US Navy Carrier
Flight Deck

Just Plane Stuff

Just Plane Stuff Bases are available online from Squadron.com

Reviewed by Brett Green

Hasegawa's recent 1/32 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 and G-14 are great looking models, but they do present a challenge to display.

Most available bases and scenery are designed for 1/72 and 1/48 scale models. Just Plane Stuff is first out of the blocks with a 1/32 scale base. Their first release in this scale is a Luftwaffe hardstand.

These hardstands were used by the Luftwaffe in all European theatres. It is reasonable to assume that Allied forces would have also taken advantage of these hardstands when they overran German airfields in their advances during 1944 and 1945.

At around 13" x 14", "Just Planes" 1/32 scale Luftwaffe hardstand is big. In fact, it was delivered in a Pizza box! The contents are almost as tasty, too. The stand is cast in one large piece of resin and is ready for paint. Unlike their releases in 1/72 and 1/48 scale, this base is surrounded by a "frame" with convincing woodgrain texture. The material is very lightweight despite the large size, resulting in a saving on postage costs. Apparently, to create this lightweight resin base, the original female mould is brushed with regular resin then, after curing, this is filled with foam resin.

The quality of casting was flawless on my review samples. This is very impressive considering its size and detail.

I have already painted my Luftwaffe hardstand following these steps:

Step 1: Base Colours

My first step was to spray the resin in two base colours. I wanted to depict the groundwork as dry and parched; with the planks a washed-out and weathered grey. An aerosol spray was used to apply a primer coat of grey. This was roughly masked by holding the side of a cardboard sheet against the edge of the hardstand itself, then the groundwork was sprayed tan.

Step 2: Oil Wash

Oil paints were then assembled for the next phase. I like to blend a mixture of oil paints for weathering groundwork, and I use a disposable greaseproof paper palette for this task A small smudge of Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna and Gold Ochre are squeezed onto the palette and mixed according to taste.

A dark brown mixture of the thinned oil paint was slopped onto the groundwork, and a paler mix was brushed onto the hardstand planks. This was blended in with a further wash of almost pure thinners.

The wash was then spread evenly across the base. For me, the hardest part of this job is to walk away and leave the wet oil wash alone!

After the wash was on the base overnight, I wiped the excess off the planks; first with a soft cloth, then by spreading the remaining thinned oil paint with my finger.

Step 3: Sealing and Detailing

Now it was time to seal the finish. I applied heat from a hair dryer (my last remaining use for this household device), then sprayed on a coat of Aeromaster Flat.

When the flat finish was dry, I applied spots of thinned Black oil paint, spattered from the brush onto the groundwork to represent oil stains. I also smeared some black acrylic paint selectively over the hardstand to depict hard use and fading of the timber. Further weathering was added by running a coarse sanding stick over the top of the planks, revealing the light tan resin beneath. This seemed to be a good representation of fresh timber under splinters and damage.

Step 4: Painting the Frame

The next task was to spray the "timber" frame. I decided to paint this border gloss black as a contrast to the dry, earthy tones of the base.

Step 5: Additional Landscaping

Finally, I applied pressure-sensitive spray adhesive (available in an aerosol can at any craft shop) to patches of the groundwork and the planks. To avoid getting glue on the glossy frame, I used a piece of cardboard with irregular shaped holes to mask the application of the aerosol adhesive With the masks still in place, I sprinkled a generous quantity of static railway grass on top of the adhesive patches. The mask was then lifted and I briskly blew across the grass to remove the excess.

I added leaf-litter to another section of groundwork and to the corner of the hardstand. The common kitchen herb, Basil, was used to represent the leaf litter. This costs about 1/10th of the price of a Hudson and Allen landscaping product, is quite convincing and smells good! Once again, I used the aerosol adhesive to secure the leaf litter.

"Just Planes" 1/48 scale US Navy Carrier Flight Decklooks impressive and is an excellent platform for a wide range of US Navy and Fleet Air Arm aircraft models. The base is big enough to display large single-seater fighter aircraft. You might even squeeze on a Tigercat! Its lightweight construction will make transport easier than a conventional base of this size too.

Pleasingly, the price of this "second generation" base has dropped compared to the first lightweight release (the 1/32 scale Luftwaffe hardstand)  and is now listed at the same cost as equivalent sized earlier (and heavier) bases.

Recommended.

Thanks to Just Plane Stuff for the review sample.

Review and In-Progress Images Copyright © 2002 by Brett Green
Page Created 28 November, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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