1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109 K-4 JG 53 “Gunther Landt” (Finished)

Looks like this will be pretty sweet. I would buy some kits in this scale as I think I would enjoy them quite alot. Alas, I have far too many 1/48s that must get done first. 

BK

Dang LD, you're going to have to give those boys on the production line a rest at some point!  I'm in on this one of course.  I also want to give those HGW belts a go too.

BrandonK

Looks like this will be pretty sweet. I would buy some kits in this scale as I think I would enjoy them quite alot. Alas, I have far too many 1/48s that must get done first. 

BK

 

Thanks! Indeed, definitely worth it in this scale. 

Mopar Madness

Dang LD, you're going to have to give those boys on the production line a rest at some point!  I'm in on this one of course.  I also want to give those HGW belts a go too.

 

Ha!  I can't.  I'm on a time schedule.  I'm actually thinking about entering this one into the local model show in November, so I have to focus and keep the screw ups to a minimum...

Can’t wait to see this turkey in person, Joe!

Cool scheme and plane. Those seat belts look really good. I'll be following along. 

RadMax8

Can’t wait to see this turkey in person, Joe!

 

God willing. Hopefully I won't become a sore loser and pull the fire alarms....

Hoss WA

Cool scheme and plane. Those seat belts look really good. I'll be following along. 

 

Thanks Hoss, Indeed theyre worth it in this scale

I've been pluggin' but not posting.  Slacker!  Where was I? I got the fuselage together without issue. I added the weld seam to the supercharger intake with styrene rod. 

I attached the belts to the rear deck. I added the luggage door hinge with styrene rod.  A canopy prop rod will be attached there as well later. 

Wings were assembled then added to the fuselage.  It comes with a wing spar piece so you can't screw up the dihedral...Nice! 

For some reason I had it issues with the port wing fit.  No idea why.  I ended up needing some filler at the root. Nothing to serious. I added the radiator doors and flaps as well. I like the plastic to plastic bond  

Also, at this point I added the windscreen.  It fit ok.  I used Eduard masks.  

Time for paint and then Montex mask usage.  First, I preshaded panel lines and painted all areas to remain black, such as the fuselage band, the "black 2" which will get a "yellow 1" over the top of it, and the underside wing crosses.

White got sprayed and then the Montex masks for the crosses were added. 

Landt's "Yellow 1" calls for late war RLM 75/83 over 76.  I started with the 76 using AK real colors 76 "Version 1".  I found their "Version 2", presumably a late war shade, to be too blue to my eyes, it looked more like RLM 65. 

Time for the upper camo.  I wanted to simulate the late war "scalloping" on the wing leading edges.  Here was my solution, a hole punch in Tamiya tape.  Not perfect but it worked.  

I then added the AK RLM 75. 

I tried the reverse basing effect I have been expermenting with lately.  I started with straight RLM 76. Next I added some XF-2 white to it and marbled it.  Then I went back with straight 76 and marbled more. I also traced the panel lines back in with it.  I'll dub it the "back and forth technique".....lol.  It's time consuming but I like the results.  

I did not have AK RLM 83 so I used Gunze for this. I used the same technique but this time I added XF-57 Buff.  I'm very happy with it. and will use this technique from now on. I can't wait to try it on Olive Drab.

Masks removed.  We still don't need no stinkin' decals (yet)....

I have not a clue what the black squares are for.  Montex called for them. Perhaps it's a K-4 thing.

I did some exhaust shading.  I started with XF-1 diluted then simulated heat with diluted XF-19 Sky Grey. The key is to build it up gradually.  

For some reason I'm always happier with the starboard side. No clue why.

Some more post shading with diluted XF-69 NATO Black and XF-64 Red Crown mix.  Here's the final effect.  

Some minor shading.  I'll probably do some more on the bottom.

Time for clear coat and some decaling. 

Wow! I'm going to have to try that technique! Those are gorgeous results, that are stunning!

That’s looking good Lawdog!  I like your paint treatment!

M. Brindos

Wow! I'm going to have to try that technique! Those are gorgeous results, that are stunning!

 

Thanks Mike. 

Real G

That’s looking good Lawdog!  I like your paint treatment!

 

Thanks G.

Stunning as always! I wasn't familiar with the scallops on the wings so Thanks for the history lesson!

Josh

Fantastic Joe I think you nailed the staining and the scallops. Raising the bar again

Josh_the_painter

Stunning as always! I wasn't familiar with the scallops on the wings so Thanks for the history lesson!

Josh

 

Thanks Josh.  Yeah, they are a late war thing I've seen on some late war 109s and 190s, perhaps others.  Here's a good pic of them on Landt's plane. It seems I should have been more sloppy with them.  

Greatmaker

Fantastic Joe I think you nailed the staining and the scallops. Raising the bar again

 

Thanks Robert

I sure am a big fan of your marbling! 

Mopar Madness

I sure am a big fan of your marbling! 

 

Thanks Mopar!

Looking great as always Joe! Really like your leading edge scallop solution. Some Ta152's had the same scallops as well. Looking forward to the next update

TREYZX10R

Looking great as always Joe! Really like your leading edge scallop solution. Some Ta152's had the same scallops as well. Looking forward to the next update

 

Thanks Trey. 

Master class again, Joe. I've found that black basing works well for me on the lighter colors, but when I go up top it doesn't make sense. I think your technique will be something worth trying if I ever get to the paint stage on my Mustang. 

Thanks for being so willing to break down your techniques for the rest of us, even if we can't replicate the results. 

RadMax8

Master class again, Joe. I've found that black basing works well for me on the lighter colors, but when I go up top it doesn't make sense. I think your technique will be something worth trying if I ever get to the paint stage on my Mustang. 

Thanks for being so willing to break down your techniques for the rest of us, even if we can't replicate the results. 

 

Your welcome Max

I finished this bad boy up last night.  To recap, it's the Hasegawa 1/32 scale Bf 109 K-4 in the JG 53 markings of Gunter Landt.  Landt scored 23 kills and it's my understanding he was the leading Thunderbolt killer in the ETO.  I added Barracuda resin wheels (which were surprisingly molded poorly), and Master metal gun barrels which were beautiful.  I also added fabric seatbelts which I think are a must in this scale.  The RLM 75/76 are the fantastic AK Real Colors and the RLM 83 was Gunze. TMost of the markings were painted with Montex, however, I supplemented some with decals, particularly the spinner spiral which was from Eagle Cal.  

Against my better judgment, I plan to enter it in the local IPMS model show in November.  It's been like 10 years since I've participated.  I generally don't have much luck with this show, but with this turkey I made a conscientous effort and tried to allieviate the little things the pen light police look for.  It's far from perfect but we will see.  I figure there's less competition in the larger scale.  I might enter the Eduard Millie G Mustang too.  

Thanks for following....

Good luck, Joe. I think you'll crush the compitition and the pen light mafia. This is a very well done bird, as always.

BK

Looks awesome! Congrats. Good luck in the competition. 

It just doesn't get much better than that folks. Bravo Joe! 

Beautiful 109 Lawdog, my favorite version too!  I'm sure you will do well at the contest.  Be sure to give us a report after the show (with pics of course)!

I'm sorry, Joe. But I've been scrutinizing your pictures and I can't find anything to dock you any points for.

Just another of your fabulously beautiful builds!