HPH Models 1:32 Messerschmitt Me 323 D-6 Gigant

Messerschmitt Me 323 D-6 Gigant 1:32 (HPH Models)

A multimedia kit of the largest land-based transport aircraft of the Second World War from the Czech manufacturer HPH Models. This is not a conventional injection-molded plastic kit. The main parts of the fuselage, the wing, the flaps and the removable outer wing sections are fiberglass, while the other parts are resin, metal (landing gear axles, joints and wing spar reinforcements) and wood (the cargo compartment floor). Photo-etched parts and decals are included. It is bonded with super glue (cyanoacrylate) and epoxy; polystyrene cement for plastic does not work here.

WATCH THE SIZE: this is the most important information about this model. The real Me 323 had a wingspan of 55 meters, so the wingspan of the finished model is roughly 172 cm. It is the largest kit in 1:32 scale available. The model will not fit in an ordinary display case or on an ordinary workbench: reckon with nearly two meters of space for building it and for displaying it. Weigh that up before buying, not afterward.

The real subject

The Me 323 Gigant came about by adding engines to the giant Me 321 cargo glider. It was a six-engine high-wing aircraft with fabric covering over a welded tube frame, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N radial engines. It carried vehicles, guns, fuel and troops, loaded through front doors into a spacious cargo cabin. The price of that load capacity was low speed and extreme vulnerability: without a fighter escort the Gigant was an easy target, and the losses of the transport units over the Mediterranean were heavy. Only a little over two hundred were built.

Building and painting tips

Before gluing, wash all the parts free of mold release residue (lukewarm water, dish soap), otherwise neither the glue nor the paint will hold. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw, not with nippers. Sand the resin and the fiberglass with respiratory protection (a respirator) and preferably wet; the dust is harmful to health. Because of the weight and the span it is necessary to bond with epoxy and use the metal spar reinforcements: over a span like that an ordinary joint would not hold. Spray a quality primer and only then the base colors; an airbrush is practically a necessity over an area this large. The fabric covering over the frame rewards gentle emphasis of the ribs by underpainting. Reckon with a long build and with the fact that once finished the model will also have to be carried and stored safely.

Who the model is for

• For very experienced modelers who have already built in resin, fiberglass and metal
• For collectors who really do have space with a span of around two meters
• For enthusiasts of German transport aircraft and unusual subjects
• Not suitable for beginners or as an ordinary weekend project

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted as a multimedia kit of resin, fiberglass, metal and wood. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.