*(136) HALBERSTADT CL.II
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AURORA KIT NO.136-98-HALBERSTADT CL-II
ONE of the last three WWI kits Aurora produced, the Halberstadt dating from 1959 with the Breguet 14 and Albatros C.III released four years later. They all featured rib detail under their wing and tail surfaces which marked a distinct improvement over the majority of earlier productions. The Halberstadt was moulded in mid grey and black plastic which remains in extremely good condition overall and most parts bear convincing surface detail. Modifications are mainly confined to correcting some minor outline deviations and thinning the wing leading edges when erasing the etched markings. The decals are in OK condition and include tail-plane stripes along with the single bogus serial. Markings are suggestive of a Schlasta 27b CL.II with black and white striped tail that Aurora correctly provide in their 1972 reissue-we provide a set of these in the kit. There are also a number of ex-Mirage parts: gun ring; wheels; exhausts and a complete set of parts for a detailed Mercedes engine. The kit box with its evocative Jo Kotula artwork is also in very good condition.
**CONTAINS EXTRA PARTS & DECALS!
IN recent years the Halberstadt CL.II has been well represented by kit manufacturers-notably by Mirage Models of Poland with their myriad variants plied with expansive decal and PE sheets.The very first 1:48 scale CL.II plastic model however appeared way back in 1959 from Aurora with their 33 piece kit moulded in mid grey with black 'accessory' runner. It featured rib detail beneath wings and tail-plane and despite a few outline concerns,is basically accurate.Comparison with John Alcorn's 1:48 scale plans in DATAFILE 157 reveal a number of issues none of which are beyond redemption. Fuselage halves are of exact length but a trifle wide aft of the cockpit and the profile a little deep at the lower wing roots. Main-plane requires slight reduction and adjustment of the wing tip rake but lower wings only warrant minimal tips adjustment.One-piece horizontal tail-plane is spot-on whilst the oversized fin/rudder lends itself for reshaping to match drawings.
Interplane struts are linked by tie bars for corresponding upper wing slots and are quite fine-sectioned as are both undercarriage 'vees' although the forward legs need to be reangled and trimmed by 4mm. Black parts include airscrew/spinner; gun ring; wheels; axle; simplified Mercedes with manifold and correct style of exhaust. Modellers with suitable references-see link below-and substitute parts supplied with this kit will be able to produce a convincing result.
Decals offer relatively authentic balkenkreuze with full tail stripes rendered in white and green (!) plus a singular white serial that falls outside known production batches. The sheet is showing its age so we have included an alternative from 1972's revised 1136 with correct black/white tail stripes for Schlasta 27b aircraft and also featuring early style insignia.
EXTRAS! Several details from Mirage Halberstadt kits are included: cockpit floor; pilot seat and cushion; rudder bar; wheels; machine guns; various exhausts and a complete Mercedes with all you need to everything to produce a perfect motor!
Halberstadt history! Currently available in store is John Alcorn's HALBERSTADT CL.II AT WAR! 157th in the WINDSOCK DATAFILE series-published in 2013 it includes over 85 archive photos; 17 colour close-ups; two pages of airframe sketches circa 1918; 1:48 scale drawings and three pages of superb Ronny Bar colour profiles! Please see link below...
