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Hans Rudel, STUKA Pilot!


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I recently finished the book STUKA pilot! by Hans Rudel, an interesting book from a different perspective than I am used to. I realized as I read it that I don't think I have ever, even as a kid, built a Stuka OR an FW 190. Kinda' odd since I love ground support aircraft, the uglier the better. The Stuka pretty much personifies that category. I kinda' think the 190s are damn handsome though, so that's probably why I haven't build one yet... LOL

So in looking at future model prospects I might want to build a Rudel aircraft. The Seattle Museum of Flight has a really nifty looker of an FW 190 D-13 (looks like the Flying Heritage Museum has it there on loan right now...) and the FHC also has an A-5 that it even flies. I know of NO Stukas in any condition at all within 1000 miles of me, but there are some great references available. FYI I am almost solely a 48th scale aircraft builder, exceptions made for birds I love that only appear in other scales.

I am hoping that another ARC comrade has already been intrigued to build a Rudel aircraft and I can piggyback on your research while I am also doing some of my own. It looks like Hasegawa boxed a Stuka with Rudel markings, and perhaps Italeri... but those could be the same sprues, I know they like to share offerings. I have also seen a few decal offerings of Rudel aircraft, Stuka and 190, though I have learned to distrust a couple of those companies' research efforts. I prefer the earlier 190s to the "stretch versions" but I think Rudel was only issued a late version and from the book he wasn't terribly thrilled about that.

Much thanks in advance!

~ Tracy

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Hello Tracy

Honestly I have no idea what is available regarding 1/48 scale but I do know that Hasegawa issued their 1/32 scale Fw 190 D-9 in a special Rudel boxing (08143). I have no idea if this is still available, though, as this was a limited edition release. I am aware that EagleCals has available decals of his Ju 87 G-2 that he flew to Kitzingen on 8 May 1945 in both 1/48 scale (97-48) and 1/32 scale (97-32). Some interesting photographs of Rudel and one of his BMW 801 powered Fw 190 aircraft can be seen at http://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2011/12/hans-ulrich-rudel-fw-190-sequence.html I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

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THAT is a cool site. Except while clicking around looking at other parts I discovered the coolest noseart ever and now have to build that too.

13jg5.jpg

A 110 correct?

Hello Tracy

Honestly I have no idea what is available regarding 1/48 scale but I do know that Hasegawa issued their 1/32 scale Fw 190 D-9 in a special Rudel boxing (08143). I have no idea if this is still available, though, as this was a limited edition release. I am aware that EagleCals has available decals of his Ju 87 G-2 that he flew to Kitzingen on 8 May 1945 in both 1/48 scale (97-48) and 1/32 scale (97-32). Some interesting photographs of Rudel and one of his BMW 801 powered Fw 190 aircraft can be seen at http://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2011/12/hans-ulrich-rudel-fw-190-sequence.html I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

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Rudel's Stuka is one of the few subjects I refuse to build for philosophical reasons. The man was a proud, unrepentant Nazi until the day he died, and continued to praise the Furher and the Nazi cause long after the war. I will not "honor" a piece of slime like that with a model. I find Luftwaffe subjects interesting from an historical and technical perspective, and build my share of them..but honestly I get very weary of the hero worship of the "Experten" by the modeling community.

SN

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WHOA WHOA WHOA.... A tiny bit of research and i discover that Rudel is apparently a bad topic to bring up on many model forums and leads to name-calling and forum nastiness. I will happily remove this post if i am offending someone, and just silently buy the Hase boxing and built it OOB.

FTOR i am aware of his politics and his asshatness. Reading his book did require me to put it down and curse him a few times until i calmed down to pick it up again. I would in no way be glorifying anything about him aside from his irrefutable flying skills. I already choose to not put swasticas on my builds, which a lot of folks find absurd, but that's my own decision. Jeni chooses to stick to accuracy and does include them on her models. We respect each other's choice, same for any other modeller. I don't generally research a pilot's politics before building. (I haven't ever built a model of the Spirit of St. Louis either, but not necessarily due to that pilot's asshatedness. :) )

Again, if this topic is offensive that was not my intent at all, and i can delete it no worries. I honestly was unaware of him being a forum pariah.

-Tracy

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Steve, i was not intending to reply to your message. I was actually typing my comment while yours posted.

Just wanting to be clear. I had NOT even seen your reply until after i had posted.

Edited by Clumber
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No need to take the post down, and no offense taken. I wasn't sure if you were aware of Rudel's personal history. I've heard of his book of course, but I don't think I've ever read it. I probably should have kept my mouth shut.

SN

Edited by Steve N
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Hello Tracy

Yes, that is a Bf 110 and the insignia is that of the Dackelstaffel of JG 5 equipped with these twin-engined fighters in the far north. The Eduard 1/48 scale Bf 110 E (8203) includes markings for an aircraft of this unit flown by Felix-Maria Brandis.

Horrido!

Leo

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Steve, no worries! I enjoy exchanging opinions - different perspectives keep the planet spinning. The couple forum threads that i saw went nuclear and i don't want to inspire that.

When i bought his book i specifically purchased the de-censored version. Apparently when first published the editors removed his particularly offensive and asshat musings. I don't like others choosing what i find offensive so i insisted on the edition with his asshatness put back in where he'd intended it.

He was, truly, an awful person and i would not want to sit at his table and listen to his stories.

The Stuka was a fascinating aircraft and important in history. I think Rudel probably got every possible centimeter of performance from the type, and that is why i would build his (plus reading the book makes me feel more intrigued by the Stuka) aircraft.

Thanks for the exchange!

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Hello Tracy

Yes, that is a Bf 110 and the insignia is that of the Dackelstaffel of JG 5 equipped with these twin-engined fighters in the far north. The Eduard 1/48 scale Bf 110 E (8203) includes markings for an aircraft of this unit flown by Felix-Maria Brandis.

Horrido!

Leo

And the kit includes a figure of the dog. I gave mine away because I don't do figures...not sure if they're still proving the 'dachsie' with the kit

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Rudel's Stuka is one of the few subjects I refuse to build for philosophical reasons. The man was a proud, unrepentant Nazi until the day he died, and continued to praise the Furher and the Nazi cause long after the war. I will not "honor" a piece of slime like that with a model. I find Luftwaffe subjects interesting from an historical and technical perspective, and build my share of them..but honestly I get very weary of the hero worship of the "Experten" by the modeling community.

SN

^^^I wholeheartedly agree^^^

That being said; The Luftwaffe, like most other German military branches, thought Hitler was a nut case and couldn't stand him. Rudel was very much a 'loner' in the Luftwaffe with his beliefs of Hitler.

And that's why there was the attempt to assassinate him that involved very high-ranking German personnel.

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The Stuka itself s indeed a fascinating aircraft. I'm fortunate enough to have one of the two surviving complete examples relatively close by. Here's a link to some pics I took of it last November:

Stuka Walkaround

SN

Edited by Steve N
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The Stuka itself s indeed a fascinating aircraft. I'm fortunate enough to have one of the two surviving complete examples relatively close by. Here's a link to some pics I took of it last November:

Stuka Walkaround

SN

Yet another reason for me to go to Chicago to the Museum of Science and Industry.

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The Stuka itself s indeed a fascinating aircraft. I'm fortunate enough to have one of the two surviving complete examples relatively close by. Here's a link to some pics I took of it last November:

Stuka Walkaround

SN

WOW!! Thank you!!!

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I know Rudel was a Nazi and I look forward to reading Stuka Pilot. All this means is that at this stage in my life I can still separate the spheres of aviation and politics. :)

Don't beat yourself up, no one's going to show up and arrest you for your political leanings.... this isn't Nazi Germany (snicker), 1950's Red Scare USA, or RoK.

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