1/48 Eduard Messerschmitt Bf 110E 5/ZG Wespen "Herbert Kutscha" (FINISHED)

I sat down and fired down the top camo last night.  I read some scuttlebutt about these Russian E models in 1942 that may have been in the earlier Battle of Britain camo scheme.  It's not clear when they changed at the factory to the newer RLM 74/75 over 76 and I'm sure many were in that scheme.  Eduard shows this subject in 74/75/76 color scheme.  I figured they did their research and I followed suit. I started with AK Real Colors 75.  They did a nice job on this color. I also mottled the side fuselage.

Next I added some XF-2 White and mottled it up a bit for fading.  Then I went back with straight 75, concentrating on the panel lines.  I'm really starting to like this technque, especially in conjunction with the later oil wash.   

I taped off the splinter scheme per Eduard's instruction and did the same technique for the RLM 74, except I added XF-57 Buff to fade it a bit. I may have mentioned that their 74 seems a bit too green to my eye.  It's also entirely possible it's perfect and I have no idea what I'm talking about.  Either way I can live with it.  Off came the Montex and they worked perfectly.

I also painted the prop hubs as I wanted to see how they looked in place.  I used the white flexible Tamiya tape to mask the yellow and it worked great....

I grunged up the underside a bit with a postshade.  

One of the big weaknesses of this kit are the exhaust stubs, they're not hollowed out and there was no way I was manually doing it on all of those.  Furthermore, they are too prominent on this plane skimp here, so I replaced them with Quickboost.  They are designed for this kit, but for some reason I had a heck of a time trimming them enough to fit in there.  I eventually got them to fit.  As you can see they are worth it. This is the port side outboard exhaust.

I wanted to make them look realistic, so I spent quite amount of time pouring over photos (and some well done models too) to get an idea how they looked and how the exhaust stain pattern went. I didn't want to overdo it either. First I sprayed them XF-1 flat black then followed up with XF-64 Red Brown.  I made sure to avoid the holes so they remained black. I superglued those turkeys in there.

Now for the staining.  I took a deep breath then sprayed a very heavily diluted XF-69 NATO Black/XF-64 Red Brown mix, slowly building it up.  I then sprayed the tips diluted XF-19 Sky Grey/XF-57 Buff mix and swept that back to simulate heat staining.  I repeated these until I listened to that little inner voice telling me to stop.  Before I knew it an hour had passed....

The undersides were more challenging, but I did the same technique.

Time for a clear coat then that dreaded wasp decal......

The extra work with the paint fading and mixing paid off, it looks great. 

I see you mixed Tamiya and AK paints together and remember reading somewhere that it was done as well so that is great news that they are compatible. That Tamiya thin white vinyl tape is fantastic for masking tight lines like your prop,  canopies and other parts that regular masking tape will not work on. 

Can't wait to see that nose art work on this one, it's gonna be a stunner.

Painting and exhausts look fabulous. The color scheme along with the fading really pops. Beautiful exhaust stains. 

plasticjunkie

The extra work with the paint fading and mixing paid off, it looks great. 

I see you mixed Tamiya and AK paints together and remember reading somewhere that it was done as well so that is great news that they are compatible. That Tamiya thin white vinyl tape is fantastic for masking tight lines like your prop,  canopies and other parts that regular masking tape will not work on. 

Can't wait to see that nose art work on this one, it's gonna be a stunner.

 

Thanks PJ. Indeed that tape works well. It's good for the curve on the blue nosed Mustangs too.  

Hoss WA

Painting and exhausts look fabulous. The color scheme along with the fading really pops. Beautiful exhaust stains. 

 

Thanks Hoss

Watching the paint go down is one of my favorite parts! =] Those colors just go down so sexy. I don't know why that's the word that pops in my head when I see it, but that's just the way it is. Excellent job on the splinter camo...that's no surprise though. ;) I had one of these on my build list for quite a while. I wanted to get through a handful of german birds just because of the color schemes they've got. They must've had Hugo Boss on that committee too. I hear you on the the way time flies. I can work out one tiny part of some larger process and suddenly it's been two hours.

But isn't it worth it.

Usually?

bvallot

Watching the paint go down is one of my favorite parts! =] Those colors just go down so sexy. 

I'm with you on this one. One of the nicest things to look at. :)

Best,

Nikola

I used to dread painting and weathering Joe but now it has to be one of my favorite parts of the build. I'm glad to read that info on the exhaust? I'll have to get a set of those too. Looking great my friend.

Looking great Joe, nothing like a little challenge to keep the hobby interesting. I've had that kit in the stash since I went on a BoB kit binge (years ago) and was completely intimidated by all the fiddly bits when I opened the box, looking forward to your completion.

bvallot

Watching the paint go down is one of my favorite parts! =] Those colors just go down so sexy. I don't know why that's the word that pops in my head when I see it, but that's just the way it is. Excellent job on the splinter camo...that's no surprise though. ;) I had one of these on my build list for quite a while. I wanted to get through a handful of german birds just because of the color schemes they've got. They must've had Hugo Boss on that committee too. I hear you on the the way time flies. I can work out one tiny part of some larger process and suddenly it's been two hours.

But isn't it worth it.

Usually?

 

 

Rod Stewart tune going through your head? (Do You think I'm Sexy?).....LOL.  Thank for the kind words Brit. 

......Yes it's worth it.

Nikola

 

 

bvallot

Watching the paint go down is one of my favorite parts! =] Those colors just go down so sexy. 

 

 

 

 

I'm with you on this one. One of the nicest things to look at. :)

Best,

Nikola

 

Thanks Nikola

Mopar Madness

I used to dread painting and weathering Joe but now it has to be one of my favorite parts of the build. I'm glad to read that info on the exhaust? I'll have to get a set of those too. Looking great my friend.

 

Thanks Chad

Reasoned

Looking great Joe, nothing like a little challenge to keep the hobby interesting. I've had that kit in the stash since I went on a BoB kit binge (years ago) and was completely intimidated by all the fiddly bits when I opened the box, looking forward to your completion.

 

Thanks Reasoned.  Huge challenge!  This thing gave me all I could handle. It's done so I should have some finished pics up soon.  

I wanted this turkey off my bench, so last night I sat down and didn't leave until it was done.......at 6am.......lol. 

To backtrack a few days, I gave her a few doses of X-22/MLT clear coat and then I added the decals.  Everything performed well except of course the wasp(s).  I had trouble positioning the said wasp(s), which was a total of six decals (3 each side).  I presume this is for the folks opening up the gun bay so they wouldn't have to cut the decal.  I had considerable trouble getting them to line up properly.  I suspect the ill fitting nose piece contributed to this problem as well.  I ended up positioning the bottom pieces first using the bottom nose cannon ports as a guide.  Micro Sol was used and they snugged down nice. Once reasonably dry, I added the top pieces of the wasp, lining them up as best as I could.  These were then locked down with Micro Sol. The wasp wing tips were then added.  Once dry, I touched up all the gaps with the appropriate color paint using a small brush. It passable but it's far from perfect. Too bad they couldn't offer a full decal for the closed version which certainly would have helped.  Perhaps I should have sought aftermarket. 

I began adding everything else, such as the landing gears/doors and other such fiddly bits.  Aside from the aforementioned exhausts, I used Eduard Brassin wheels and Quickboost gun barrels which were an improvement over the lousy kit pieces. The landing gears were quite tricky to get installed. Perhaps it's their instructions that are hard to understand. I finally got everything installed but it was a frustrating experience for me. The instructions make no indication of where the Pitot tube goes and their rendition of it is poor.  I made my own with brass tubing and plasticard.

As I said, I wanted a used grungy look so I went with a Flory Wash this time around.  I gave the wasp an oil wash and added some AK oil streaking to give it a used look.  This also seemed to help hide some of the imperfections.  I gave everything a Testors Dull Coat and added the canopies.  These fit fairly well but I had a glue mishap with the "driver's side window".  One last middle finger to me I suppose.  I have to figure out a way to fix that.   

Of course I realized too late that the cover art subject was different than "profile A" in the instructions (go figure), so I inadvertently painted the prop hub tips yellow to match the cover art instead of profile A, which are red.  I haven't decided if I'm going to correct them or not.  I guess the cover art subject is to remain a mystery to us.  Ok, so this was actually the last middle finger.  

So I'm glad it's done.  I'd like to do a Battle of Britain version someday, but I'm in no hurry (I still have a C and G-2 in the stash).  In my opinion, Eduard made this kit much more difficult than it had to be, a wee-bit over engineered and their instructions are confusing. Perhaps I'm being too critical but these are not cheap kits, so critcism is certainly warranted. Time for something easy before I have to dive back into another Dauntless.  

Excellent work man! I love it, well done! Very nicely balanced paintwork and finish. 

Best, 

Nikola

Nikola

Excellent work man! I love it, well done! Very nicely balanced paintwork and finish. 

 

Best, 

Nikola

 

Thank you Nikola

As usual another spectacular build.

Rod Stewart tune going through your head? (Do You think I'm Sexy?).....LOL. 

It is now!! Probably be there the rest of the day too. lol.

Fantastic job. Paint looks great...clean lines and borders. I don't know what you're talking about with that wasp. It looks like it laid down like a pine tree in a hurricane. You must've put that *** on it. =] I do think you did well subtlely bringing out the rivets along the wing walk. Nice job there. And the exhausts stacks absolutely sell the rest of the look. I think it only takes having one thing to be off to ruin a look of believabilty. You did this well. Beautiful. Sexy. Man, the germans had their sh!t together on design, didn't they. 

*clap, clap!

Man o' man.  That's a beautiful grimy 110!  Just the way she ought to be.

Late to another party.

That is beautiful, Joe.

I always enjoy seeing how you work through problems, for example the fit problems on this one. In case you wonder if it's worth the extra time posting the details, it really is.

You were sure right on the exhaust stacks, they really are predominant and the Quickboosts were the way to go.

Someday I hope to be able to pull off a final finish like yours.

Killer looking bee LD! Awesome build.

Have you used Solvaset on decals? I find Sol and Set not work as good as Solvaset.

Another dandy fine example of your modeling skills, Joe. My eyes are going bad, I keep looking for the problem areas you relate, never have found even one on the finished builds.

Thanks for the valuable info you keep giving us, I've learned a bunch from your WIP posts.

Patrick

I think Joe stayed up too late and he is grouchy.

It looks great to me.

I was peeking back through here to see some of the other posts and came across the bleeped out word in mine. 

For the record, finescale apparently has a problem with the word "m-o-j-o." I stated you put the "m-o-j-o" on it. Not that other four letter word...which would've still been appropriate. That's a damn fine piece of work.

That wasp looks great! Even though the kit gave you a few middle fingers, the end result is really nice. I like the camo scheme and the smooth and grimy finish. Superb as usual. 

Tickmagnet

As usual another spectacular build.

 

Thanks Tick

bvallot

Rod Stewart tune going through your head? (Do You think I'm Sexy?).....LOL. 

It is now!! Probably be there the rest of the day too. lol.

Fantastic job. Paint looks great...clean lines and borders. I don't know what you're talking about with that wasp. It looks like it laid down like a pine tree in a hurricane. You must've put that *** on it. =] I do think you did well subtlely bringing out the rivets along the wing walk. Nice job there. And the exhausts stacks absolutely sell the rest of the look. I think it only takes having one thing to be off to ruin a look of believabilty. You did this well. Beautiful. Sexy. Man, the germans had their sh!t together on design, didn't they. 

*clap, clap!

 

Ha! Everytime I hear that song I think of Mike Myers playing his father singing it to the bag pipes in So I Married an Axe Murderer. Thanks for the kind words Britt.     

Mopar Madness

Man o' man.  That's a beautiful grimy 110!  Just the way she ought to be.

 

Thanks Chad

Greg

Late to another party.

That is beautiful, Joe.

I always enjoy seeing how you work through problems, for example the fit problems on this one. In case you wonder if it's worth the extra time posting the details, it really is.

You were sure right on the exhaust stacks, they really are predominant and the Quickboosts were the way to go.

Someday I hope to be able to pull off a final finish like yours.

 

Thanks Greg. 

plasticjunkie

Killer looking bee LD! Awesome build.

Have you used Solvaset on decals? I find Sol and Set not work as good as Solvaset.

 

Thanks PJ.  No but I recently got Tamiya's new stuff, both of them.  I have yet to try them though.  I presume it's formulated to work with their lousy decals.  I'll look into Solvaset.