Reich Defenders V: Hunters of the Dark

Mike and Trey thanks. Kind words appreciated

Well, Looks like an iffy weekend , soooo, if lucky I will likely be able to start my next Night Fighter project.

Keeping the fingers and toes crossed! LOL...

Doug (RR)

OK friends, I'm starting my next night fighter! This will be one of the earlier attempts at night fighting and might be more properly considered a Night "Incursion" Fighter. She will be a Do17Z at the time used mainly in the Norway area although they also were taking part in the "Blitz" of England. I've always liked the Dornier light bombers and dive bombers and even though the Flying Pencil suffered greatly from lack of maneuverability and self protective firepower, it has always been a favorite of mine.

Directions are very non descript, and just an arrow pointing some where, and a picture of  a part, They can be a bit tough to make out.

Guys, I have a few more to post but computer is moving at a snails pace for some reason. I'll try more later...

Doug 

Looking forward to this one. Not sure why, but I like the Do17.

Well, let me see if I can get pictures to load today...

So far so good... This ones kind of funny, building up the flight deck in the lower fuse half...and some in the upper, I did find a pe fret , not a lot but just enough to add some detail.

This seat was a real PITA! legs were separate pieces and almost all had to be in location to get seat cushion on...

and the upper and lower together.

another look at the interior. Kinda sparse but most will be un seeable any way.Well, That's about it for now, more later!

Doug 

Your Dornier is looking good. Nice start. That seat does look like it caused a few choice words during the build.

I have to get some photos of my Bf 110.  I finally got replacement bulbs for my lights so I can take a decent photo.  That and finish the weathering the exhaust and some exhaust streaks as well.

moose (Kim)

Hey all...A bit more progress...

Seat belts in...

The IP is kind of tucked away under cowling... Not much detail to the pit, but again, most will be covered any way.

The wings and the "tail feathers" are together...

and installed... Kind of starting to look like an airplane... That's all for now, I will be away from the bench for about 5 days... My wife wants to go somewhere for her BIG 50 Birthday!!! LOL... Back soon!

Doug 

Looks great so far Doug!

Looking great, Doug! It's a fascinating shape and very distinctive!

M/TB379

Thanks guys... Yeah with her thin fuselage and stubby wings shes kind of a goony bird, but just something about the design has always fascinated me. Thanks again...

Doug

Moose -- Your first plane in thirty years? It's a pretty amazing build that displays considerable talent, and looks absolutely fantastic! Well done and double thumbs-up!

I'll go with the last photo for the Honour Wall, if that's okay?

M/TB379

Thanks and the last one is good for me.

Thank you again for this great GB.

Kim

Moose, that is one really good looking 110. Nicely done Sir !!

My pleasure, Kim! I'm out to work in an hour so I'll get it posted when I'm home. Cheers,

M/TB379

Berautiful Job Moose! Outstanding!!!

Sorry, Fat fingers... BEAUTIFUL work!!!

Thanks for all the compliments.  It means a lot coming from the talent that is in this GB.  

Kim

Looks fantastic Moose!  I wouldn't believe that's your first aircraft in so long.

Thanks Bob.  True on the time.  I have done armor but not in about 5 1/2 years.  So this has got me back on the bench.  Much to my wife's dismay.  Yep more kits to the stash.

Kim

Alright then... as bit more from me...

I needed a metal nose to replace the glazing, didn't have one, so I took the piece sent with kit, filed down the frame work and smoothed down a bit. I didn't smooth completely since most pictures I've seem they look a little wrinkled and rough.

Installing the engines and nacelles,

Landing gear...

And shes on her feet.  That's all for now... more this weekend I hope!

Doug 

Looking good Doug. I like the use of the old glazed nose and making it the solid nose.

moose

Got some more done folks... Shes coming along fairly well now...

Got the "Glazing" in, as you can see I had to persuade the canopy to stay put. It looks like a pain masking, but all in all it went pretty easy.

Wheels on and the underside dark grey is on.

OK, the upper surfaces are done in the early war over all black.

Gloss coat applied and beginning the decals...

And lastly for now, I have the weathering on the under surfaces done. More in a bit...

Thanks

Doug 

WOW -- she's looking fantastic, I love the weathering on the underside! This is going to be a very spectacular bird!

M/TB379

Thanks  Mike...yeah the wings forward top and bottom has some reasonable detail but wings back are all but non existant. With this kit I really had no good references to add scribing lines but was able and had to add rivets with one of my pounce wheels.

I think the weathering came out pretty good too and just hope the top comes out as well. I've already encountered severe decal silvering even with a good gloss coat, and have had to retreat with solva set to soften and remove some of the decals, to be replaced with dry transfers. More pics soon...

Thanks again,

Doug

Well here is some more from today... I'm getting the decals on and having a bear of a time. They wont lay out right and are silvering something terrible. The fuse (Staffle ID) decals had to be removed due to poor adhesion and silvering. I will repaint the sides and try again with dry transfers.

Started doing some of the detailing and weathering, using a silver grey artist pencil and dry brushing. She will wear the England Blitz crest like most all of the night incursion fighters did.

The new markings have been applied.

A little better look at the chipping effect and weathering.

Well I should be done pretty soon, mostly just touch up and fiddly parts, Maybe by this weekend? Thanks for looking...

Doug 

Your chipping looks killer. Sorry to hear about the decals being crappy for you. That sucks.

Keep up the great work.

As a side note I will post some pictures when I get to a point in my next build.  It's for the Bf 109 GB.  Only thing is, she is a night fighter.  It's a Bf 109D from the early days of night fighting.

Keep up the great builds guys.

moose

Thanks Moose.... Looking forward to your 109, That's where I'm going next too. Not a night fighter but likely an "F" version MTO craft.

Doug -- I feel your pain, there is nothing so acutely frustrating as being let down by one of the late stages of a project, and decals can be irksome in the extreme. You'll conquer this mountain, I know!

Moose -- an early -D nightfighter, that would probably be the Nacht staffel created by JG 132 in 1938 or so? Looking forward bigtime! Hobbycraft -D???

M

Doug,

there is something about black that makes that look menacing. Nice looking bird.