2./JG 2 Richthofen seated on 'black 5' decorated with the
Adlerkopf Staffelabzeichen during the spring of 1943. Oblt. Karl Haberland (with stick) had just been appointed as StaKa. Haberland flew in the
Westfeldzug with JG 3, claiming four
Luftsiege (LS) including three Blenheims on 17 May 1940 before he was shot down on the same date. His injuries resulted in a leg amputation. Via Manuel Rauh's ebay sales
here
STAFFELKAPITÄN Oblt. Karl Haberland
Pilots of 2./ JG 2 in front of Fw 190 A-5 "schwarze 5" decorated with the
Staffel Adlerkopf during early 1943 probably at Triqueville. From the left; Lt. Heinz Eichhoff, Lt. Joachim Bialucha (1. LS on 10 Feb 1943), Uffz. Werner Edelmann (3 claims on 16 Feb 43 and 4 more on 29 May 1943), Staffelführer Oblt. Karl Haberland (WIA on 15 September 1943 following a forced landing at Chartres during a bombing raid), Uffz. Herbert Treff, Uffz. Jürgen van Beuningen (+23.10.43), Fw. Walter Haase (+29.6.43) und Lt. Johannes Wiethoff. (caption information 'Dans le Ciel de France' Volume 4 -1943 by Erik Mombeeck)
Laurent comments that because the instruction sheet is so 'vague' the Mushroom Hs 126 volume is essential as reference - for example note the absence of generator on the 'B' variant, although there is no mention of this on the sheet and a number of parts are 'mis-numbered'. The hard plastic makes the small parts difficult to remove from the sprues without breaking them and there is little or no surface engraving on the parts. Laurent describes this as 'short-run Italeri'. While the decal sheet is good, the painting instructions are vague and studying the pictures in Ommert's book, Laurent elected to paint his model in the Italian desert colours, nocciala chiaro, verde olivia scuro and grigo azzuro which appear to be better matches than the more typical RLM 78/79/80.
