2015 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Group Build

70gtvert: That's some fancy footwork on that paint so far man! That's not the first time I've heard that about the canopy being a little off. There have been folks that have even sent off to Revell for a replacement one.

Doug: I like this version of this fine aircraft! It's definitely different and it looks great!

Radial: Looks like you're pulling through the discrepancies in the paint color information there. Your build is looking good BTW.

70gt: Your K-4 is looking very sharp so far! You're really making that old Revell kit shine!

Joe (lawdog): As usual, your painting and weathering skills are nothing short of spectacular! I'm sorry to hear about you having issues with the kit, but you've overcome all of them perfectly.

Joe (mustang): Now thats one detailed engine block. I'm always amazed by the level of detail Eduard manages to put in their brassin sets and you're really doing this one justice!

Mike: You're going all out on this one, aren't you? I'll get your Emils added to the build list asap.

John: Lookin' good!

Eagle: Those spinner masks look really promising. The results sure speak for themselves!

Radial: Some very nice looking work on your part as well!

Doug: That Emil sure looks different with Japanese markings. Definitely something unusual (in a good way that is) You pulled off that camo perfectly. Great job all around!

Sorry for my long absence, guys. I've been really sick the last couple of days, but I'm slowly recovering...

I got the build list updated. If I missed anything, please tell me.

Thanks and hope you get to feeling better Clemens. If you had the flu that's going around this year, I feel for you. My wife got it around the first of the year and wound up in the hospital for a night. She was sick for almost a full week before it let up. Take care my friend.

Doug

Thanks, Clemens! Yep, enjoying the chance to flesh out the collection faster than the steady rate of two or three in a year (which I didn't manage last year...)

Here are some first progress pics of the Tamiya cockpit:

These photos reminded me I had not yet cleaned up the last wash application, so that was done with a moistened brush. The fuselage is closed up and joint line dressing is underway, there are a couple of licks of filler over areas where the sprue gates were located, and I'm aiming to sort out the separate cowl and rudder shortly, then marry up the wing and get to the rest of the smaller details. With this one falling together I can probably set it aside structurally complete, then backtrack to the Hasegawa, finish painting the moulded-in harness, then run through the build sequence.

Cheers, M/TB379

Nice start Mike, its surprising what photo's can turn up that we have missed.

Good looking start Mike!  Love a well detailed IP. A

That cockpit looks really nice, Mike! I really like how those seatbelts turned out. Something I always have huge issues with...

Nice start Mike

What beautiful work.  Stunning across the board.

I am finished.  No, no pics as of yet.  They will be a bit delayed.  

In the last three weeks I had contacted an editor of a magazine (not FSM) and have been allowed to write up something to submit with the opportunity to have it published.  This build was the subject.  The editor contacted me and it will be in an upcoming issue.  I was told that they wish to have the opportunity to publish the build prior to my posting the finish.  That is the delay.  

It is my first article published.  It is my first build published.  I am excited, bouncing off the walls is a better way to put it.

Joe

Joe - CONGRATULATIONS!!!

As a writer, I can tell you that you never forget the thrill of seeing your first piece published. And for it to be in a national/international magazine, that's awesome!

But to not only have writing good enough to be published, but also have your modeling skills be deemed up to par for the magazine is a step above. Well done. From what I've seen of your work posted on these boards, I can say I will definitely be looking forward to seeing it in print.

Once again, congratulations. And yes, it's OK to pick up spares and frame a copy of the article for the workbench wall :)

-BD-

Brandon right now it is still kind of an illusion.  Reality will hit when I see it.  With all the talent shown in this thread, on this site, I was not sure if I wanted to post the news.  Never did like to beat my chest.   I am just feeling grateful for the opportunity.

Joe

Thanks Bish, RR, Clemens and TJ! The Tamiya has certainly fallen together. The fuselage is assembled, guns, cowl and rudder are on, and I'm working up the rads before mating the wing. The only sour note is the slats, they are a poor fit in the retracted position and I'm still fiddling with one of them.

Joe, great news, I hope it's a popular feature that has folks talking!

Cheers, M/TB379

Mike that's a great start on that Tamiya kit interior. Those interiors are itty bitty aint they?

Joe: I told you not to cut yourself short! The amazing work you do Is credited by this opportunity. Good stuff bubba!!

Clemens: Man I hope you're feeling better man. I've had a light touch of that stuff myself. Knock on wood , it never seems to dig it's claws very deep into me and I can fortunately shake it off in a day or two. Get better soon pal.

Thanks, Mustang! I have the rads painted and installed, and masking over the painted faces so I can spray into the scoops. Next, rig some rod as the actuator struts, then mount the scoops.

There was some discussion recently of when the change in RLM directives took effect. I found some info in Wings of Fame Vol. 4 (1996) that shows what appear to be aircraft in 74/75/76 as early as February 1941, as well as shedding light on the appearance of mottle during the Battle of Britain.

Cheers, M/TB379

Last night I thought my post was a good idea.  This had seemed to develop quite a large number of views across the boards and I thought I better update it.  Woke up this morning and thought what an ego driven post that was.  Call it excitement still from getting the news but still......  

Sorry guys, feeling a little embarrassed for making a post like I did.  Let my excitement get the best of me.  Mind you I want to become a regular contributor to magazines, have had that desire since my teens.  Mostly because of the cool factor of seeing my name in print as well as seeing my work published.  But I am a realist and that means I realize that I am not a great builder, I am not a very good writer, and put the two together I am very lucky that I was given this opportunity.  The opportunity speaks more for the wonderful individuals who shared with me so many great reference materials as well as shared with me some great advice.  

Joe

Nothing to apologize for... I think its great! Good luck, and keep up the amazing work!

Doug

  As I remember it you expressed a large amount of gratitude while sharing the good news with us all. You're all good Joe.

Thanks all.  

Joe

No sweat, Joe -- I remember the buzz when I git my first article in FSM way back in '96, it's a thrill to be enjoyed!

M/TB379

Joe, even though we have never meet till this GB, I feel that your post was not ego driven.  You should be proud of the work that you are doing.  

I remember the first time I got a build in the readers gallery of Finescale.  I was proud and want the people I build with and consider friends to know that was me.

Congrats on being published.

moose

Thanks guys.  

Joe

No apology needed Joe.   Your builds speak for themselves.   You should be excited.   And what a better way to share it then with your modeling buddies.  Congratulations. John

Progress report at last! They say the Tamigawa kits are shake'n'bake, and they are! I meant to shoot pics as I went but I went so fast there seemed no purpose! Here's the Tamiya E-7, structurally complete. The pit has Eduard harness, the rads are internally painted and masked, and the radiator pitch jacks are added with rod.

 I found a mask set for this one at a store interstate, it should be here in a few days. What little filling and sanding the kit required is done -- the canopy was not a perfect fit with the headrest armour plate, but close enough and I can use a little whiteglue in the base seam.

I'll set this one aside now and concentrate on the Hasegawa E-7, which means backtrack to the cockpit stage and finish the detail painting, then bring her together. The masks for that one should be coming in from the UK this week.

I've had no reaction so far from the Australian distributor with regards to getting a new clear sprue for the G-2, I might have to sort something out with an overseas source. Likewise, it'll probably be weeks yet before the masks for the E-4 show up from Hong Kong.

Thanks for looking,

Cheers, M/TB379

Very nice Mike! Gotta give it to Tamiya, they do make a nice kit!

Well heres my completed Hasagawa E7, on loan to Japan for flight trials in mid 1942.

Well there she is... #3 of the 5 sent to Japan for flight testing in 1942. All in all a nice kit to build with virtually no problems at all. Could have had a bit more detail, but nothing a bit of PE wouldn't cure. It actually had a small PE set for the oil cooler and the radiators, Oh and the head guard in the canopy.  

Well in a bit I want to start another, this time an "F" . Still not sure of the Group or Theater but in a week or two when I can begin, I'll have decided (I hope) The completion picture is your choice Clemens/Joe' Thanks again, and I'll be back shortly!

Doug

Doug, sweet! It looks amazing in Japanese markings! Excellent finish, too! (How did you find the etched headrest? It looks a bit dicey to me, I'm looking around for a spare plastic part... The other E-7 I have underway is the very same kit!)

I was just reading in Robert Grinsell's 109 volume for Janes/Zokeisha (1980, one of my standard references) about the physical differences in the -F model. The F-1 to F-4 certainly seem to have been very similar, separated by internal changes only, such as the DB601E powerplant coming along, change in the calibre of the centreline canon, thickness of pilot's armour and so forth. I have studied profile art in the book and there seems little or no difference externally. Some of them look like they had the larger, non-retracting tailwheel, but that's the only difference I could spot. How does that set with others' research???

My reason for asking is simple -- trying to get hold of Hasegawa's F-4 kit these days looks like it'll cost an arm and a leg, but their F-2 kit is still commonly available without breaking the bank. Last night I looked through my decal stash, I have multiple schemes on mint Superscale sheets and if an F-4 can be built from the F-2 kit with little to no modifications, that opens up new vistas of possibility!

Cheers, M/TB379

No need to apologize, Joe. I can only imagine how you must be feeling and you really deserve it.

Mike: She's coming along nicely! I can't wait to see her with some paint on!

Doug: That heavy mottling combined with the Hinomarus looks really sharp and you pulled it all off perfectly!

Thanks Clemens! Hope your doing better now...

Thanks Mike! I will dig into a few books and see also. The head guard was indeed a bit dicey, But I've learned after being frustrated various times with them, to get them bent into a close shape, and just do (work with) one attachment point at a time, let the CA set up, then move on to the next. Its slow going, and you need to either file just a gnats wing of thickness from the attachment area to make up for the added (albeit miniscule) thickness of the PE. or file the whole opposite side of the canopy frame to get them to fit properly as a closed 3 piece set.

Doug

Doug - great job on the Japanese Emil.   That combination of markings and aircraft does invite a double look.

-------------------

Mike - looking at the Kagero publication on the F series, here's what I found for the F-4 variant:

- early on it's appearance was nearly identical to the F-2, with changes being introduced during production (unfortunately no dates provided)

- later F-4s dispensed with the tailplane reinforcement strips

- supercharger intake was revised (larger and stronger)

- extra pilot armour fitted

- majority had circular wheel wells

- 20mm cannon in nose (F-2 had 15mm)

regards,

Jack

Thanks, Jack! Some of those are essentially internal -- the difference between 15 and 20 mm on the bore of the canon would be imperceptible at 1:48th scale (well, it sure would be to my eyesight!), and the thickness of the pilot armour likewise. The supercharger intake -- I'm thinking one might be poached from a G kit which is built as a Trop, assuming Hasegawa actually registered the difference too! It's the wheel wells that pose the real problem, as the F-2 kit is set up with the squared off ends and it's not as simple as the corner fillets to get the two shapes in later kits. Hmmm -- sounds like it would depend on how early in production the example was, and that would relate to dates supplied on the decal sheets...

Many thanks, and I'll keep an eye open for possible match-ups as we go.

Cheers, Mike/TB379