Building a detailed Fi-156C Storch

By  Rod Lees, IPMS# 10821

Parts used: EagleCals EC #113 MSRP: $12.50 Web Site: www.eagle-editions.com Eduard FI 156C Storch Interior Self Adhesive MSRP: $26.95 Web Site: www.eduard.cz Quickboost 48 182 exhaust MSRP: $6.95 Web Site: www.quickboost.net Tamiya 1/48 Fi156C Kit MSRP: $71.00 Web Site: www.tamiya.com These items are all intended to improve the Tamiya FI 156C Storch kit; this, for the uninitiated, was Tamiya's 100th Aircraft model in 1/48th scale, and was most heartily welcomed. Some whined because it wasn't the much-rumored B-17, (waaah) but this is one of Tamiya's best kits to date. As usual, some improvements can usually be made. I pulled my kit out of the "I bought this, I'll build it like I want" stash, and went to work with what magically appeared on my doorstep from Dave at the ministry of semi-free IPMS stuff. In the Storch kit, the exhaust system would be extremely difficult to drill out due to it's size and my ham fists; Quickboost, stepping to the front of the modification line, provide a detailed item to fix this area. My example was broken in transit, but a bit of superglue and it was "good as new". Both halves fit in place perfectly; they replaced the kit items, which were a bit "chunky". Next up: The Storch Interior by Eduard. This is one of the "Must have" items if you intend to have the door open; NOBODY can duplicate instrument panels with the finesse exhibited by Eduard and their process for instruments. And the seat belts, well, they also benefit from Eduard magic verses the Tamiya Decal belts. Gotta have 'em. The only thing I will note here is the set was touted as being "Self adhesive"… if that is the case, I could not get the adhesive to work on the seat belts or the instrument panel. I used my usual watch crystal cement to get the panel parts together, and used superglue to make sure the belts stayed on the seats. I made sure I did not touch the adhesive on the back of these frets, so maybe the set I purchased had not enough "Glue" applied. I don't care; everything looked good when complete.

EagleCals; these are perfect in register, and provide different markings from what are in the kit. I feel Tamiya decals have improved a lot over the past forty years… I can remember them being thick as cardboard and curling. No longer… They are comparable to modern aftermarket sheets, and the White is truly "White" on them. (You better believe I notice this!) I used the desert Scheme; JG 53. The instructions state there should be "winter camouflage" on this scheme; On the EagleCals sheet it is illustrated as purely Desert tan over light blue, but I believe what is intended is the same type of application as illustrated on the Tamiya kit markings on the box art. I shall fix this later on my kit; for now, I just used the desert camouflage and left it like that. Time to work these things is finite, you know. All in all, each item described above "gilded the lily" on Tamiya's Storch; Thanks to Quickboost for the exhaust via Dave at IPMS; as well as the EagleCal sheet. As to the Eduard interior kit, I paid for it out of pocket and feel it was well worth the cash. Same for the Tamiya Storch; much better than the 30-year old other-company version. Tamiya continues to shine… Maybe they WILL do that much talked about B-17?

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