1/48 Hasegawa Bf 109 K-4 JG 77 "Bodenplatte" (FINISHED)

Great work dog and what a wicked paint job! I emailed Sprue Bros about the Flory Washes and was told that they are only available from the UK from now on. No more US dealers.

Not sure how i misse this thread, so many 109#s at the minute. Lovely work there, i know know what it is, but you seem to get a really nice look with your paint, i can't describe it.

I have been trying to find a good RLM 81 for ages. Xtracolor's used to be a purpelish colour, i still have an old tin, but they also seem to have gone to an oilve green look.

I have a quick update.  I got it decaled last night  I used Superscale decals and had no issues.  Even the spinner spiral went down nice.  To me all 109's (F and up) should have spirals.  That must have been wicked for those bomber crews seeing that sprial coming at them...

Once dry, I washed the frame then sealed the decals with more Alclad Gloss.  This keeps wash from working its way under the decals, especially the clear film on the crosses.  Once dry (not long), the frame then got a Black and Dark Dirt Flory Wash.  I usually mix the two for varying intensities.  I love this stuff.  Too bad Sprue Brothers stopped carrying it. I hope its not a sign the stuff will be discontinued... 

The next post should be finished pics...

Joe 

That is really impressive work on a BUSY paint scheme!  Thank you for sharing!

Groot

Ingenious work putting that camo on! Yet another use for Post Its!

And needless to say, impressive paint job!

Joe - A lot of mechanical motion and air cycling pulses with the high compressor output of the 1610A, results in plenty of potential for transmission of vibration.

I sat mine on a sized sheet of dense foam, covered by thick carpet. No motion and it's even more quiet now, I guess the table surface allows for amplifying of all that motion, when unit is installed on un-insulated surface.

The 109 looks great, fine tutorial, THANKS a whole heapin' gob.

Patrick

Somehow I lost this one in the rundown (I've been watching for an update)! Awesome work Joe. Love the unique camo! Also thanks VERY much for the feedback on the compressor. I may just have to get me one, looks like a nice setup. Thanks again for the response and can't wait to see her finished.

I'm with you...this new format is messing with me

...and thanks Bruce and Bob.  Wow this new format is a trip...

Thanks Patrick. Must keep Dragon lady happy....lol.  I like the compressor alot.  I does shake the *** out of my bench when it kicks on and makes alot of vibrating noise in the process, so I need to find something solid to put it on. 

I'm in for an update.  Indeed this was one of my most challenging camo jobs.  Perhaps its because I'm used to how Tamiya paints behave as opposed to the Gunze stuff.  I find that Gunze tends to be transparent and I was getting some spidering...ugh!.  I just kept adding more paint to the thinner until it sprayed right.  I started by using blue tac and recreated the scalloped fuselage line.  I then sprayed the RLM 81 which to my eye looked just like Olive Drab.  I didn't see any purple in it, but what the heck do I know.  I added a touch of Dark Earth to brown it up a bit.  Late 109s seemed to have scalloped leading edges.  I was scratching my head on how to replcate this.  I found a hole punch in the kitchen drawer then punched holes in the edge of a post it note. 

Then I put down the rest of the RLM 81.

It was then time for the RLM 82.  I blue tacked the camo and sprayed this in.  Wow....mint green....not what I was expecting.  Then again I'm much more familiar with the 74,75,76.  I added a touch of XF-2 Flat White and faded out the wings and fuse top to simulate sun fading.  I then got to the mottling.  Once my spidering issues were resolved, I did my best to replicate the picture, at least on the port side.  I think its close.   

I had to improvise on the starboard side.

The frame then got a postshade.  Its preliminary and will get more later.  At this point I also added all the flaps and slats sealed with Tenax.  I was tired of them falling off. 

The Quickboost exhausts were sprayed XF-64 Red Brown and drybrushed silver.  They were added and so was exhaust staining.  I'm pleased with it so far.

Time to start the fiddly bits...

Joe

Another fine one headed for the finish line, like the others said I'm waiting to see the camo/mottling job, looks rather busy. But then, I suspect you don't care for the easy ones. Do you have a common starting point for your thinning? Like 3:2 paint thinner for example? The more of this I do, it seems the thinner my Tamiya ratio becomes, sometimes more than 50/50.

Very glad you like your compressor, I was hoping you would. Mine has been one of the best hobby investments ever, being so quiet even Dragon Lady is happy I bought it, (she can't hear it.) But I can still hear her annoying "The Bachelor" and "Dancing with the Stars" shows, no such thing as silent TV's so I get the short end, (again.)

Patrick  

Looking great, Law!

Not sure how I missed this one, but it looks awesome! I always enjoy watching your builds. Can't wait to see how you handle the mottling.

Thanks Allan and Mustang.  I'm in for an update.  Here's the JG 77 machine I intend to duplicate.  It's a late war RLM 81/82 over 76 scheme.  I bought Gunze Aqueous specifically for this purpose.  I'm hoping they look better than my Tamiya concoction I used on my last late war German subject.  This mottling should be my most challenging so far. 

I fixed the poor fitting top cowl piece with some sand paper and a needle chucked in a pin vice (my choice for a scribing tool).  I then preshaded everything XF-1 Flat Black. 

I then sprayed the lower engine cowl XF-3 Flat Yellow cut with a few drops of XF-7 Flat Red to brighten it up. I then postshaded it up for weathering and taped it off.    

Next I started on the RLM 76.  I blue-tac'd the flaps in place to aid in painting.  Once done painting, I lightened the paint with XF-2 Flat White and added condensation streaking.  I also lightened the fabric control surfaces to break up the monotony a bit.   

Here we are after a post shade for weathering.  It will probably get more later but it's a start. 

Thats where I'm at now.  I'm trying to figure out the best way to tackle that camo. 

Joe

I just love those K's!!!! Great work as always Joe!! I like that compressor as well.

Lookin like a really solid build. Very crisp!  

Oh, and great compressor rig!  My compressor is quiet enough, but Ive been looking for a rig like that (with a tank, that is) for quite some time now.

Thanks Tom...

I'm in for a quick update.  First I added some interior detail to the radiator flaps with styrene strip. 

There's not too much to say about the Hasegawa 109.  It fell together.  I think the panel lines on the top cowl/gun piece (sides) seem a bit too pronounced, but that may be how its supposed to look.  It fits okay? That said, I'm not sure the engine panels fit all that well on the real thing.  I may fiddle with this area more.  I hope to start laying down some RLM soon. 

Joe

Looking really nice! Fine looking 'pit, as usual!

Thanks guys.  Jay, I took the compressor to Grainger supply in Valley View and the guy set it up for me (40 dollars worth of connectors and a hose..ugh).  I have the hose connected to my old silentaire water trap and regulator (clamped to the desk).  The regulator on the compressor I don't touch and I just adjust the psi with the Silentaire one on the desk.  It works so far.

Another great looking pit Joe, nice start on the build.

Looking good. That's a nice set up you have there too.  Maybe one day when I get a bigger set up I'll have to upgrade.  =D  Just need to convince the wife.  lol

Thanks so much for your posts Lawdog.  they're always an inspiration and learning tool for me.

Question;  Is there a specific purpose for having two regulators on your air system ?  My single one seems to do the job but maybe two are better ?  I use  a 1.5 hp  5 gal. compressor from my carpenter days. It's 25 years old and still does the job and I can run my nail guns with it too LOL, but very noisy so 1 am paint jobs are totally out of the question.

Wow, nice cockpit, very detailed.  I love your compressor!

Toshi

rooster513

Great start on the cockpit as usually! May I ask which compressor you went with? I ask b/c I'm looking to get a new one in the near future hopefully. Thanks!

Sorry Andy, I missed your question.  It's the California Air Tools 1610A (below sitting all pretty  smelling like a brand new bicycle).  Patrick206 talked me in to giving it a try and its the best $180.00 dollars I've ever spent (Thanks again Patrick!).  It's quiet, has goobs of power and has a nice sized tank, which reduces wear on the compressor.  I get nice even psi at the brush too, especially important for me as I tend to spray in close at low pressure (10-15 psi).  The 1610A is a way better value than the hobby compressors as I went through 3 of those (cough cough Silentaire Scorpion II).  It has a 3000 hour life expectency so I may never have to buy another compressor again... 

Joe 

Thanks for the kinds words guys.  I got a couple hours of bench time in today.  The fit of the resin was bothering me so I just sat down and got it done.  I used my Dremel at slow speed and thinned everything out (plastic and resin) until I was able to sandwich the pit between the fuselages.  I used blue-tack to hold everything in place as I finagled the pieces in place.  After alot of test fitting I was eventualy satisfied with the placement.  I then superglued the crap out of it.  I think it turned out okay.  I then turned my attention to the canopy rear deck.  I added the canopy brace bottom (seen in photos) with styrene rod and sheet.

I sprayed the deck with XF-1 Flat Black then Gunze RLM 66.  I then added the photoetch seat belt top to the sill (curling the belts down to the seat) then the battery/luggage door to finish it off.  I'm pleased with the results.  It will look event better once it gets a drybrush and wash.    

I cleaned up the fuselage seams and checked them with a silver Sharpie.  Before I ran out time (work...ugh), I test fitted the wings to the fuselage.  I don't think there will be any issues. The top nose piece specific to the K fits well too. These Hasegawa 109 kits are fairly simple in that regard.  I also scribed in the panel lines on the top of the wings for the K per the instructions. 

It won't be long before this one is ready for paint.....

Joe 

Again, nice work. Glad you decided to take us along for another great WIP.

BK