I am in the process of collecting information to build the Trumpeter BR52 kit hauling a Karl Morser that I have already built , I will probably just finish it in Panzer Grey as many of these engines were painted that colour and give it a good weathering job.

My question is does this kit , which really has a lot of detail out of the box, warrant the cost of the kit again in photoetch to make it a satisfactory end product for the average modeller . Is all that etch detail really notable once a coat of paint goes over it?

While researching the BR52 I found this site and review by an ardent model rail enthusiast that has made me really question whether I will buy the Voyager etch sets that I intended to to dress up this excellent kit.

Opinions would be much appreciated as not all of us can easily afford such a kit and all the aftermarket extras as well.

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2006/06/stuff_eng_benshahar_locomotives.htm

The consensus on the Trumpeter kit is that YES it'll build well out of the box. However, the majority of people are also convinced that it is far too simplified in many areas (cab, some external details etc,). Many people have also arrived at the conclusion that with a model this size, the need for some improvement is vital. Therefore, two options: Scratchbuild the missing details or go for one (or more) of the PE sets available.

If Trumpeter kits have a fault, it's that they are (in many cases) somewhat simplified in detail, however, at the price they are asking that is not necessarily a major criticism....

Great looking build in the article. Also one of the most poorly written ones I have ever read. :-)

Yep - my brain started 'playing tricks' (author's words, not mine) after the first paragraph and wandered off to make itself a coffee...Jim :-)

Agreed that his building and painting skills far exceed his writing skills.


I think that I will just get the Voyager smoke deflector and tender etch. While the cab interior IS rather sparse in detail, due to the enclosed footplate, once the model is complete not much of the interior can be seen.
I have not found one image on the net of a BR52 with smoke deflectors fitted as depicted in the Trumpeter Kit

The BR52 Kriegslokomotive was indeed an austere machine as built during the war, and would not have been in the red and black livery.
This would be on machines that were used after the end of the war and as the very informative attached article says some of the components orginally left off were retro fitted after 1945 when the Loko was widely used by many European rail company's.
So some care is needed in which era livery you wish to model your loko, especially if it is hauling war hardware

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~khmiska/br52.htm

The point has been made in the current German/Nazi thread that research is half the fun of building a model.

Yes, agreed, although the web is somewhat limited in many respects. It's got a long way to go to actually replace books.. This comment somewhat confirms my thoughts on the web's limitations:

Well, books and the web can complement each other Jim.
I have looked at many sites that have images of BR52s, probably more that 200 images. The engines either have no smoke deflectors or the small Witte type, but many of these engines with the Witte smoke deflectors are post war photos.
Do you have any concrete information that the type of deflector depicted in the Trumpeter kit was actually used?

Oh, to get back on the topic of painting, while not BR52s I did find these interesting camoflage paint schemes for German WW2 locos that the more enterprising airbrush user may get some inspiration from when it comes time to paint his/her BR52.
At the price of these miniatures I would say the homework would have been done.

http://www.reynaulds.com/rei/rei_wartrains.asp?item=lngNumericSort

link corrected