1/48 Bf109F-4 Zvezda COMPLETED !!!!

Joe,

I think the most important thing I am taking away from all this is that I am guilty of not taking enough time to comment on the threads others have taken the time to post. We post because we are proud of our work or we have questions or answers and wish to pass along tips that others may find useful. When someone, anyone, takes the time to post I think it is just curious to make an attempt to let them know we noticed. Being overlooked or ignored is a horrible feeling and I don't want others to feel that way about their threads. I will be much more involved in responding to the many threads that get posted. Now, it's just not feasible to post on all of them, but an attempt should be made to notice those that might not be garnering much attention, simply out of courtesy.

With regard to your threads, Joe, I am always following them. I will make sure I am commenting as well. Your work has always impressed me and it motivates me to do better in all my modelling. Don't feel like what you are posting is not worth it, it is. I totally owe it to you an everyone else here to tap you on the shoulder and to say "hey, that's pretty darn nice. Thanks for posting." 

BK

Hey Brandon, I personally hated this kit but your doing a fantastic job on it.  I look forward to the finished plane.  I'm about to give the Hasegawa Emil a whirl for the 109 GB, after I build Robert Johnson's Half Pint P-47-C.  

It's interesting that you had the nerve to say what I've been thinking for months, perhaps longer.  I'm also considering stopping my WIPs here for the same reason.  There just doesn't seem to be any interest .  It only takes a couple of seconds to say you appreciated a particular tip it or thanks for the info.  I personally enjoy sharing my knowledge with others so its nice to get feedback.  See my P-40E thread and you'll see what I mean. It may very well be my last in here.  If nobody cares why bother right?  I just wanted you to know your not alone in that train of thought .  Theres no need to apologize and I will always follow and comment your builds...

Joe

I got bent out of shape for no good reason and what I needed was to be told "get bent". It got me to see this in a whole new light from a different point of view. I am truly blessed to have anyone stop by and say anything. To have all the support I get here in this forum is nothing short of an honor. I stand in the shadows of awesome people. Thank you all for your kind words.

I am nearly finished with my other 109 build for the Aces GB and I will be posting the pics of it completed within a few days. Hope you enjoy it also.

Thanks guys,

BK

JOE RIX,

PS: the temps here Sat were 110, 102 today and the next ten days are 100+. I live in Nampa, ID. So I can surely feel your pain.

Hi Ho Brandon! Sorry that I'm late to the party but, I'm here now to tell you that you are doing one fantastic job on that there Zvezda 109. Simply marvelous work so far.

I'm afraid that I'm rather guilty of not showing my presence as often as I should on the aircraft forum. Like others I often have to pick my priorities when I get on and that is nearly always keeping up with my GBs. Yet, once and a while I take some time to get here and catch some awesome planes.

You know, another reason for the slack in responses may be about timing. If other members are like me the springtime is a very busy time for me what with yard work, gardening, hiking, fishing and just breaking out of the winter doldrums. But, maybe things will pick up now that summer is on. It will for me as it's 106 degrees here in Moab, Utah and that lends for increased bench/forum time.

I am really happy that you did not give in to your urge to withdraw your WIP. Also glad to see you let the highly rude and misplaced comments go and are moving forward.

You're doing great things in a great place.

Brandon, don't worry about it. I think we all get frustrated at times. Quite often we get a lot of views but very little comments. Who knows why. Often I flick through and just skip subjects I don't have an interest in. Other times I will try and comment on everything. I think we all need to make more of an event, especially in the WiP threads.

Looking forward to some updates here..........

My father in law "owned" a 109. He liked to say wings from an E, canopy from an F, fuse from a G and what the Hell.

BrandonK

I think bvallot hit it on the head. Sometimes some subjects just don't garner much excitement. I have to remember that just because I like it doesn't mean someone else will also.

Bah, that may be the case with other subjects but this is a 109......an F variant to boot! It's the very definition of excitement 

Nice build BTW.

Thanks Patrick. His response, although harsh, was a good bucket of cold water to the face that I needed to make me re-examine my thoughts. No harm done, water under the bridge. I can be a duck and shake it off.

Brandon - I'll echo the thanks from others, on learning that you will continue to hang out with us and share your builds. Very nice of you, LOT'S of really valuable tricks and techniques that you always send our way, you've helped my modest efforts considerably. Thanks, Brandon, well done.

At a strictly personal level, to you I'll extend my regrets that richs26 saw fit to release such a demeaning and unwarranted tirade toward you. Conduct not befitting FSM Forum expectations I'll venture to say, his words speak for him, not the rest of us.

Bad form. richs26, would you like to have a take back and redo????

Patrick

Thanks guys, I won't let life get the better of me in here again. I've thrown my sippy cup on the floor and I feel much better now.

I'm so glad you decided to continue posting on your BF 109.

I ,for one, don't always respond because in your case, I have run out of accolades  to express my amazement of your skills and I do not not want to let words like awesome or fantastic become trite or overdone.

I am very much enjoying each installment of your W.I.P,s and learning much from your experience. If you fail to post further progress on your builds, to me it would be like removing key referance material from the public library.  Even 1 little candle can light up a whole room.  Be that candle for those that need your light.

Keep at it partner and persevere. I'll be watching.............

B- every other model I post I get crickets.

You know you guys are totally right. I've had a lot of frustration and stress in life of late and I let it roll over  into the forums. I should have bit my tongue, but I chose to vomit in here instead. Bad call on my part. I know the forums are a busy place and very welcoming and friendly, that's why I chose to be here. It is truly the spirit that ebbs and flows in these forums that makes the builds so much more enjoyable.

I think bvallot hit it on the head. Sometimes some subjects just don't garner much excitement. I have to remember that just because I like it doesn't mean someone else will also.

I'll get it knocked out and in paint soon. This one has a tricky scheme so I will endevour to persevere.

Thanks guys for your support, sorry to vomit on you like that.  

Mopar Madness has a point.  It's never a waste.  Someone will find this page tomorrow or a year from now and may uncover a very basic skillset for the first time and it changes the way they do everything until they improve some more.  Sometimes the subject doesn't appeal to the majority of people and won't attract a lot of attention.  Whatever the case, push on.  Complete your build for you.  Someone will eventually be building this and have a hang up that perhaps you had too and you're providing a road map to solving it. Never surrender.  =]

Brandon, I'm new here, so I'm just learning to navigate through the different threads as well as tips in regards to model kits.  If I may say, your build is definitely a high quality and an amazing rendition of the actual aircraft.  I can only speak for myself; "I will definitely read and reply to your threads in this regards, not only out of respect but, the knowledge I gain".  Thank you Brandon, I hope you change your mind.

Toshi

I am just stunned at the lack of activity on my last two WIP's. My Spitfire came out pretty nice, but got very little attention. This kit is coming along nicely, if not slowly, but again is getting virtually no traction in the forums. I feel like I am wasting my time stopping and taking photos and making posts that get overlooked or just aren't cared for. Whether it's my builds or me, the end result is the same, it just isn't worth the time and effort to show you guys how it's going if it's going to be ignored.

Therefore I am not going to waste everyone's time posting things they just don't care to see. I will build my kits and post the completed one's I think you may like.

BK

Quick update:

Sorry for the long delay between updates but life has me far too busy to work much on this kit or check the forums like I want to. So, here is what I have completed thus far.

This Zvezda kit is just outstanding in every regard but it requires a slow building process due to its high quantity of fiddly bits. You just can't rush the building process on this kit. If you try to hurry you will regret it. The fit and detail on this kit is just plane stunning.

As a quick reminder I have added a large amount of PE and resin to this build so what you see is not exactly what one would get straight from the box. I have so many left over parts that if I had a fuselage and wings I could build another plane. 

Since my last update I have closed the fuselage and attached the nose, wings and all the control surfaces. The cockpit is completed and all the PE is installed there and I have masked the canopy using Montex masks which I personally believe to be superior to Eduard masks by a long shot, but remember any mask beats doing it from scratch. Once I get the inside of the canopy painted I will install the pilot's rear armor plate and close it up so I can get this kit in primer. When I get that done is anyone's guess. 

So without making you read more here are the pics of where I stand today. Thanks for looking.

BK

TY for posting your progress .

You've given me the inspiration I sorely need for attempting ( for the 1st time ) the complete Edward PE set for my 1/48 Monogram B-26.  Since my model has scant detail I wanted to spruce it up "a bit " with the detail set.  When it arrived I was overwhelmed by the parts count and I didn't know where to start.  your "1 little detail at a time "  renewed my confidence and I will continue onward and upward a little at a time.

Looks to be coming along nicely! =]

Alas, it's finally time for another update. I've been very busy and can't dedicate very much time on this kit at the moment. So, with a few minutes a few times a week I am making slow progress.

I began the cockpit with factory kit bits and removed them all and added a CMK resin cockpit along with thier PE bits and some from Eduard as well. I also added some cockpit plaques using Airscale decals to bring it more to life.

I painted it with Mr Color 116 RLM 66 over all and washed it with Flory black wash. I hand painted most of the wiring and tubing and gave it a light dry brushing with Mr Metal Color Aluminum. The resin cockpit is very nicely detailed and really doesn't need any thing else but I felt like pimping this one out so I just went nuts with the PE and details. Now that I have this much done here I can close the cockpit up and attach the shoulder belts. I can't install them until I close it due to how this kit assembles. 

I know some have complained that this kit is a PITA to build, but I find it to be no problem. I move slow and make sure I have a perfect fit before I glue parts and I also plan my attack on how to attach and glue and hold them before I do so and I have not had any problems thus far. This kit is not a shake and bake kit and will require patience, but the fit is excellent and the parts are very nicely detailed. If you like detail, then this kit will appeal to you. If you don't like messing with A LOT of little fiddly bits during assembly, then this kit may give you a stroke. 

I'm not having any issues with it at all. I am moving very slow and fitting things many many times before I move on to assembly. The kit is full of small flimsy bits and forces me to move like a snail. This is definitely not a weekend kit, but that's ok, I like a challenge.

Looking good Brandon.  Unfortunately you may find that looks can be deceiving.  If your like me you will want to throw this thing into a wall before your done.  I hated this kit.  Maybe you'll have less headaches than me.  

Joe

That's a beautiful engine! :D

Ok folks, sorry it's been so long since my last update on this build, but I am just beyond busy with other projects.

I finally managed to get the engine completed and the detailing done on it. I added several resin bits and some PE to it as well as a great deal of scratch items. I plan to have only the left upper cowling open  on this plane for display so I focused on detailing only what can be seen. The left side of the engine is complete with wires and tubing but I did not do the same thing to the right side or the front of the engine as I will be covered up anyway.

I used lead free solder and aluminum wire to form the oil and coolant tubes and wires. The engine was given some PE bits on the supercharger, ignition harness and engine lift brackets. I added a resin intake and resin exhaust stacks as well. I then completed the ignition harness from each cylinder all the way up to its beginning point between the machine guns. That was a huge PITA!! I also added the hoses from the valve covers to the gear housing assy and ran many of the oil tubes over the top of the engine and underneath. But, like I said, I didn't complete all the wiring or tubing to its final destination/s as it just won't be visible in the end anyway. I just about lost my mind taking it this far.

I am nearing completion of the cockpit and will get shots up on it ASAP.

The good thing is you are not going to have a problem finding reference photos.  The halls of the internet are wallpapered with them  Copper wire is s good choice.  I would anneal it to make it even more pliable.  I like to use solder and varied thicknesses.  Soft and easy to shape.  This can also be rolled under a file to give it surface texture if you need something that looks like a hose with a woven cover or some other textured surface.  

If you have a hose the have a connector with band clamps, use a wire that has  an insulator.  Take off small section to cut to short lengths and slip that back on the wire at-the desired location.  The band clamps can be made with strips of bare metal Foil of silver painted cellophane tape.

I agree that engine is a real gem.  i ended up doing my my F with the cowl closed but had the engine sitting around for a while just to look at.