Henshchel Hs 132A 1./ SG 77

22 december 2023 andrey savinov

By Andriy Kudelin, Ukraine
Prop & Jet, 1/72

A Decade-Long Journey of Building the Hs 132 Scale Model

More than ten years ago, in the crisp January of 2011, I embarked on the construction of a model that would become a testament to my passion for scale aircraft modeling. However, like many projects, this one faced interruptions and was put on hold due to various reasons. The spark of inspiration needed to bring this model to completion eluded me. Fast forward to 2020, and I found myself drawn back to the unfinished masterpiece.

The Model: A Rare Gem from Prop&Jet

The model in question is a vacuum-formed kit released in 2002 by Prop&Jet (Kit #7209). To my discerning eye, it boasts commendable quality and is quite a rarity. The manufacturer claimed that only about 50 of these kits were ever produced, adding an element of exclusivity to the endeavor.

The boxart of Hs 132 from Prop Jet, Ref.7209 — *Boxart of the model, or rather not even box art, but a piece of paper, aka assembly instructions. A special spice is added by the inscription "Geheim!" - classified!*

The kit includes vacuum-formed plastic sheets with parts, a vacuum-formed canopy, and landing gear and engine details cast in white metal. More information and the kit review can be found on this website.

Hs 132 vacformed styrene parts — *Styrene sheet with Hs 132 vacuum-formed parts of the Prop&Jet Hs 132 kit*

Hs 132 decal sheet — *The decal was printed by the Begemot company and suggested two color options. The famous squared one and the What If variant for the combat unit of 1./StG 7.*

My set had well-crafted landing gear struts in white metal, requiring minimal processing. However, a minor imperfection was noted in the canopy, a small bubble marring an otherwise pristine piece.

Notably, among the models available at that time, Prop&Jet's Hs 132 was considered the most accurate in terms of geometry. Comparing it, for instance, with Hs 132 from Huma Models, Prop&Jet appeared more precise. Even in comparison to the newer model from RS Models, Prop&Jet seemed, in my opinion, more faithful to the original, considering the scarcity of information available on the aircraft.

Building the Model

The initiation of the project followed the classic routine for models crafted using vacuum-forming technology: a careful process of filing and coarse sanding to extract components from a solid plastic sheet.

Crafted from a sufficiently thick styrene sheet, the model's assembly presented few challenges. I carved out the nose gear well, doubling as the pilot's cockpit, and fashioned the main landing gear wells in the wings.

Wheel wells of the Hs 132 model — *Hs 132 undercarriage wheel wells: for the nose strut under the cockpit and the main ones in the wings.*

For ease of assembly, wing spars and corresponding openings in the fuselage were incorporated. A rudimentary cockpit interior was fashioned, although it would be barely visible in the completed model.

Unpainted cockpit details of the Hs 132 model — *Improvised details of the cockpit and landing gear wells.*

The cockpit was painted in RLM 66, a characteristic hue for Luftwaffe aircraft of that era. Employing a dry brush technique with lighter paint added dimension to all raised details. However, this did not significantly enhance their visibility on the final model.

The cockpit of Hs 132 pre-painted in RLM 66 — *The cockpit of Hs 132 was painted in RLM 66 Schwarzgrau.*

To ensure proper balance, I loaded the model with lead and assembled the fuselage, attaching the wings. Navigation lights were fashioned from clear plastic.

The assembly of the stabilizer presented some challenges. During its installation, I had to use a two-component putty to smooth the joint with the fuselage.

Hs 132 airframe assembly — *Assembled Hs 132 airframe, engine details to be added later.*

Hs 132 airframe assembly bottom view — *Hs 132 airframe assembled, bottom view.*

The intake and exhaust of the BMW 003 engine, crafted from white metal in the kit, resembled a copy of the parts from Dragon's He 162 model, complete with their flaws and shortcomings. In lieu of these, I intended to use resin parts, to be crafted by a friend who also promised resin wheels, sparing me the task of assembling wheels from vacuum-formed pieces.

BMW 003 aftermarket resin kit details — *Aftermarket replacement parts for the BMW 003 jet engine that was installed in Hs 132.*

However, installing the resin engine components brought an unexpected hiccup. The inlet channel of the air intake simply refused to fit into the engine nacelle. With no room to maneuver, I delicately cut along the seam, allowing me to spread the halves and insert the intake. Yet, the nacelle still proved too narrow, requiring a 1mm-thick insert along the seam.

Moving forward, I constructed the vertical stabilizer. Opting not to cut a thin piece from the thick plastic sheet, I instead cut new fins and shaped them to the required profile.

Hs 132 stabilizer mount — *Installation and fitting of the Hs 132 stabilizers.*

Preparing for Priming

Upon assembling the airframe, I meticulously tried to fit the canopy, requiring considerable adjustments. I separated and treated the resin engine components, preparing them for priming. The trim tabs for the elevator were crafted and affixed in a deflected position. Noticing that the marked evacuation hatch on the fuselage seemed undersized, I enlarged it slightly and shifted it forward. Additionally, I cut a window in the lower nose section and inserted a clear piece of plastic.

Hs 132 ready for priming — *Hs 132 is ready for a primer coat application.*

Next, the Hs 132 model was primed with Mr.Surfacer 1200 to reveal and subsequently address surface defects. Without a primer on the white plastic, these imperfections were hard to discern.

132 in primer port side — *The primed Hs 132 looks quite impressive!*

Hs 132 undersides in primer — *Pre-coated Hs 132, bottom view. Imitation of power structures can be seen in the wheel wells of the landing gear.*

After a while, a critical reevaluation of the model revealed dissatisfaction with the panel lines I had scribed at the beginning of the construction. It was not very neat, somewhat uneven, and with excessive depth. I decided to putty over it and scribe new lines. For this task, I used Ustar black cyanoacrylate putty, which is easy to work with and sufficiently durable. Attempts to scribe new lines over the old ones failed, as the putty chipped off. Trying to create new panel lines adjacent to the existing ones on the assembled model proved highly impractical. In the end, disheartened, I puttied over everything once again. The model would now go without panel lines, replicating the factory puttying along panel seams, as was common in wartime German aircraft.

Sanding of Hs 132 im primer, starboard side — *The black lines on the fuselage are not actual recessed panels, they are the black Ustar cyanoacrylate putty I used to fill the recesses I made.*

Panel recessing on the under surfaces of Hs 132 — *The panel recesses on the lower surfaces have also been filled in with putty.*

Over the years since the model's inception, new information about the aircraft emerged: articles in aviation history journals and some photos from the official Hs 132 handbook from the end of World War II that surfaced on eBay.

Analyzing this new information led to the conclusion that the nose gear well and the shields for the front landing gear were not as proposed by Prop&Jet and as I initially constructed them. They were different, as depicted in the handbook.

Landing gear details handbook Henschel Hs 132 — *A diagram from the Hs 132 handbook showing the details of the landing gear. Note the round hatch above the cockpit.*

Cover of Hs 132 original handbook — *Cover of the original Hs 132 handbook from the end of WW2.*

Additionally, I came across photographs of an Hs 132 model built by German enthusiast Günter Sengfelder. I refrained from modifying the gear well shapes; at this stage, it was possible but highly problematic. I considered it acceptable for a 'What If' model.

Hs 132 model from scratch Gunter Sengfelder — *Scratchbuilt Hs 132 by Gunther Sengfelder, note the shape of the nose wheel well doors.*

Reexamining the surviving photos (which unfortunately revealed little), I decided to once again change the shape of the pilot's cockpit evacuation hatch. Despite being depicted as rectangular on the diagrams, its width wouldn't allow the pilot to pass through without removing flight gear. Consequently, I opted to make this hatch circular.

Hs 132 trophy in TsAGI after WW2 — *Photo of a real Hs 132 captured by the Soviets, the hatch was either square with rounded corners or oval or round at all.*

TsAGi's Hs 132 cockpit details — *Another image from the TsAGI research report on Hs 132. The rounded corners of the hatch above the cockpit are also visible.*

The rectangular hatch was puttied over, and a circular one was cut out. Simultaneously, I slightly modified the fairings from the fuselage to the air intake of the engine nacelle.

Hs 132 pilot's round hatch — *A new round pilot's hatch above the cockpit is resribed again.*

Continuing with the next steps of my aircraft modeling project, I applied a coat of Mr.Surfacer 1200 to the model. This step is crucial as it helps reveal any imperfections in the surface, allowing me to identify areas where the old panel lines were not adequately filled and correct any other defects.

second layer of primer on Hs 132 — *The fuselage fairing to the nacelle was also redesigned.*

To enhance the authenticity of the model, I crafted the fairing for the antenna direction finder based on reference photos of the He 162. Using thin copper foil, I meticulously shaped the air intake for the generator's cooling system on the engine nacelle. However, the challenges of working with a tiny part, measuring just 1x2.5 mm, became apparent when it unexpectedly launched from my tweezers into the unknown. Undeterred, I recreated the piece, and this time, it narrowly avoided repeating the fate of its predecessor, remaining within the confines of the worktable.

BMW 003 generator intake — *A generator cooling air intake made of copper foil was also added to the nacelle.*

Anticipating that the fuselage would be finished in a metallic sheen, which tends to accentuate imperfections, I devoted extra care to refining the surface. I meticulously removed the panel lines from the fuselage, where legend dictates they shouldn't be filled in at the factory. This involved addressing various elements such as hatches, the hood of the engine nacelle, and more. It dawned on me later that I forgot the hatches for the fuel tank necks, but I'll rectify that oversight soon.

Hs 132 polished undersides — *The model is once again polished to remove defects before painting in metallic color.*

The next task involved cutting and fitting the armored glass made from a millimeter-thick transparent plastic. Given that both parts of the vacuum-formed canopy will rest and adhere to this piece, achieving a precise fit was paramount. This required meticulous adjustments not only for dimensions but also for the angle of the bevel, adding another layer of intricacy to the process.

Once again, I applied a coat of primer to the fuselage to bring out any defects for further refinement. These meticulous steps contribute to the overall quality and authenticity of the model, ensuring that it stands out with accuracy and attention to detail.

final coat of primer on Hs 132 port — *The model's surfaces are laid out perfectly and ready for painting.*

final coat of primer on Hs 132 starboard — *Missing hatches and panel lines were also added to the fuselage sides.*

final coat of primer on Hs 132 undersides — *On the lower part of the fuselage, hatches were also rescribed.*

final coat of primer on Hs 132 front view — *And the copper air intake of the power generator.*

Pilot's Cockpit Canopy

As previously mentioned, my kit had a bubble in the primary part of the canopy. While tolerable, the nose section presented more significant issues due to the plastic's excessive stretching, making it thin and prone to deformation. Consequently, the front part was dented. I decided to craft a new canopy.

Hs 132 canopy molds — *Hs 132 cockpit canopy from Prop&Jet kit.*

Opting to vacuum-form it into a reverse mold, I cast a mold from epoxy. However, the result was not perfect due to inadequate mold release, and the resin, apparently, was not sufficiently vacuumed before pouring — a few bubbles marred the surface. Drilling air channels for vacuuming in resin is tricky, as the resin is very viscous, and thin drills tend to get stuck and break. As I later learned from a more experienced modeler, it's better to cast the holes directly rather than drilling later.

The canopy itself was drawn from 0.7mm-thick PET-G transparent plastic.

Hs 132 canopy vac form — *Canopy vacform and a few Hs 132 canopies I made for spare.*

Among the crafted canopies, I selected the best pieces and commenced the assembly. I coated the primary canopy piece with Future and glued it with 702 akfix super glue. As the fuselage had a recessed area for the canopy with sloping edges (an artifact of vacuum-forming technology), a noticeable depression appeared along the seam. I puttyed it several times with the same glue after preliminary treatment.

Hs 132 canopy fitting — *From this bunch of vacuumed canopy nosepieces, the best one is to be selected and fitted.*

Adding Some Details

With the major components of the glider assembled, I moved on to the intricate detailing that truly breathes life into a scale model.

Cockpit

Given the unconventional layout of the Hs 132, where the pilot assumed a prone position during flight for increased efficiency in dive-bombing, I decided to tackle the cockpit once the fuselage was fully assembled. Fitting and shaping instrument panels came next. The top layer was crafted from brass, with a plastic layer beneath. On the reverse side, I simulated instrument casings and wiring, even though these details would be barely visible through the lower window.

Hs 132 dashboard — *Hs 132 pilot's dashboard.*

Embedding these instrument panels at the correct angles into the assembled fuselage proved challenging due to the dimensions and intricate angles involved. I added a shelf for the armored glass, throttle, control stick, and various levers according to the schematic. While the outcome wasn't perfectly to scale, it was the best compromise. After photos were taken, I affixed the front armored glass and fine-tuned its fit to ensure seamless integration with the rest of the canopy. The final touches involved creating a chin rest for the pilot, adding seatbelts, a gunsight, and then it would be ready for the canopy installation.

Careful examination of schematics and photographs led me to the realization that both the front landing gear well and the pilot's cabin with the prone position were slightly inaccurate. The well needed to be shifted back by 2-3 mm and feature a different-shaped cutout and doors. This adjustment was crucial for providing sufficient space in the cockpit, as the throttle and control stick were too close to the instrument panels.

Hs 132 dashboard installation — *Control stick and throttle were added.*

Hs 132 controls installation — *Final touches for the cockpit. Added a power structure between the armor section and the spar behind the canopy. Belts and buckles also enhanced the cockpit interior.*

Engine

I modified the starter intake of the BMW 003 engine nacelle and deepened the hole in the central nozzle body. The resin "flaps" on the nozzle were swapped for sturdier brass alternatives. The air intake with the fairing was painted with a polished metallic finish, given a oil wash, assembled, and glued into the engine nacelle.

painted BMW 003 — *Painted and shaded detailing of the BMW 003 jet engine.*

Landing Gear

Lacking any reference information, I crafted the landing gear based on other aircraft from the same era and my own imagination. They were fashioned from sheet metal cut from beer cans, drill bits, and a diamond-coated round file.

Hs 132 wheel well doors — *Wheel well door parts made of tin plate.*

Hs 132 undercarriage legs — *Drilling miniature holes in the main undercarriage legs is a very meditative exercise.*

Hs 132 landing gear details — *The landing gear parts were primed with Mr.Metal Primer and then Mr.Surfacer.*

Hs 132 landing gear retractors — *From sprue and needle pieces I made hydraulic retractors for undrcarriage legs and cockpit hatch.*

Bomb

As the kit didn't include any armament, and for visual appeal, I wanted to suspend an SC500 bomb. I opted to simplify matters and purchased a resin kit from CMK. However, this proved to be a questionable decision as the resin stabilizer had an unsuitably large thickness. The bomb's head also had a completely dissimilar shape. In the end, I decided to assemble the bomb, refining it to an acceptable appearance.

Paintworks

During the construction of my model, I was inspired to recreate something similar to the well-known FW 190D-13 exhibited in a museum, which fortunately had plenty of photographs available. This aircraft had a rather intricate paint scheme with small, irregular patches of RLM 81 and RLM 82 over RLM 75.

I began the painting process by masking the canopy and applying a coat of RLM 66 over these parts. The undersides of the wings and stabilizers (which, according to legend, were wooden) I coated with a layer of RLM 76 with a light pre-shading.

Hs 132 undersides in RLM 76 — *The wing and stabilizer bottoms are painted in classic light blue RLM 76.*

After painting the lower surfaces, I proceeded to paint the fuselage and metal components of the aircraft in aluminum metallic. The wooden elements of the fuselage covering and the cowls of the engine nacelle were painted in RLM 02. I used the same paint, applied with a brush, to simulate filled seams in the covering.

For the bomb's paint scheme, I consulted various sources. According to RLM instructions after 1942, bombs smaller than SC 1000 were painted in RLM 02, though exceptions were noted, especially towards the end of the war.

Hs 132 in RLM 02 starboard — *The gray cell on the fuselage is an imitation of the filler on panel seams of a real airplane.*

Hs 132 in RLM 02 port — *Port side photo of the painted top surface of Hs 132.*

Hs 132 in RLM 02 undersides — *The underside of the fuselage was also painted in a checkered pattern. It will remain as it is, as it will not have camouflage blotches applied on top like the upper surfaces.*

On the upper surfaces, I hand-applied random patches of light-green paint RLM 82.

Hs 132 in RLM 82 port side — *First coat of RLM 82 camouflage spots on top of the base paint job.*

Hs 132 in RLM 82 starboard side — *Another photo of the RLM 82 mottling on Hs 132.*

Subsequently, I added patches of a second, darker camouflage color of arbitrary shape—Dark Green RLM 81—over the applied RLM 82 patches.

Hs 132 camouflaged port side — *RLM 81 mottling, port side.*

Hs 132 camouflaged starboard side — *Photo of Hs 132 camouflage mottles from starboard side.*

camouflaged Hs 132 front view — *The paint job on this Hs 132 model is almost complete.*

Decals and Markings

I differentiated the rudders, ailerons, and flaps with a slightly darker color, indicating that they could be assembled and painted separately from the main aircraft components. This illustrates the production chaos and disarray in Germany towards the end of the war. Perhaps it adds a more vivid and interesting touch.

I painted white RLM 21 acrylic crosses on the wings using painter's tape masks. Admittedly, it turned out a bit uneven, and I had to make some corrections with a brush.

The decal adhered well, and the amberised undercoat against the vibrant camouflage was hardly noticeable. I decided to leave the air intake rim in the color of unpainted metal. With a brush, I painted the white letters of the formation code in yellow RLM 27, added swastikas on the tail (as those in the kit's decals seemed too large), and some stencils. I also had to paint the crosses on the lower wing, as the yellowed backing of the original decals would have stood out against the light background.

The model was coated with glossy lacquer, and I applied a wash of oil paint to highlight the sparse panel lines.

completely painted Hs 132 port side — *Completely painted model Hs 132, matte varnish not yet applied, masing tape from the cockpit canopy not removed.*

Hs 132 in satin finish port side — *Same angle, but the model already has a matte finish, the masks are removed and the landing gear assembly has begun.*

Hs 132 in satin finish starboard side — *Starboard side of Hs 132. Jet exhaust will be attached afterwards.*

Hs 132 in satin finish front view — *From this angle, the plane resembles the He 162 fighter, which, unlike the Hs 132, went into production and had a chance to take part in WW2.*

under surfaces of Hs 132 in satin finish — *Photo of the almost finished model from the bottom. As was mentioned above, the "cell" paint job was left untouched.*

End of the Journey: Built Hs 132

After this, the model was finally assembled, with shields and landing gear wheels installed, antennas glued, and the engine nozzle secured in place. The SC 500 bomb was also mounted since the aircraft was envisioned as a super-fast dive bomber.

In the future, the model will be enhanced with a vignette featuring landscape elements, a pilot, ground crew, a ladder, and other details, but that's a project for another day. For now, the completed model takes its place on the shelf, adding to my collection.

Happy modeling to you all!

Warm regards,
Andrіy.

(Edited and Translated by Mykhailo Orlov)