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HUMA 1:72 FLETTNER FL 282
Reviewer:
Richard Stracey (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted:
22 November 2001 (#30)
Aircraft:
Who invented the helicopter? Leonardo
Da Vinci? OK, but who put it into practice? Igor Sikorsky in September 1939? The
British Weir W5 in June 1938? Prof. Focke’s FW61 in June 1936? There also
claims from France and the Soviet Union.
Anton Flettner can certainly lay claim to the world's first useful and practical helicopter to go into service. He had been developing helicopters since the early 1930’s. Six of his Fl 265’s were evaluated by the Navy, spotting from warships and submarines. They proved to be remarkably successful in all conditions. A FW 190 and Me 109 tried for twenty minutes to shoot down one…. with camera guns but not one hit was recorded! The two seat 282 was developed from the 265 and was powered by a Siemens Halske (Bramo) SH14A 150 hp engine. Thirty prototypes and fifteen pre production airframes were built and BMW were given a production order for one thousand but their plant was put out of action by allied bombing before they could be produced. Two machines were captured by the Americans and one by the Russians.
The Kit:
FLETTNER 282 - KOLIBRI (Humming Bird) - HUMA MODELL
1/72
Ideally the 282 is not a suitable kit to be made in 1/72 scale in the limited
run format as there are many small and delicate parts, however, we must thank
Huma for doing so since the “big boys” are never likely to make a kit of
this historically important aircraft. The kit consists of over forty plastic
parts, including a pilot, decals, photos, three view drawings and exploded view
which, although good, is a bit vague as to the exact location points. All parts
require considerable cleaning up and careful removal from the sprues as many are
very small and the gates very big! I am not complaining, it is just the molding
method used by Huma that makes the kit viable at all. Two versions are offered,
the single seater B-0 (V6) or the two seater with external fuel tanks B-2 (V21).
Alternative parts are supplied and marked for both. A great number of “dry
runs” must be made to ensure a good fit, especially in the fuselage
construction.
From the assembly instructions
Construction Notes:
The main gearbox and shaft assembly (1/2/3/4) comes
first and I suspect that for someone with better eye sight than I, the gears
could be cleaned up well enough to actually work although I don’t recommend it
as the rotors and rotor-to-shaft joints are very delicate. The engine and
exhausts (5/6/7/8) then glue to the rear and the top (9) added. I painted the
interior RLM 02 Grey before joining the fuselage halves. This proved a bit of a
battle and required a lot of trimming. I added seatbelts as the seats, being
very much out in the very fresh air, are rather obvious. I replaced a few of the
smaller parts as it proved easier than cleaning them up. The 282 is a “tail
sitter” but a small bit of flat lead glued to the back of the bulkhead (24)
did the trick. I also added a grab handle just behind the observer’s cockpit
and a couple of control rods from part No.9 down to just above and behind the
pilot’s seat.
Decals:
The decal options are for CI + TU in RLM 70 Green (Humbrol
91/ Testors 2080) over RLM 65 Blue (Humbrol 65/ Testors 2078) or GF + YF in RLM
63 Grey (Testors 2077). The decals are good with quite a lot of carrier
film. Huma, being thoughtful, have put the tiny white decals in “boxes”so
that you notice them. They need trimming, quite difficult if you can’t see
them! One trick is to lightly paint the rear of the backing paper with food dye.
This stains the paper green, red, orange or whatever and, hay presto, the white
decal shows up well. Don’t overdo it or it will really soak through and loosen
the decals.
References:
References can be found in Flying Review
International of Feb.1965 and the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft V8
p.1834.
Overall:
Well. It didn’t turn out too bad after all
and deserves a position in any collection for it’s historical importance. I
see that Special Hobby make a Fl 265 (72020). Huma make a 282 in 1/48 scale
(HM6500).
Photo Credit: Richard Stracey 2002
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