1/48 Dragon.......ish Ta-152H-1

mustang1989 · Apr 16, 2025

I have a ZM offering but decided to go with a Dragon kit for this aircraft build and incorporate some of the ZM parts into it. I'll be opening it up to display the engine and tailwheel retracting mechanism in the tail plane.

I managed to make a couple of changes so far to the interior. One of which was the usage of PE rudder pedals from Eduard. Kit parts are kit parts and the plastic ones just didn't look right. Same goes for the control column as I robbed that from one of the spare Fw-190 A kits that I had in the stash. Flip switch / guard for the button at the top of the column hand grip was added using a PE strip that I had and I added the column wiring retainer at the bottom of the column shaft made from a BMF strip and given a coat of flat clear to tone the chrome effect down into a metallic look. Pilots seat is all painted up, detailed and weathered and is ready for the seat belts that came in the mail yesterday.

Tommergun · Apr 16, 2025

Wow, great start I'd say. Nice detail work.

Rob · Apr 16, 2025

Nice work. Why does my brain tell me that looks like non-skid?

mustang1989 · Apr 17, 2025

Thanks fellas. No non-skid there on this one @Rob

Here's an update with the HGW fabric seatbelts ( and yes the buckles and latches are separate pieces, and the belts have to be fed through their openings) and I've gotta say that I'm very impressed with them. Not only do they look a lot more realistic than the PE ones that I've seen (and used), but they can also be lain pretty much any way you want them. I laid these out in a bit of a non-traditional way that I've done in the past so a lot more of the details on them can be seen and for a more natural "lay".

So far....

mustang1989 · May 13, 2025

Been a minute since I was last here fellas. Sorry bout dat.

I've now moved on to the powerplant section of this build for now because I'm going to have to get the fit right with the pit before I close the fuselage halves together. I built up the OOB Dragon Jumo 213 along with the 213 from Zoukei-Mura and set out the Aires 213 next to them. I've got them all next to one another in the following photo to check the difference in dimensions as well as to show the differences in details from one kit to the next because they are dramatically different. Dimensionally, the ZM version is only slightly larger and has a TON more detail than either the Dragon OR the Aires version. I'm really wanting to use the ZM 213 in this build provided that it will fit in there. I'll be test fitting things soon to find out what my real options are. If the ZM won't work, then I'll use the Airies offering as its next in line for detail.

Left to right. Dragon, Zoukei-Mura and Aires.

Edbert · May 13, 2025

Curious why you'd merge the two brands.

I've never opened the bags on a Dragon kit, but Zoukei Mura is awesome, is it that close between the two?

mustang1989 · May 13, 2025

Thanks for the question Ed. Man.......I've gotta tell ya......after watching a couple of folks build the ZM kit and how much of a hard time they had with it, I just wasn't feelin' it. The Dragon kit was a little more basic but had options for displaying an engine right there in the box so......I had this vision to merge the two. There are parts in the ZM kit that blend in quite well with the Dragon kit to more than make up for any shortcomings it had. Once I saw that the engine could be adapted to the Dragon engine mounts and fit inside the fuselage to near perfection......it was pretty much a no brainer to me.

I would never dream of doing this with the 1/32 ZM kits as those are a complete dream from start to finish from what I've seen.

Edbert · May 13, 2025

I'm no expert, never said I was. But I have two different 1/32 ZM kits and both have had issues with the wing attachment.

As far as detail and each assembly it was tops. I only ran into trouble when attaching wings. The only two ZM kits I've built (am building) are the 109-K14 and J2M3, so that is way too small a sample to make general statements.

mustang1989 · May 14, 2025

Edbert said:
I'm no expert, never said I was. But I have two different 1/32 ZM kits and both have had issues with the wing attachment.

As far as detail and each assembly it was tops. I only ran into trouble when attaching wings. The only two ZM kits I've built (am building) are the 109-K14 and J2M3, so that is way too small a sample to make general statements.

No worries Ed and it aint like that brutha. I totally understand the curiosity and would've probably asked the same question.

I was really surprised at the wing to fuselage fit on the 1/48 Ta-152. Just horrible and I was really stoked about building it too. I mean.......truthfully anything is buildable but I was going for an opened-up bird and already had my work cut out for me so I opted for an easier route.

1/48 Dragon.......ish Ta-152H-1

mustang1989

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Tommergun

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Rob

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mustang1989

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mustang1989

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Edbert

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mustang1989

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Edbert

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mustang1989

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