2015 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Group Build

Glad to see you guys got some time to work this weekend. Everything looks great so far. I had a chance to finish up the fuselage riveting. Not trying to be totally accurate, just like the effect it gives you in 1/32 scale.

Jay

Here's the Avia all decaled up. I just need to apply some weathering and sealer. The kit is pretty nice and the fit is good, I just don't like Academy's decals. They don't stick well and it takes several applications of Micro Sol to get them to conform, which they still don't do very well.

Sorry for the slight blur, I just couldn't get clear pics tonight.

Steve

Very nice. Always interesting when you see the star of David on a German machine

Right?

Very nice, Steve, good to see these planes being built. I did the same kit a few years back but used Aeromaster decals as I also didn't fancy the kit sheet. I did #120 in the same unit, I think it was Modi Allon's bird. I couldn't get a straight answer about the colour and later research suggested it was not RLM 02 they were delivered in, but another pale grey. In any case, I painted her as she is in the IAF Museum today, which is another shade again, a kind of biscuit-grey-brown that was easy enough to mix, but, like "Sinai Grey" in Israeli armour, very hard to tie down!

After working all day around the place, I finally got some bench time and have fitted the cockpit to the D. After a great deal of thinning by knife and file, the unit snugged into place, and with the exhausts fitted the fuselage closed up docilely enough and is drying right now, with tape holding things square. I'll see how it looks later on and if I do a session before hitting the hay tonight I might get the wings on, and maybe even the tail.

Cheers, M/TB379

Steve...Man you got that oneknocked out quick! Looking good.

Doug

Thunderbolt379

I did the same kit a few years back but used Aeromaster decals as I also didn't fancy the kit sheet. I did #120 in the same unit, I think it was Modi Allon's bird.

This is supposed to be 121 flown by Weizman, however I just could not get the red/white stripe decals on the tail. They were WAY too big and would not stick or conform. Out of frustration I tore them off. I was thinking of masking and painting the stripes. But in the end, the people who will see it won't know the difference. Everything is correct except for the stripes.

Thanks guys.

Steve

Edit: Your right about the color. I think it should have a little more tan.

I didn't get a lot done this weekend on my 1/72 109 except drilling out the exhausts. I drilled them and then squared off the holes with a very pointy #11 blade,  sorry I forgot to get a photo of the squared off exhausts, but you get the idea.

John

I have to hand it to you guys that build the 1/72nd scale birds. My hands are too shaky and my eyes not as sharp as they used to be and that stuff is just too small for me now. Kudos to those that knock out these fantastic tiny builds.

"Drill out the exhaust" he says, I can't hardly see the exhaust !!

Brandon. I build both 72nd and 48th. It does take a little more focus and eye strain in the smaller scale

Ok fellas it's finally time for an update here:

Craig: Man that IP looks fabulous and that engine work is right on!

Bish:I hate to hear about your luck on that 605 and hope that the freezer method works out for you. If not I'd be interested in hearing how HPH's customer service turns out.

Handi: It's great having you in here building with us and you sure don't disappoint with how that engine is turning out.

panzerpilot: I hope your engine ordeal is working out in terms of display. It's really hard for me to close a model build up when I have that much detail to work with.

cbaltrin: And he's breakin' out the 1/72nd scale stuff. Gotta let tha big dog eat!!

modelcrazy: Great progress and I agree with Doug and how you got that thing busted out. It's gonna take me the better half of this whole year to get that far. Say what type of camera are you using for your photos?

flyerduke:Glad to hear that the semigloss worked out for you. My first 605 finish was on the flat side so I just had to pass the info on before you got yours all built and regretted not doing it like I did.

falconmod: That's some great tedious work on that 72nd scale build you are doing.

everybody:I have to agree with Brandon and Johnny on that 72nd scale stuff. There aint no way I would tackle that stuff. lol   Lot's of good progress in here guys. It's all lookin' mighty fine!!!

Clemens: Along with Bish I wanted to thank you for the coffee mug wraps. I got mine in the mail Friday and mine was a 15 ounce mug as well. I like that because with the normal 11 ounce mug I make about 50,000 trips to the coffee machine in the morning . This one saves me a few trips! lol

That looks really nice there Steve. I did build a 72nd one of these many years ago, can't recall which kit, but wasn't as good as this. Academy have a bad rap for their decals, but so far I have been lucky, the Academy kits I have built I have used AM decals or ones out of the spares box.

John, nice work on the exhausts. I know how tricky it can be drilling those out. Nice idea for squaring them off as well, had not thought of that.

Well, sounds like HPH are going to help me out. I got an e-mail tonight asking for my address, but no mention of cost. I replied sending the addy and asking how much and how I can pay. Given that these are such large lumps of resin, I would not expect to get them for free. Especially as they already sent me a replacement PE fret after I lost the first one and this again was down to my own clumsiness.

But, of course, if they want to send it for free, I won't complain. These eastern European companies really do have great service.

mustang1989

Say what type of camera are you using for your photos?

I'm using my Samsung Galaxy 3, which I use for all my pics. This time the lighting was bad so it had a hard time focusing. When I take my final pics I will do it where I have better light.

I missed something here. How to I get the coffee mug wrap?

Get with brutha Clemens there Johnny!

I missed the mug pic joe. Is that from Zazzle as well. I would like to say a larger mug will save me trips to the kettle, but I know it won't.

Yes sir.............you sent me the link! lol

Look like you did a better job when you added the image to the mug, your writing is a lot clearer. I should have made my image bigger.

Nice looking mug!

"panzerpilot: I hope your engine ordeal is working out in terms of display. It's really hard for me to close a model build up when I have that much detail to work with."

Thanks. I have run into that. The scheme I am going for will look better with the cowling on so I'm going with that, and to save time. When I can figure out how to to do a diorama someday, that's when I could revisit the "cowl off" idea. The CH E-4 would definitely be an excellent kit for a diorama.

Clemens  pm sent

Just a tad bit more done last night, got the pit installed and the fuselage halves together...

Really nice! You even a have a parachute down in there! What did you use for that? Milliput?

Nice work there Doug, the parachute is a nice touch.

Very nice work Doug.

Thanks guys... The "chute" is nothing but a folded up tissue treated with watered down white glue, mussed up a bit, allowed to set up then painted with an artist acrylic Burnt Seiana (I believe) then washed with dark brown  wash. If you haven't seen or heard of them yet, I'll tell you right now, I LOVE THOSE AIR SCALE INSTRUMENT DIAL DECALS!. They come in 72nd 48th, 32nd, and 24th, scales and in placards, Luftwaffe, RAF, US, and even for jet aircraft. Relatively in expensive and a steet will usually do several kits. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! LOL... Love em...

Thanks again guys.

Doug

Great looking office RR !!

Thanks Handi... Good to see you here and to hear from you... Your engine by the way looks awesome!

Doug

Lookin' great in that pit Doug!! As always, you do bring a good show!

Incredible work happening here as always -- sorry I've not been on in about 24 hours! No bench-time to report :-( .

Steve, I know what you mean about the rudder stripes, the decals are not too inspiring and I didn't try to use them on mine. I painted from scratch -- sprayed the white, then masked with thin strips of tape for the red, and topcoated with clear. Here's the one I did a few years back:

It was the first build I ever tried pre-shading on, and I think it was my first clear-coated project also.

M