2015 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Group Build

Hi Steve,

Great job on the Avia, I like the effective presentation, and photography is good too.

regards,

Jack

Man Steve!! Your Avia came out great! As I was saying when you started your build, I just never knew these existed until now. I want to thank you not only for your entry, but the type of entry that it was to further my education and research in the 109 arena. Feel more than free to grab another kit and join in buddy!! I'll get this posted in the intro post pretty quick here and Jack is right. The photography is right on as well!

Thunder: Great progress man! You guys are smokin' by my normal build time. I wouldn't even dream of being this far at this point. I might have just made it out of the engine building phase! LOL

Tom: Great progress out of you as well and looking good!  I like that stand/ jig you have there! I just recently acquired one.

Love that Avia!

I have a Czech one, and as soon as I can figure out how to do a decent panel line wash, I'll be closing up the canopy. Really love the history on the Israeli ones, though.

-BD-

Great job on the Avia and the Dio !!  

Nice job on the Avia, Steve. Turned out great!

Jay

Steve - The plane looks great.  Well done.

I'm truly amazed at the quality and speed of the builds in this GB.  Really outstanding stuff.  Unfortunately, I'm going to take a few weeks off from this GB.  I've been neglecting my F-107 for the Century GB.  It's about 75% complete, so I'm going to get busy on that plane.  Once I'm done with it, I'll focus my full attention toward the 109.  I'll keep poppin' in to monitor the great work that is going on here.

Craig

Busted that one right out Steve! Great work and nice to see an unusual version of the vaunted 109. BRAVO!!!

Little more last night...

Little bit of filler where the wing center section meets the engine under cowling...and fill in the wheel wells with "canvas" (actually a .010 x.375 strip of plastistruct) I will add stitching when paint sets up.

If you ever build this kit, take my word for it... Every one of the 4 I've ever built needs a .015 strip added to the area shown here in the photo, and being held by the tweezers. If not your hatch (center) section will sit too low and not line up with the front and rear pieces of the canopy and even though I intend to show open, force of habit... I automatically add.

Another hint, when installing the struts of the landing gear, I always drill a hole in both the leg and the wing root mount and super glue a straight pin in,(clipped down to appropriate length)  then use a spot of quick dry epoxy to secure the pieces together. This is one of the weakest set ups I've ever seen. Not doing a reinforcement of some sort will leave you with a 109 Sphinx.

More later my friends...

Doug

The funny thing is, I'm just putting the wraps on an Avia S199 of my own, similar to Steve's!   I did just pick up one of the AZ Models "joy packs" of Bf109s, so I can use some of the leftover markings I have in the spares pile. I'll be throwing in with one of these as soon as I get the bench cleared up.

Thank you very much guys  I really didn't think it would turn out as well as it did.

Mustang
I need to do some work on several other GB's (including the ones coming up that I'm hosting). However, that being said, I do have an old Hase 1/32 E in my stash that keeps tuggin at my pant leg.

Thanks again guys. It was really fun.

Vance!   Glad to see you throw your hat in sir!  Rigid that is one fine looking bird!  Modelcrazy building 109's is like eating potato chips. You can't stop at one.  Hope to see more from you.

Well done, Steve! Cranked that one right out!

Looks like your almost to painting, there Rigid.

Yeah, 'Stang. That Tamiya stand is pretty cool. Not very expensive and pretty versatile. It beats the old box I had been using!

Wow!  It would take a page on its own to comment on all of the builds in here so far - really nice stuff. 

Steve - That Avia is very nice and like Mustang, I never new of them until this build so thanks for the enlightenment.

Doug - I really enjoy following your work.  Always open panels and great displays.  Very motivational for me to work on my skills.

I'm itching to start mine after following along for the past two weeks.  I wanted to wait until my mug arrived (thanks for the template Clemens! ) but Zazzle must have shipped by mule.  It shipped out on the 2nd, and the mailbox is still empty.  Oh well I guess I'll get at it without the mug for now.

This GB (like the 190) is going to be easy to get behind in.  You turn your back for a day and 4 new pages pop up!  Speaks to the quality of GB that Mustang organizes.

Allen

Nice Avia Steve.

Doug. I'm speechless.....well maybe not but wow

Steve, lovely work on the Aviva, really nice base as well.

Allen, I can only assume USPS must be going slow. Mine was posted at the same time and arrived over a week ago, and it shipped from the US.

John: Some nice looking progress on your little G-6!

Handi: Now that's an awesome looking cokpit! I love your attention to detail!

Doug: Seems like you're making a lot of progress on that 109! The engine looks great!

Tom: Looks great! With the fuselage glued together those kits actually start looking like aircraft.

Steve: Your Avia turned out very nicely! That base looks great as well!

Mike: I like the look of those two 109s next to each other. Some nice, clean work you got going there!

Thank you all again for the very kind words...

Handi, It aint easy trying to keep up with you and Herman! LOL... But I'm trying.

Allen, You flatter me my friend...  Really, I just try to watch, read, and learn something new every time I build, and try to do each just a bit better then the one before. Alas, sometimes it doesn't work that way, But I try. I know you do too, I've seen your skills growing, and always enjoy seeing the end results!

I was chatting with Jester once, and told him what a fan of his paint work I was, He said kinda surprised, Really... I'm a fan of yours too... So keep up the good stuff and don't quit trying to improve! We all try hard and learn from each other... Take care!

Doug

Moving along, I have primered it with Mr. Surfacer 1200 and preshaded with black. I am not what you would call a precision preshader as you can see. Followed with the 04 panels which will then  be masked. Just tacked on a spare canopy lightly to keep paint out.

Jay

Looking really good there, Jay. I can't wait to see the end result. You're almost there!

Thanks, Tom. Kept on going tonight and sprayed the 76. You can mask over Mr. Color almost immediately without fear of paint coming off.

Jay

Nice work there Jay.

Very nice Jay.  I am assuming you are a big fan of Mr Color. I've been thinking about trying it.  Still wish mr hobby aqueous was available in the states. Loved that stuff. Just very difficult to get now

Thanks, guys. I do love Mr. Color. Best paint out there IMHO. I would use Mr. Hobby as well if it were available. Personally I like the smell of lacquer, maybe that's just me.

Jay

Looking good, Jay! I agree on Mr.Color paints being great. I'm fortunate enough to have access to their acrylic line, so I don't really have the smell issues and they really do spray beautifully. I only use Tamiya paints for the few colors that aren't in the Mr.Hobby lineup...

Looking near the finish line already Tuco !!  Nice paint work!

Good looking build Jay ! I don't mind the Lacquer smell either, and it dries so fast.

Since today may turn out to be a tad hectic, I tried to get some more done... stayed up until 2:30 working on it.

OK... Shes up on her feet.

And the 76 is on...

And the 75 is on...

Next will be the 74 splinter when these coats dry up good. Take care all.

Doug 

Looking good there Doug. I do like those early war schemes. Will this one have mottling over the blue sides or not.

Looks nice Doug. Can't wait to see that splinter camo.