Me-321 D-1 Gigant
Cover and side of box.
Contents of kit laid out on a 6 foot table.
Dry fit, fuselage.
Dry fit of this monster.
Dry fit, another view.
Dry fit, yet another view.
Dry fit, another view.
As parts are not stamped with their numbers, you have to cross-ref the instructions. Given there are slight differences in similar looking parts, I marked each for reference. Not the best writing, but it worked.
Interior structure added so I could mount the cockpit.
Basic subassemblies assembled.
Initial priming stage.
Test fit of cockpit along with scratch built rear cabin. More to come on that portion.
Readying the engines for painting. While a bit funny looking in this pic, the engines were masked by creating a circle mask using a circle template and scoring tool.
Canopy - masked and test fit.
Wheel wells painted, wheels installed.
Rear cabin - from scratch along with front console.
Weight. This is a big kit and once the tail is installed, sufficient weight is required. Easy to do when the front doors are closed. Check out my Me-321, glider version, which has the doors open.
One door installed. I added the white plate to have an additional glue surface.
Note, I already broke off the machine gun barrel, have to fix later.
Note, I already broke off the machine gun barrel, have to fix later.
Setting the wing tips as they are angled.
Underside with wing tips setting up. Note this kit has a wingspan of ~30 inches. Allow space for displaying finished kit.
Initial tape, ready for priming. I had painted the nacelle chins white, then yellow, then taped.
Wheel wells and wheels were painted and then taped so I didn't have to do them again.
Vallejo White Surface Primer #74.600, then Model Air Medium Yellow #71.002. The same process was used to paint the yellow fuselage stripe.
Wheel wells and wheels were painted and then taped so I didn't have to do them again.
Vallejo White Surface Primer #74.600, then Model Air Medium Yellow #71.002. The same process was used to paint the yellow fuselage stripe.
Primed, ready for finishing. The model is shown in my home made spray booth. The booth was designed with this large kit in mind as well as a number of other large kits in my stash.
Vallejo Surface Primer, Grey, #74.601 thinned ~20%. Two coats were applied and left to dry 48 hours.
Vallejo Surface Primer, Grey, #74.601 thinned ~20%. Two coats were applied and left to dry 48 hours.
Primed.
Taped for painting the underside of the plane. Perhaps overkill with the tape, but I wanted to be sure I minimize the overspray.
Variety of tape: Tamiya, Scotch Blue #2090 and Delicate Surface #2080 (light purple).
Variety of tape: Tamiya, Scotch Blue #2090 and Delicate Surface #2080 (light purple).
Underside painted, drying. I'll remove the tape in about 12 hours.
Vallejo Model Air Light Blue RLM65, #71.255
Vallejo Model Air Light Blue RLM65, #71.255
Underside was taped and initial Dark Green applied then taped ready for Black Green.
Dark Green - Vallejo Model Air, #71.012
Black Green - Vallejo Model Air RLM70, #71.021
Dark Green - Vallejo Model Air, #71.012
Black Green - Vallejo Model Air RLM70, #71.021
Black Green applied
Gloss coat applied after finishing camo. Gloss coat was Alclad II Lacquer.
Decals applied after gloss coat.
Flap controls added. Tail struts and flap controls add, top and bottom. Skid installed.
Decals applied after gloss coat.
Flap controls added. Tail struts and flap controls add, top and bottom. Skid installed.
Wheel repair. Due to weight and my handling, the wheels on one side shifted, had to repair.
Wheel cover came apart and had to be repaired too.
Wheel cover came apart and had to be repaired too.
Flap repair was required twice, once on each of the large flaps. Added round and square stock, super glued in place.
This was due to the size, my handling, and the fact that each flap only had two surface mounting points. It was a poor design by Italeri in my opinion.
Painted after completely dried.
This was due to the size, my handling, and the fact that each flap only had two surface mounting points. It was a poor design by Italeri in my opinion.
Painted after completely dried.
Oil stains applied prior to strut installation.
I installed the struts after painting and oil stains as I was concerned with them breaking off during handling.
Super glued was used to install struts and flap controls in place.
I installed the struts after painting and oil stains as I was concerned with them breaking off during handling.
Super glued was used to install struts and flap controls in place.
Oil exhaust example from internet.
Oil exhaust example from internet.
Oil exhaust example from internet.
Completed, note the wingspan, ~32 inches. Oil stains were done using pastels.
Note fuselage length, ~16 inches.
Underside. Oil stains were done using pastels.
The completed kit on shelf. Along with other kits to show scale.
Shelf is 16" wide by 46" long.
Shelf is 16" wide by 46" long.
Me-321 D-1 (aka Me-323)
Me-321 B-1 glider version. Details can be seen in my album on the Me-321 B-1.
Kommentarer
28 23 March, 19:30
AndreasKI have built this ages ago. Looking forward to watching your build. Prepare to put in a ton of weight. If you plan to build it with the doors closed...
26 March, 19:30
William JoelActually I have a bit spray booth, created specifically with this kit in mind. After completing the Me-321. Purchased booths didn't cut it due to size, cost, and noise. So I built my own: 35" wide x 18" deep. Included 4 muffin fans and they are have a lower db rate test result than a purchased 2 fan system. I used scrape wood to keep the cost down. The cost was in the LED lights, fans, and exhaust parts. Works great. I will have to make space for the finished model next to the Me-321, so that's where the challenge will be. Pictures to come.
12 May, 21:28
Album info
The Me-321 D-1 Gigant is the powered version of the Me-321 B-1 Gigant glider. Three engines were added to each wing of the and this became the Me-323.
Similar to the glider, with clam shaped nose/loading doors, but with interior structural improvements and ten-wheeled bogie-type undercarriage. The glider version had two large wheels for the undercarriage which were jettisoned upon takeoff. In addition, there were two smaller wheels attached to the front of the undercarriage under the nose doors. In addition, the glider version had up to six launch rockets under the wings to assist the glider tug(s) to get the giant off the ground.
Specifications: wing span: 180' 5 3/8"; length 92' 4 1/4", with a wing area of 3,228 sq ft. In addition, the pilots sat at ~30' above the ground, similar to a modern day 747.
The Me-323 and Me 321 were considered the largest aircraft produced between 1940 and 1944.
