Monogram Heinkel He 111 H
1/48 scale
Contents:
The Monogram Heinkel kit comes labeled "Blitzbomber" and the box does not say anything about the versions supplied in the model. After reading the instructions I found that it can be built into either the H-4 or the H-5 version. The H-4 has the PVC external bomb rack for carrying either two 2205 lb bombs (SC 1000) or one 3968 lb bomb (SD 1700). It was powered by the Jumo 211D-1 engines. The H-5 has the same PVC external bomb rack but this time it has two 1686 lb LTF5b torpedoes mounted. It was powered by the same engines as the H-4.

After some basic research I found that neither the H-4 nor the H-5 version could be made straight from the box. Several differences makes it impossible to make these versions with the parts supplied in the kit. The H-4 and H-5 versions all had two MGs mounted in the side windows on the fuselage. These MGs are not supplied in the kit. The forward section of the ventral turret was glazed and had either a MG 15 or an MGFF 20mm canon mounted. There is no clear part in the kit, only a solid one. The H-5 also often had a tail mounted fixed MG 15, not supplied in the kit. These omissions makes it only possible to build the kit into a H-1 version and nothing else.

The exhaust stacks are of the DB 601 type and not the usual Jumo shrouded version.

As I wanted to detail the kit I got the Eduard interior set (48-138) and the True Detail cockpit set (48458).

The Eduard 48 138 set

This set is made up by two sheets of etched brass in the usual Eduard excellent quality. It has all the necessary parts for the cockpit area and the rear fuselage area.

True Detail Flap and Rudder set

Reviewed by Michael Chilton.

The True Detail 48458 set

This is one of the latest True Detail sets and is nothing more than detailed kit parts. It has a very high quality when it comes to casting but the level of new details was not as high as I had hoped. The set has the cockpit floor (kit part 42), side walls, instrument panel, pilot seat, overhead console and rudder pedals. Its detailed but needs further detailing as some of the more prominent parts are missing. Thankfully these are included in the Eduard etch set. Still, I think its worth getting just for the side walls, overhead console and the pilot seat.

Step 1. Cockpit assembly

I started by only using the kit parts 43, 49 and 50. All other came from the TD set. The Eduard rudder pedals were used as the TD ones were very crude resin parts. The whole cockpit was painted in RLM 66, weathered and washed.

Step 2 Cockpit assembly cont.

Here the pilot seat and the bombardiers seat are mounted. The pilot seat was not used as I used the more correct one from the TD set. Unfortunately the TD seat was molded with far to short legs and didn't fit onto the floor. I lengthened the seat legs so it could be installed properly. Kit part 45 was replaced with the Eduard etched adjusting wheel. I detailed the TD side walls with most of the Eduard set including the Kuvi 2 sight.

Step 3 Fuselage assembly

The fuselage was detailed with the rest of the Eduard set. Photo etched mountings for the spare MG ammo canisters and the radio equipment was installed and painted RLM 02. Only the cockpit is painted in the RLM 66 and the rest of the interior in 02.

The rear wheel was glued into its half of the fuselage and the clear windows were installed at this stage as well.

The bomb bay forward and rear bulkheads needs some trimming before they fit into the right places. These bulkheads are the only thing holding the wing so be careful and check the dihedral several times by dry mounting the wing onto the fuselage.

Step 4 Gluing fuselage halves

Straight forward. Just keep checking the wings while gluing the fuselage halves together. This is the stage in which you must insert the TD cockpit floor as it doesn't fit after the fuselage is glued. Glue the side walls inside the cockpit at this stage as well. The TD floor didn't fit that well so it took some fiddling around before I managed to get it in place. The side walls fitted without any problems.

Stage 5 Tail assembly

Again, straight forward. Keep in mind that the rudder balance isn't glued to the fin, just to the rudder. If you glue the balance at the fin, the swastikas wont fit. The decal is slid under the balance. You could leave the balance of until after the decals.

Step 6 Wing assembly

Someone at Monogram didn't use the calculator as the wing is far to thick. The problem isn't correctable unless you scratch build a new wing so forget ever reading this.

The construction of the landing gear side walls and doors seemed really stupid when I first saw it, but I soon discovered how clever it really was. Nice construction, Monogram. The gear doors are molded together with the side walls and slide into the gear well. After gluing in place it looks really good.

Step 7 Landing gear assembly

This part is very complicated and the instructions lack in where the parts really should be glued. It takes some dry runs before you know where t o glue the kit part 27/28. Leave the gear to dry for 24 hours. It will need to be well bonded and completely dry when mounting it in step 8. It helps to note which one the left and right gear are.

The wheels are already bulged so there is no need to get the TD wheels, unless you really want them.

Step 8 Gear assembly

I left this step until after painting.

Glue the gear assembly in the bays. Did you remember to note which one is right and left? If not, you are in trouble.

The main gear strut is glued high at the rear wall and is under tension. You can mount the wheel at this stage.

Step 9 Engine assembly

This step is straight forward apart from me leaving the exhaust stacks until after painting. The oil cooler intake has a very good fit.

Step 10 Engine assembly

The engine front cover (16) doesn't fit that good and need some filler. The radiator intake needs care as they don't have any locating lugs. The engine nacelles are marked on the inside so you wont confuse them. Glue them onto the wing and fill and sand as it does leave some small gaps at the wing joint.

The air probe is fitted and that completes this step.

Step 11 Wing assembly (again)

This step mates the wing with the fuselage. It needs constant checking as the protruding bulkheads pushes the wing into the wrong position/dihedral. You will have to trim the bulkhead/wing spars as to get the best possible fit at the top joint of the wing/fuselage joint. This will leave a gap about 1 mm at the lower surface where it is easy to fill and sand it.

Step 12 Ventral assembly

At this stage you will mount the forward solid nose to the ventral gondola (kit part 71), the rear canopy with the MG 15 and the air probe mast.

The mast is glued onto the second window in the fuselage and is angled slightly outward and backward.

Step 13 Weapons assembly

As none of the weapons can be used on the H-1 version you will get some parts left over. These can be used on the Pro-Modeller kit which is a H-22.

Step 14 Cockpit assembly

You don't need this step if you are using the TD cockpit as it has to be mounted when you are gluing the fuselage together. If you use the kit parts, follow the instructions.

Step 15 Cockpit details

As most of the parts used in this step came from the TD and Eduard set, I skipped this part.

Step 16 Canopy assembly

I didn't use the kit instrument panel. The TD panel looks ok, but the Eduard is the best one. Some other details from the Eduard set was also installed here. Unfortunately I got the rear canopy part only partially molded. It took some plasti card to make up the missing piece. Monogram calls this part the "overhead" canopy and looking at the badly molded part I got in the kit, they are right.

The overhead console was replaced by the TD resin part as its better than the Eduard etched one.

For some unknown reason Monogram supplies a rear mirror. I have never seen a rear mirror used on any He 111 so I skipped that one.

The bombsight housing needs some care before gluing as the position where its supposed to be glued is a little vague. I think it would have been better to mold this one in clear plastic as it is meant to be used for aiming.

Step 17 Final assembly 1

The dorsal gunners seat and stand was replaced by etched parts from the Eduard set. All MGs were detailed with etched parts.

Step 18 Final assembly 2

The radio mast, and the direction finder were glued in place. I left the clear dorsal canopy until after painting was done.

Step 19 Final assembly 3

The propellers were put into the engines after painting.

Painting

There are two schemes. One is for KG 55 operating from France in 1941 and has the night bomber scheme with the lower surfaces and fuselage sides painted black 22. Upper color is 70/71.

The other one is for a H-5 from KG 26 in Italy 1941. The plane was used for trials for the LTF5b torpedoes. It has the standard bomber scheme of 70/71 over 65.

As neither is correct for the kit I got the Three Guy Replicas decal sheet (TGR 48002) where I used the decals for a KG 100 aircraft in the standard 70/71/65 colors.

The kit decals are Scalemaster Invisaclear. Perfect register and they fitted without any modifications. No silvering was encountered anywhere.

After the paint was dry I glued on the parts that were left and weathered the plane.

Conclusion
It is a bit disappointing that the Monogram only can be built into the H-1 version. It would have been a very easy task to supply the relevant parts for making the correct versions like two more MGs and the ventral forward clear part.

The fit is generally good. The only weak spot is the wing/fuselage joint and the gear assembly.

The kit is of high quality and does look like a real He 111 when its assembled.

The True Detail set was in some parts somewhat disappointing but this was compensated by the pilot seat, overhead console and cockpit side walls which were really worth the money.

The Eduard set really did came in handy and 90% of the set was used in the kit. Excellent value for money.

/Erik Lind
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