HISTORY

The Henschel Hs 129 was a World War II ground-attack aircraft fielded by the German Luftwaffe. The aircraft saw combat in Tunisia and on the Eastern Front.

A key requirement of the original specification was that the aircraft be powered by engines that were not in demand for other designs. Prototypes with low-power German Argus As 410 engines of 465 PS (459 hp; 342 kW) failed acceptance test, a more powerful replacement was found with the French Gnome-Rhône 14M engine of 700 PS (690 hp; 515 kW). All Hs-129A aircraft were eventually used in training units while some were converted to the later B model.

The design was relatively effective when it was first introduced, and saw service on the Eastern Front in a variety of front-line roles. As the war continued and anti-tank support became the main goal, the aircraft was continually up-gunned, eventually mounting a 75 mm anti-tank gun. Only a small number of these B-3 models were produced, late in the war.

Pavla was well known for producing limited run kits of subjects that were not produced by mainstream model companies. Though a few have since been done by larger companies, many are still only available in Pavla boxes. This is one of them.

The kit provides a single plastic sprue, two vacuform canopies, a photo etch fret and an acetate sheet with instruments. These latter items are to be fitted under p.e. panels and attached to the inside of each engine nacelle as there was no room in the cockpit for engine instruments.

The plastic is lightly engraved and all of the parts show some degree of flash. Large parts have quite a few ejection towers, many of which will need to be removed to build the kit. Aside from the seat shape, control column and floor, all the interior parts are photo etch. This includes the seat armor and the seat mounting framework.

With the interior built up, it is trapped between the fuselage halves at which time the horizontal stabls, fin, and tail wheel are installed. Next the wings are assembled and attached. One then moves to the engine nacelles and props. These are then attached to the fuselage.

Landing gear is next. You are provided the main strut and wheels, but all the retraction struts and other braces will need to be made from stretches sprue. A guide is provided. Also needing installed are four small p.e.aileron hinges per side. Four p.e. bomb racks with shackles fit on the underside between the engines. The vac canopy and other smaller items are then installed. The modeler needs to make the fuselage machine gun barrels.

Pavla's instructions are very good. They provide lots of detail drawings to help with assembly and placement. Though my kit was missing the decals, two near identical schemes were included. Both are in RLM 70/71/65 from 4./SG 101, the training squadron. Despite no decals, the markings should be quite easy to replicate as they are basically insignia and numbers.

CONCLUSIONS

Not exactly a kit that draws a lot of modelers, but one that is interesting nonetheless and if you are tired of the usual Spitfires, Mustangs, and 109s, this might well be for you. Not for beginners, but anyone with a decent repertoire of skills should be able to handle it.

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