1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109 G-6 JG 52 "Gerhard Barkhorn" (Finished)

All I can say is "please may I have more"...

Your work with plastic for me is like looking at a Van Gogh or Rembrandt, keep up the brilliant work.

MRP is the way to go for sure, I have a new build coming up which will hopefully look pretty good dressed in their paint.

O, nice, will be following this one. I've got the slightly earlier boxing with Hartmann's aircraft on the box so i am keen to see how this builds.

Great start as usual.

Murphy's Law

may I ask where did you get your MRP paints from? Only place I have been able to find it so far is on Ebay and it's close to $11 with shipping which seems a bit steep to me.

 

Thanks guys.  I appeciate your kind words.

I got them from hobbyworld-usa.com.  They are $7.00 a piece.  He's in the US and the service is fantastic.  I will definitely be getting more stuff from him.   

As always, Fantastic work!  Great start, I'll be following!

Toshi

On the heels of Photobucket's newfound greed, I set up a Flickr account (Edit:  I went with Shutterfly) and am slowly trying to get used to it.  It's definitely different.  I figured I'd ty to share where I'm at with this turkey.  I closed it up without issue. Hasegawa provides two different top cowl pieces, but according to my reference, they don't fall on a panel lines at the bottom edge (See G cowl below). 

The airframe went together beautifully.  I prefer to add the radiator doors and flaps first to get a strong Tenax weld.  Since I would be using MRP, I decided to dust it with primer as I wasn't sure how it would react to bare plastic.

I procured Montex masks for this and probably all future projects.  After a preshade, I painted the necessary areas XF-1 Flat Black. The appropriate masks were then used.  

I then Sprayed XF-2 Flat White cut with a touch of XF-19 Sky Grey to tone it down.  The white was then masked off with the appropriate stencil.  Note my spanking new Iwata.  Holy Cow! Airbrushing Bliss!

I normally add red to my version of RLM 04 to make it pop, but I recently came across a photo of it in color and it seemed more lemon-like, almost bland.  This time I add a bit of white to the XF-3.  It's ok but I still prefer my vibrant version.  

Next I added the MRP RLM 76.  It seems a tad blue to my eye, but I went with it.  The key with these are light coats.  It sprays like a dream.

Next I added MRP RLM 75.  I thought this color was dead on. I discovered I could mix Tamiya paints with these and have no issues.  Here I added a touch of XF-2 Flat White for fading and weathering.

I taped off the splinter pattern and added MRP RLM 74.  This color seemed a tad too green to my eye.  I don't know, maybe its correct.  I know, it's not pretty but it works.  No need for expensive masking tape to fill in.

I added some XF-57 Buff and faded it bit.  I didn'y go crazy with it.

Stencils removed.  Decals! We dont need no stinkin' decals!

Then I spent about two hours griming it up with a post shade of diluted XF-64 Red Brown and XF-69 NATO Black.  I focused primarily along centerline around the engine and radiators. 

I finished up all the little decals and thats were I left off.  I used the prop hub decal from the kit. It turned out ok.   

Honestly lawdog I can't say I have seen such brilliant work for some time. I really, and I mean really like your paint finish. I gave MRP another go and like you, I have excellent results.

I'm tempted to buy a small vinyl cutter and produce my own masks, as l feel they are better than decals for larger graphic elements.

BTW what Iwata AB did you get?

Any way, please keep posting your future builds, please!

Damian

Great looking build again lawdog. I have been thinking about Montex masks for larger subjects, might have to givce them a go.

When dowloading onto Flickr, i just have the folder open with the pics i want and move the ones i want on there across one at a time.

Any time I see a WIP post by you, I eagerly click on the thread.  Consistently fantastic work.  Thanks for letting us in on your techniques.  I have to have a look at Montex.  The results speak for themselves.

D

Simply incredible! 

Jaw dropping gorgeous, Joe! I'm lost for words. More, please.

Each and every time I view your work I have a dicotomy of emotions. " Wow that's fabulous  " and "GEEZ, why don't mine come out like that ?"  

Thanks guys. The kind words are appreciated.

Damian, it's the Revolution HP-CR model. It was given to me to try out and I'm very happy with it. Precise fine detail. Easy to clean. Perhaps my old Omni 4000 is getting long in the tooth, which is somewhat clunky compared to the Iwata. Its almost 20 years old though. I have relegated it to the back up role now, mostly clear and dull coating.

I purchased the Revolution CR a month or so back for using when painting larger areas and clear coats. My go to AB is the Eclipse CS, just really impressed by both to be honest, neither have missed a beat to date.

I always enjoy watching your WIP. Your talent/artistry for the finish of aircraft is so excellent that I am sure I'll absorb some of your techniques via my eyeballs - I only wish that were possible!

Dang Joe! That is one breathtaking model you produced! 

I tried Montex masks on a Tamiya 1/48 FW-190 and I am working on now and I was very happy with the results to say the least but nowhere near what you did.

Thanks for posting your WIPs, they are an inspiration.

Steve

Nice work on the preshading!  Excellent work overall.

Toshi

Oh man, that mottling looks superb!!

That is some excellent work, Joe. And I second the use of Mr. Paint. Love the stuff. I am still working through my Gunze Luftwaffe colors, but have begun building up a Mr. Paint stock.

I typically order from hobbyworld-usa also, but sometimes, if the Euro is down, it's cheaper to order from the manufacturer direct in Slovakia (or if stocks aren't available in US). I love their WWI colors as well.

The dirtying up stage of your builds is where I feel like they really come alive. I need to try my hand at that. How diluted are your paints when you do that? Something like 7:1 thinner:paint?

-BD-

Oh, and with Flickr, I use the app from my phone, and I have the auto upload turned off. I just upload the ones I want individually.

WHen it comes time to embed them, I do it from the laptop.

Not sure if that's at all helpful.

-BD-

Thanks guys.  I should have completed pics shortly.  I'm having Flickr issues.  Damn Photobucket...

Mate, I cant get my fix as your images are not viewable for some reason or another.

But I dont really need to sight your latest round of visual treats, beacuse I know you have created another extraodinary build!

Know enough of me feeding your ego, build mate, build!

Ha!........thanks.

I'd have to say that of the few picture hosts out there I've been messing with over the last few days, I like Shutterfly the best. I found Flickr to be too complicated.  With Shutterfly, you just copy and paste the pic where you want it.  It seems to be working.  Once I get all of my pics off PB I'll try to fix all of my old tutorials.   

Anywho, I finally finished this turkey.  It's the 1/32 Hasegawa 109 G-6.  I used the kit option of Super Ace 301 kill Gerhard Barkhorn of JG 52 on the Russian front. He was a Yak killer, downing 110 of them.  This kit was pure joy, or perhaps I just love 109s.  This got Quickboost nose guns and resin wheels (brand escapes me).  I used Montex masks for the big markings.  Theres no need for decals any longer when these babies are available. This was my first go with MRP paints and it was pleasing, although I still think their RLM 74 was a tad too green. 

The pilot was Aero Club (by Aries?).  I just wanted to try something different for a change.  I'm happy with how Gerd turned out.

I loved this kit so much I bought their G-14.  Perhaps Hartmann's markings?

Thanks for following...     

Looking at your work is like drinking a fine single malt scotch, excellent and can't wait for more.

Superb work, that's all I can say, superb!

Another excellent first class model. I'm always amazed. Keep up the good work and setting the standard.

Max