Zveszda 1/48 Bf 109F-4 Trop WIP Update 2/22 Complete

Looks like your images got messed up somewhere there Marc! Your pit looks great so far. Its nice to finally see a build log of one of these Zvezda 109's!

And there I am looking like a fool, back to normal now!

No Jesterr you're no fool  I was fxing while you wree typing.  And thank you

Nice to see ya putting the 'wing' back in "wingnut".     Great stuff as usual Marc! 

Welcome back to the Aircraft forum Marc! Nice looking panel and gunsight. I believe the seperate tail is to represent the reinforcing plates on some a/c. Have you tried using a good quality razor saw for re-scribing around compound curves? It works way better than a coventional scriber. Nice to see more Zvezda kits being built here. After finishing the La-5, I'm ready for anther one.

Hey Mike! Thanks old bean.  BTW, ya better report in over the Villains & Heroes GB.  I think they think you've been beset on by some evil doer.

Thanks Nathan.  This is why gettin' old sucks.  You're right and I knew that  LOL.  I had looked at the 2 tail and figured that out.  In the hour or so between lookin' and postin'... wait... what...I can't remember what I was about to say

Looks good so far Marc, can't wait to see more.

Nice pit work wing nut....welcome back...

Joe

Josiah, Joe... Thanks guys.

Very nice in the pit. John

With my cold today a more or less sat at the bench most of the day.

First thing to do was fill in the wings where the slats go.  Since I am going to have them down, the step at the back edge is way to high.  The trailing edge of the slat itself is just the thickness of the wing skin so in 1/48 that step would be just about invisible.  A little Tamiya putty filled and sanded smooth. The back edge of the slat sanded to a sharp edge.

The basic airframe is pretty much done.  I think I have all my re-scribing done but with double check.  Getting all the engine cowls in place and straight was tedious to say the least.  All just the flat edges of each piece with and sort of guide pins or any other "former" to align on.  I glued a strip of styrene under the main hinge line of the upper cowls some added strength when there were glued together  Before that set those where glued to the front of the aircraft since they set back into a notch on the wing root.  Then the 2 halves of the oil cooler cowl... just behind the prop... which and been glued and and the seam taken care of, was glued to the front of the cowl because of a small tab that make a small section of cowl in front of the exhausts.  Since this was the only way all these could possible go I was hoping that when I got to the last section, the underside cowl, it would just drop in place.  And luckily It darn near did.  Just some minor adjustments needed.

Every controls surface is positionable except for the inner split flaps. They are separate but needed some slight modifications to droop.

Nice looking 109, you had me at the first photo.

Cool stuff happening here. I see no steps or poor fitting cowling pieces. I was wondering if the removable cowl panels would be a major pain.

Thanks 7474

Thanks Nathan , The nice oft of the cowl parts made it easier than it could have been. I think it would be a chore to make them actually removable.  The build choice is open of closed, the only difference being the detailing inside the cowl pieces.  One of the reviews I read l compared this to putting together the cowl on an Eduard Fw 190 A kit.  Picture an egg shell cut into a few pieces and having to glue it back together.

Nice and  clean Marc!!

Thanks for looking in Eric, and for the comment.

Hey Marc, after reading about your scribing issues with the fuselage, I found these guys and thought they may be useful to you.  I've already ordered a set for myself.

http://www.ultracast.ca/products/RB_Productions/Tools_Scratch-Building/RB-T037/default.htm

Thanks for that link Mike. They look interesting. The curve will have an advantage over the straight blade.

I second Radu's razor saws!

Nathan, you've used those RB scribers and like how they work?

Yes, I have the scribe-R tool that chucks in a exacto handle. It has a small stainless tip on one side, for conventional scribing, and the backside is a curved razor saw with ultra fine teeth. That is perfect for scribing around edges. The link Mike posted will work great for that as well, but they don't have the scribe tip on the end. (edit: looks like it has some sort of tip?)

This is what I have:

www.radubstore.com/index.php

The razor saw can also cut out delicate resin pieces off the pour block, better than using an exacto and watch the part ping into outer space. I just finished a big scribing job on my ICM Yak 9, I can show you some photos where I used the tool.

Nathan, I've yet to try any of the RB tools, but having heard nothing but praise for them has prompted me to try 'em out, starting with the scribers, and now very likely on to some of their saws as well.  On the other hand, I have used the RB seat belts for both WWI and WWII subjects and am very impressed with their quality and ease of assembly.  They even have this neat masking jig for painting laminated props, but at $34 I've been a bit hesitant to pull the trigger on that one.

Always a sucker for a 109 and have heard the Zveszda is supposed to be a gem (in the stash), looking great Marc.  Have you found it full of fiddly bits?  Sure looks like it in the box.

Thanks Reasoned.  No, I don't think there is an excessive amount of fiddly bit.  A few parts that could have been 1 piece are 2 but there aren't many that will require the use of tweezers.  Higher part count is due some doubling up of parts when given a choice.  Like 2 different pilot seats, 2 IP’s, 2 different tail sections.  That sort of stuff.  The beautiful engine and firewall has lots of detailing that looks a bit fiddly but isn’t really.

Looking good Marc!

Thanks Vance

While looking at pics of other “F” models I came across this product that I am trying out for the 1^st time.  GWH makes rivet sets for a number of aircraft.  This is for the Hasegawa 109 but I am hoping it won’t be hard to make it fit if it does not already. 

There is a large sheet with all the rivets of the planes sections printed on what sort of feels like decal paper.  The 1^st big difference is the cover film covers the whole sheet.  My 1^st thought was it was going to be a real PITA with all the decal edges. Not so.  These are like decals in reverse.  They need to be applied to a primed surface, not bare plastic. 

Cut it out, soak in water, apply with some setting solution, let dry for about an hour.  Sounds like a regular decal.  Here’s the trick.  The “decal film” gets peeled off leaving just the little rivets attached in their perfect pattern.  

The pics will be self explanatory at this point.  The rivets are micro small and you can just feel them when you run your fingers over the surface.  Should look nice under a coat of paint. 

Marc, that's pretty cool!  I might have to give those a try someday.  Thanks!

Gary

Wow!! Gonna be giving that stuff a try!!

It's neat stuff. Dunno if it had to do with the pieces being bigger or letting it dry too long... but still less than the 2 hours they suggest...  the film was hard to get off. I had to use some strong tape pressed to  the film. Luckily it did not harm and exposed rivest from adjacent areas.  It took just a few minute to t=do that wing.  Try and do that fast and neat with a rivet wheel.