
