Tamiya 72nd Bf 109E-3 Completed page 3

jeaton01

Old rug material has often been used to cover stands like that one, Martin.

 

O yes, didn't think of that. I have already put a thin piece of wood on, but maybe i can find somthing to go on top. I have some 35th rugs, i'll have a look for somthing that will work.

Cheers John.

John, checked my stash of carpets from reality in scale. When i looked, it says can be used in a range of scales right down to 72nd. So i cut a thin slice, removed some of the backing paper so it was not to thick, and it works a treat.

Cheers for the suggestion.

Looking good there Bish!  A friend coincidentally recently finished the same kit.  It was his first foray into "scale" models; he had previously only built Gundams.  He decided to give aircraft a try after sampling some of those pre-painted 1/144 kits from companies like F-Toys (gateway drug!).  Anyway, he aksed me for help and advice in figuring out how to paint the model (yeah, starting out with a 1/72 WW II German fighter makes for a steep learning curve), and this is the result:

https://flic.kr/p/244hrR2][/url]Bf-109E by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I think it came out well for a first timer.  He did lose the wing guns during construction so I helped him make some replacements.

And so I gave him a 1/72 Tamiya Mossie to do next!  Ha ha ha; have to spread the modeling disease to the young 'uns! 

Thanks G, and that has come out very well, good to see you helping other into this amazing, frustrating world of ours. Funnily enough, my next Tamiya aircraft will be a Mossie, the Mk IV.

Paint job looks awesome Bish!  And I won't go on about the base...you know I like the bases you make.  ;)

Cheers Bobby.

Time to finish this one off. For weathering i just applied a light flory wash streaked across the aircraft and exhaust staining with Tamiya smoke.

The winch was finished off by attaching the chain mechanisim. The PE chain comes in one piece and to make it shorter you would need to cut out a section and them attach it to the free hanging section or it would be to short. But for this dio i decided to leave it long. I do plan on getting anotehr one of these and have it in the process of removing/fitting the engine so will modify it on that one.

And the tail stand was also finished off with a thing piece of wood attached to the top. After Johns suggestion to add a piece of rug, i checked my carpets from Reality in Scale and it does say it can be used for different scales right down to 72nd. So i cut a thin section, removed the backing paper so it would not be to thick and i thought it looked spot on so added that as well.

And then time to bring it all together and add the figures. As usual these were the toughest part. But i managed to find 5 that fitted the bill with some midificatiosn to most of them, including the kneeling figure having one leg amputated and another grafted on.

All the pics i had showed securing lines at the rear of the aircraft but on none of them could i make out what was used or how it was secured. So i used some of my finest rigging thread and made some loops with fine wire. One end was slipped over the bar going through the rear of the fuselage the other end was pegged into the ground.

And there it is. I am really pleased with how this has turned out. I have more builds planned with aircraft in similar positions including a Stuka having its guns calibrated, a Ju 188 and Fw 190 on compass swings and maybe a Bf 109 on jacks undergoing undercarrage tests. So this has been a great chance to try somthing new and pick up ideas for future builds.

Thanks to everyone for following along and for all the great help and ideas. From the pics which have really opened my eyes to the equipment used for propping up the tail to ideas like adding some carpet, which i would never have thought of, have all been a great help. As always, i could not have done it without you lot.

Now, some armour.

Thanks Johnny.

excellent !! sit back and look with a pint.

Top notch stuff Bish!!  I like the compass idea too. You don’t really see many dioramas depicting that. You've made a beautiful little vignette.

Mr. Bish, you out did yourself on this one.  That’s awesome!

Your friend, Toshi

An awesome build as always Bish!

Really top notch. I love the dioramas

Thanks for the very generous comments guys, its always appreciated.

Chad, i know, you don't often see the compass swing in a dio. Kora does a selection of them for different types, so seems a shame not to make the most of it.

Clint, those pics were a real blessing, not only for this build others as well.

Pertty neat, Martin.  I wonder if the the tail stand was used for gun alignment also.  You would think with the tripod crane that the airplane would have to be moved to remove and replace the engine, since you couldn't move the hoist with the engine lifted.

I almost never follow 1/72 builds (too small for my aged eyes and shakey hands) but I'm glad I dropped in to see your finished work.

Looks outstanding to me. I certainly can't tell from the pictures that it's not 1/48 scale and done expertly at that. 

I'll have to follow more of your aircraft builds.

You really know how to dazzle us with this small stuff Bish. Gotta love it man.

Really excellent Bish.  The whole idea of a "work in progress", instead of just a pristine plane sitting there, (not that there is anything wrong with that), is really neat.  I think it is just fantastic.  Inspires me.  Stupid question:  What did you use for the grass?  

jeaton01

Pertty neat, Martin.  I wonder if the the tail stand was used for gun alignment also.  You would think with the tripod crane that the airplane would have to be moved to remove and replace the engine, since you couldn't move the hoist with the engine lifted.

 

Thanks John, and your assistance was much appreciated. I have been looking at other images and it does seem it was also used for aligning the guns. But my guess is that these were used if the proper jacks were not at hand.

I was woundering that myself. My guess is that the engine is lowered to the ground rather than lifted up and then man handeled away. If you look at that first pic i posted, the old engine, close to the camera, has been moved without any sign of a trolley or anything else to move it. But the engine weighs about 1300Ib so it would not be easy to move by man power alone.

1943Mike

I almost never follow 1/72 builds (too small for my aged eyes and shakey hands) but I'm glad I dropped in to see your finished work.

Looks outstanding to me. I certainly can't tell from the pictures that it's not 1/48 scale and done expertly at that. 

I'll have to follow more of your aircraft builds.

 

Thanks Mike. I always check out subjecta that take my interest even if its not my chosen scale. You never know what you might see that might be helpful. Glad to have you following along.

Joe, thanks, and if you get the 48th winch, i am sure you will enjoy that. Mine did not come with instructions so i used the images on the site as a guide and found the 48th ones most useful. Though that one does look like it has a proper chain so you can adjust the height to how you want it.

mm, thank you for following. Doing diorama's i feel its important to weather the aircraft to fit the scene. I try and get as much variety in my dio's as posable. Often i will do a nice simple one such as a pilot climbing on board but when i can i wil do this more interesting ones, but it larely depends whats availiable. The biggest problem is figures as there is not a great selecion of ground crew.

The grass is woodland scenics static grass flock. I use a mix of colours all added at the same time, mostly light medium and dark green..

Absolutely stellar dio Bish. You have done a marvelous job in capturing the scene and activity. Truly remarkable. Sorry that I was late to the party but, I get to enjoy the product of your genius nonetheless.

Cheers, Joe

I just marvel at your 1/72 skills Mate. You make your offerings appear much larger and look way better than even my 1/32 builds. Truly amazing  

Excellent, Bish. Well done! What a masterful dio scene. I love it and can't wait for more to come out from you.

BK

Thanks guys, its much appreciated.

Jay Jay, i am sure your being harsh on yourself as we all tend to be at times.

I thought I had comented on your completed dio before. Excellent theme telling a story with realism as a main factor! Smashing old man, simply smashing!