In Box Review of Revell 1/72nd Scale
German Heinkel He-177A-5 & Fritz X
Kit no. 04616
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2000
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2000
Available in the 2018 re-boxing, kit no. 03913 at Mega Hobby for $30.56 or at 1001 Hobbies for $50.99 or at Sprue Bros for $28.99 or at Kit Linx for $28.79.
HISTORY:
The development, which started in 1937, of a special long-range aircraft to attack sea targets in the form of the He-177, cearly shows how modern developments depended on the personal preferences of the people in charge. Thus the urgently needed He-177 very quickly became a pawn I the power games of the German armaments industry. This lasted until the end of 1943, when with the He-177A-5 series, a satisfactory sample was finally supplied to the units.
Compared to the previous A-3 series, the A-5 was designed exclusively for use with remote-controled glide-bombs, and rocket-bombs. The Rushrstahl/Kramer X-1 glide-bomb known as the “Fritz X” was particularly suitable for use against sea targets. After it was dropped, it was controlled visually by the bomb aimers using a small joystick.
During the tests, 50% succeeded in hitting a 5 x 4 m target area from a height of over 4,000 m. The warhead of the Fritz X was a derivative of the SD 1400 high-explosive bomb with 325 kg of explosive. The Fritz X achieved its greatest success on 13 September 1943 with the sinking of the State-of-the-art Italian battleship the “Roma”.
The special feature of the He-177 was also its Achilles heel – the Daimler-Benz DB 610-A/B engines: twin Daimler-Benz DB 605’s which were driven by a four-bladed propeller on the same shaft. This liquid cooled 24 cylinder engine developed 2,950 hp. However, the segments of this twin engine were so close together that they frequently over-heated and set on fire which quickly earned the He-177 the nickname “Reichsfackel” (Torch).
Despite all its problems, the He-177 was so very popular with the air crews, that Heinkel disregarded the order to cease building it and tried to continue supplying the squadrons with serviceable machines. Production did not finally cease until October 1944, by which point about 565 He-177A-5’s had been built and delivered.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 22.00 m
Wing span: 31.44 m
Height: 6.70 m
Engine: 2 x 2,950 hp Daimler-Benz DB A/B’s
Max operational weight: 31,000 kg
Max speed: 512 km/h at 6100 m with a weight of 22,165 kg, 388 km/h at sea level with 27,165 kg.
Service ceiling: 9,400 m
Range: 3,650 km, but for ferry fights without bomb load 5600 km was possible.
Armament: Max was 3 Ruhrstahl/Krammer X-1’s , one MG 81, and one MG 151/20 in nose, two 131’s in B1 and B2 dorsal turrets .
Crew: 6 men (1 pilot, 1 co-pilot/bomb aimer, navigator/radio operator, 2 gunners.
Fritz X:
Length: 3.26 m
Span: 1.35 m
Weight: 1,570 kg
Max speed: 1,035 km/h
Range: 7 km
Approximately 1,386 were built
The development, which started in 1937, of a special long-range aircraft to attack sea targets in the form of the He-177, cearly shows how modern developments depended on the personal preferences of the people in charge. Thus the urgently needed He-177 very quickly became a pawn I the power games of the German armaments industry. This lasted until the end of 1943, when with the He-177A-5 series, a satisfactory sample was finally supplied to the units.
Compared to the previous A-3 series, the A-5 was designed exclusively for use with remote-controled glide-bombs, and rocket-bombs. The Rushrstahl/Kramer X-1 glide-bomb known as the “Fritz X” was particularly suitable for use against sea targets. After it was dropped, it was controlled visually by the bomb aimers using a small joystick.
During the tests, 50% succeeded in hitting a 5 x 4 m target area from a height of over 4,000 m. The warhead of the Fritz X was a derivative of the SD 1400 high-explosive bomb with 325 kg of explosive. The Fritz X achieved its greatest success on 13 September 1943 with the sinking of the State-of-the-art Italian battleship the “Roma”.
The special feature of the He-177 was also its Achilles heel – the Daimler-Benz DB 610-A/B engines: twin Daimler-Benz DB 605’s which were driven by a four-bladed propeller on the same shaft. This liquid cooled 24 cylinder engine developed 2,950 hp. However, the segments of this twin engine were so close together that they frequently over-heated and set on fire which quickly earned the He-177 the nickname “Reichsfackel” (Torch).
Despite all its problems, the He-177 was so very popular with the air crews, that Heinkel disregarded the order to cease building it and tried to continue supplying the squadrons with serviceable machines. Production did not finally cease until October 1944, by which point about 565 He-177A-5’s had been built and delivered.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 22.00 m
Wing span: 31.44 m
Height: 6.70 m
Engine: 2 x 2,950 hp Daimler-Benz DB A/B’s
Max operational weight: 31,000 kg
Max speed: 512 km/h at 6100 m with a weight of 22,165 kg, 388 km/h at sea level with 27,165 kg.
Service ceiling: 9,400 m
Range: 3,650 km, but for ferry fights without bomb load 5600 km was possible.
Armament: Max was 3 Ruhrstahl/Krammer X-1’s , one MG 81, and one MG 151/20 in nose, two 131’s in B1 and B2 dorsal turrets .
Crew: 6 men (1 pilot, 1 co-pilot/bomb aimer, navigator/radio operator, 2 gunners.
Fritz X:
Length: 3.26 m
Span: 1.35 m
Weight: 1,570 kg
Max speed: 1,035 km/h
Range: 7 km
Approximately 1,386 were built
THE KIT:
Revell is an old prolific model company based in Morton Grove, Ca. The have manufacturing facilities there and in Germany. This kit was made in Poland however. Revell manufactures all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a color illustration of 3 He-177’s, mounted with Fritz X bombs, escorted by 2 Focke Wulf FW-190 fighters flying above the clouds.
All three of the He-177’s are in a camouflage of a base of medium green with dark green wave pattern.
The one in the foreground carries the fuselage code of a white skeletal type German cross, followed by white H and black M. It has black spinners with white spirals on them.
The other 2 He-177’s are camouflaged the same. The nearest one in the background carries a fuselage code of a white skeletal German cross, followed by a white K and black M.
The third one is too far away to make out its fuselage code.
The Fw-190’s appear to have dark spines and light colored sides, but nothing else can be determined.
One side panel begins with one-paragraph histories of the He-177 in 4 languages, including English. Followed by features of the kit: An unassembled plastic model kit. Paint and cement (not included) are needed to complete the model as shown. 1/72nd scale. Length 30.3 cm (12”). Width 43.2 cm (17”). Pictorial, multilingual instruction sheet provides precise assembly instructions. Kit is suitable for ages 13 to adult, in German, English, Spanish, Nederlands, Swedish, Italian and Spanish.
Revell is an old prolific model company based in Morton Grove, Ca. The have manufacturing facilities there and in Germany. This kit was made in Poland however. Revell manufactures all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a color illustration of 3 He-177’s, mounted with Fritz X bombs, escorted by 2 Focke Wulf FW-190 fighters flying above the clouds.
All three of the He-177’s are in a camouflage of a base of medium green with dark green wave pattern.
The one in the foreground carries the fuselage code of a white skeletal type German cross, followed by white H and black M. It has black spinners with white spirals on them.
The other 2 He-177’s are camouflaged the same. The nearest one in the background carries a fuselage code of a white skeletal German cross, followed by a white K and black M.
The third one is too far away to make out its fuselage code.
The Fw-190’s appear to have dark spines and light colored sides, but nothing else can be determined.
One side panel begins with one-paragraph histories of the He-177 in 4 languages, including English. Followed by features of the kit: An unassembled plastic model kit. Paint and cement (not included) are needed to complete the model as shown. 1/72nd scale. Length 30.3 cm (12”). Width 43.2 cm (17”). Pictorial, multilingual instruction sheet provides precise assembly instructions. Kit is suitable for ages 13 to adult, in German, English, Spanish, Nederlands, Swedish, Italian and Spanish.
The other side panel begins with a suggested paint color listing of Revell’s paints, followed by features of the kit: New mould for model kit. Detailed surface structures. Flush metal joints. Detailed cockpit with numerous instrument panels. Cockpit floor pan with MG 151 and MG131 and entrance hatch. Detailed periscope turret. Rotating MG turret (moveable). Rotating rear MG mount. Rear gun mount with moveable cannon. Detailed bomb bay. Two SC 500 bombs. Detailed landing gear, optionally extended or retracted. Movable propeller (counter-rotating). Three Fritz X guided missiles be fitted. Super decals for 2 Luftwaffe versions. In four languages, including English.
This is followed by 4 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme.
This is followed by 4 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme.
The bottom of the box shows 6 color box arts of other Revell aircraft kits and one color photo of their paint, cement and airbrush products.
The kits shown are Kit no. 04392, a U.S. F-14D “Super Tomcat” fighter, Kit no. 04517, a Dassault Rafael M fighter, Kit no. 04136, a German WWII Messerschmitt Me-262B-B-1A/U1 jet fighter, Kit no. 04519, a German WWII Junkers Ju-52/3M G4E tri-motor, Kit no. 04238, a Boeing 737-800 “Hapag Lloyd” airliner and Kit no. 04034, a Kamov Hokum “Black Shark” helicopter.
One corner of the box explains the skill level numbers used for Revell kits, numbered 1 to 5. This kit is labeled as a %, which means difficult and over 150 parts.
Copyright is 2000 and Revell’s web and street address in Germany are provided. However, it says the kit was made in Poland.
The kits shown are Kit no. 04392, a U.S. F-14D “Super Tomcat” fighter, Kit no. 04517, a Dassault Rafael M fighter, Kit no. 04136, a German WWII Messerschmitt Me-262B-B-1A/U1 jet fighter, Kit no. 04519, a German WWII Junkers Ju-52/3M G4E tri-motor, Kit no. 04238, a Boeing 737-800 “Hapag Lloyd” airliner and Kit no. 04034, a Kamov Hokum “Black Shark” helicopter.
One corner of the box explains the skill level numbers used for Revell kits, numbered 1 to 5. This kit is labeled as a %, which means difficult and over 150 parts.
Copyright is 2000 and Revell’s web and street address in Germany are provided. However, it says the kit was made in Poland.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 7 light-gray trees, a clear tree and the decal sheet in 3 clear cello bags. Two bags are scotch taped shut and the third is sealed.
The instructions consists of an unbound booklet of 24 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme, over the history of the He-177A-5 in German and English.
Page 2 and 3 gives WARNINGS about the kit in 18 languages, including English.
Page 4 begins with READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions in the 18 languages, over illustrations of how to use tools.
Across the bottom of pages 2, 3 & 4 is Revells street address, telephone and FAX numbers in Germany provided.
Page 5 show parts trees illustrations for 6 of the parts trees. A few parts are shown shaded out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model,
Page 6 shows illustrations of 3 more parts trees. Again a few parts shaded out.
Page 7 begins with international assembly symbol explanations over a suggested paint color listing of Revell’s paints, in the 18 languages.
Page 8 begins with a continuation of the paint color listing.
The bottom of page 8 through to page 20 gives a whopping grand total of 64 assembly steps.
Page 21 is a marking and painting guide. It shows a 4-view of the He-177A-5 in the box art scheme (already described above) It further shows it has white skeletal German crosses above the wings and black crosses with white outline below the wings.
It was with 4./KG 100 Chateaudun 1944.
Page 22 is a marking guide that shows where to put the wing walk-way marks and some stencils on the aircraft as a 2-view.
Page 23 is a painting and marking guide that shows another 4-view of the He-177A-5 with the fuse code white skeletal German cross , white C black K, in same scheme as the box art subjects.
It was with 2./KG 40, Bordeaux-Merignac, end of 1944.
Page 24 is blank.
Trees are not alphabetized. They do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. This means careful study of the assembly steps to get the right parts for each assembly. Bad move Revell!!
The first large light-Gray tree holds: the fuselage halves, main wheels and bombs (22 parts) 8 parts are excess. 4 of the bombs.
The kit contains 7 light-gray trees, a clear tree and the decal sheet in 3 clear cello bags. Two bags are scotch taped shut and the third is sealed.
The instructions consists of an unbound booklet of 24 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme, over the history of the He-177A-5 in German and English.
Page 2 and 3 gives WARNINGS about the kit in 18 languages, including English.
Page 4 begins with READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions in the 18 languages, over illustrations of how to use tools.
Across the bottom of pages 2, 3 & 4 is Revells street address, telephone and FAX numbers in Germany provided.
Page 5 show parts trees illustrations for 6 of the parts trees. A few parts are shown shaded out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model,
Page 6 shows illustrations of 3 more parts trees. Again a few parts shaded out.
Page 7 begins with international assembly symbol explanations over a suggested paint color listing of Revell’s paints, in the 18 languages.
Page 8 begins with a continuation of the paint color listing.
The bottom of page 8 through to page 20 gives a whopping grand total of 64 assembly steps.
Page 21 is a marking and painting guide. It shows a 4-view of the He-177A-5 in the box art scheme (already described above) It further shows it has white skeletal German crosses above the wings and black crosses with white outline below the wings.
It was with 4./KG 100 Chateaudun 1944.
Page 22 is a marking guide that shows where to put the wing walk-way marks and some stencils on the aircraft as a 2-view.
Page 23 is a painting and marking guide that shows another 4-view of the He-177A-5 with the fuse code white skeletal German cross , white C black K, in same scheme as the box art subjects.
It was with 2./KG 40, Bordeaux-Merignac, end of 1944.
Page 24 is blank.
Trees are not alphabetized. They do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. This means careful study of the assembly steps to get the right parts for each assembly. Bad move Revell!!
The first large light-Gray tree holds: the fuselage halves, main wheels and bombs (22 parts) 8 parts are excess. 4 of the bombs.
The second large light-gray tree holds: the bomb bay, cowlings, individual propeller blades, landing-gear legs, spinners, tail wheel doors and wheel yoke etc. (82 parts)
The third large light-gray tree holds: the elevators, cockpit tub, seats, bulkhead, turret gun, consoles and radio etc. (53 parts)
The fourth large light-gray tree holds the upper wing halves (2 parts)
The fifth large light-gray tree holds the lower wing halves (2 parts)
A medium-sized light-gray tree holds: the bomb bay doors, Fritz X bombs (40 parts) 3 nose tips for the Fritz X’s have broken off the trees. I put them in an empty pill capsule to keep them from getting lost. Also. This is 2 trees co-joined.
Another small-sized light-gray tree holds the Fritz X wing mounts (9 parts)
Small-sized light-gray tree holds: the rudders, MG and roof turret frame etc. (10 parts)
The clear tree holds the cockpit windows and turret blisters etc. (17 parts)
There are no crew figures included. Also, no swastikas for the rudder on the decal sheet.
Very highly detailed.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.