Building the Heinkel He 219 ‘Uhu’

by Daniel Zamarbide

Valiant Wings Publishing
Airframe Constructor No.2

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

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Zoukei-Mura’s 1/32 Heinkel He 219 A-0 kit is arguably this Japanese manufacturer’s most ambitious kit to date.  Its 483 parts build into a model nearly 60 cm (23.6 inches) across and 48 cm (18.9 inches) long, with levels of detail that far surpass its Revell stablemate. 

Having had the opportunity to examine the kit at a local model club meeting, I’ve been sorely tempted to buy one but at the same time daunted by the reality that I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. 

However Valiant Wings’ latest construction walkthrough, ‘Building the Heinkel He 219 ‘Uhu’’, goes a long way towards dispelling these fears.

This book is a photographic build log, with an emphasis on painting and weathering rather than assembly.  Author and modeller Daniel Zamarbide begins with a short, introductory description of the build process accompanied by photos of both the kit’s contents and the finished model.  Zamarbide then jumps in, starting not with the cockpit but with three pages devoted to the fuselage fuel cells. 

This section sets the tone for the rest of the book, with the clear – and clearly sequenced – photographs showing Zamarbide’s transformation of the fuel cells from grey plastic to convincingly finished airframe components.  The photos are accompanied by sparse but informative text that describes the actions taken in each step, including details of each paint type and weathering product used.  Also provided is a simple formula for mixing RLM 02 Grey from Tamiya acrylics, which I will definitely be trying on my next Luftwaffe project.

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Thumbnail panels:

The remainder of the build is treated in similar fashion, in the following order:

• Engines (10 pages) – this section begins with the kit’s two 52-part DB 603 engines already largely assembled.  This doesn’t detract from the journey however, as Zamarbide tackles the forward cowls, oil header tanks, radiators, cowl flap actuators, and exhausts before dealing with the engines and then final assembly.

• Propellers (4 pages) – there are some very useful tips here for anyone (such as myself) who has struggled to convincingly weather propeller and spinner assemblies.  The techniques used are simple – such as using a HB pencil to define panel lines and add fine scratches to the spinners – but achieve great results.

• Weapons (4 pages) – the ventral and Schräge Musik weapons receive a multi-layer painting and weathering session.  The gradual build up of colours (including Tamiya clear orange to simulate a ‘burnt’ patina) is a technique I am definitely going to try, as the final effect is most convincing.

• Undercarriage (8 pages) – the ‘Uhu’ undercarriage was a complex affair and has been well captured by Zoukei-Mura.  That said Zamarbide ventures into aftermarket territory here by replacing the kit wheels with Barracuda Studio’s superb resin replacements.  These are then weathered with MIG Productions earth tone pigments – slightly too heavily for my taste, but again the techniques used are worth knowing.

• Fuselage (14 pages) – this section is a showcase for careful, skilled brush painting as Zamarbide works his way through the enormous amount of detail that Zoukei-mura has packed into the fuselage.  Highlights include the electrical distribution panel, scratch built cabling, and – particularly – how to replicate wood grain effects with acrylic paint.  While I’m comfortable doing this with oils, I’ve never been game to try it with acrylics so Zamarbide’s guidance is most welcome.

• Cockpit (14 pages) – the big double cockpit is the centrepiece of any He 219 model, and what Zamarbide achieves here is superb.  His brush painted instrument panel is almost unbelievable – when I first saw it I thought it was pre-painted photo-etch that Zamarbide was enhancing with a few extra details!

• Wings (8 pages) – in this section the airframe begins to come together; the wings are another exercise in Zoukei-Mura detailing, built up around a skeleton of spares and completed as a single unit that slots into the assembled fuselage.

• Assembly of airframe (2 pages) – this title is a slight misnomer; yes the main components come together, but Zamarbide also demonstrates some basic scratch-building techniques as he modifies latches on the ammunition covers to display the latter in an open position.

• Painting (9 pages) – one of the biggest challenges in achieving a convincing He 219 model is replicating the RLM 75 Grey Violet/RLM 76 Light Blue upper surface mottling.  Zamarbide doesn’t go into as much detail on this as I would have expected, but the painting section is still a useful guide on how to achieve a superbly, and subtly, weathered Luftwaffe aircraft.

• Final details (5 pages) – these include the radar dipoles, exhaust flame dampers, canopy and undercarriage doors.

• Complete model (4 pages) – Words can’t do justice to the model that Zamarbide has created by the end of this build.  It’s the best He 219 model I’ve seen, and reflects on both the quality of the Zoukei-Mura kit and Zamarbide’s skills as a modeler; eye candy of the highest order!

The book concludes with the following appendices, each one page in length:

• Accessories and decals – a select list of 1/32 He 219 aftermarket items (although accessories produced for the Revell kit aren’t listed because, not surprisingly, “they won’t fit the Zoukei-Mura kit”).

• He 219 books – a select bibliography.

• Upgrade parts – a catalogue of the upgrade sets that Zoukei-Mura produces specifically for its He 219 kit.

‘Building the Heinkel He 219 ‘Uhu’’ is a book with a broader application than is first apparent.  If you have Zoukei-Mura’s He 219 kit and intend to complete it, then this book will obviously be of great assistance during your build.  It will also be a useful guide if you are building another manufacturer’s He 219 kit (I’m now seriously eyeing off the 1/48 Tamiya kit at the back of my stash). 

And finally, given that the techniques demonstrated by Zamarbide are applicable to all aircraft models, and not just the He 219, I can also recommend the book to anyone interested in learning new painting and weathering skills, and improving the ones they have.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2014 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 19 December, 2014
Last updated 19 December, 2014

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