2015 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Group Build

lawdog114

Nice work Jay.  Mental note made on that RLM 84.  I'm gonna start shying away from the Gunze line.  Its too hard to get and goes quickly because of the amount of paint needed for the right painting consistency.  Tamiya is much better in this regard, but I just can't get the RLM colors to look right

Joe

Thanks, Joe. I am surprised to hear that about Mr. Color. I get mine from Sprue Bros. and I have to heavily thin it, as much as 80% depending on color, so for me anyway, it does go a long way. My favorite paint by far. I do like Tamiya as well, but there is that mixing thing you mentioned.

Jay

Great work again jay. don't often see the NMF on German aircraft.

lawdog114

Nice work Jay.  Mental note made on that RLM 84.  I'm gonna start shying away from the Gunze line.  Its too hard to get and goes quickly because of the amount of paint needed for the right painting consistency.  Tamiya is much better in this regard, but I just can't get the RLM colors to look right

Joe

Lawdog, you're talking about the Aqueous line right? I think Jay uses the Lacquers(Mr. Color). I think I know what your issues is about thinning Joe. You'll get much better results using Gunze's own thinner made for the aqeous. Mr. Color hobby thinner. Its at Spruebros. The Tamiya X-20A just doesn't work as nice, and makes the gunze aqueous do funny stuff, like go on very transparent, which is good for shading but not so much for coverage. Unfortunately, I can't solve the availability issue, but www.sealmodel.com has great stock and decent shipping from Hong Kong.

That looks great, Jay! I really like the RLM 84/NMF combination!

Your K is looking good!  I think that you nailed the RLM 84, I use the Color of Eagles aircraft colors RLM 84 for my late war builds and has the same look that you got.  I believe that SprueBrothers has that line in stock most of the time.  

Looking great Jay,  cant wait to see the camo completed.

<Matt

I must confess to not holding great appeal for myself for cars and armor kits. I and my family have had a great love affair with aircraft of all types my whole life. I'm  a real life pilot and have owned two aircraft over the years. Big Mistake on my part! I had the opportunity to peruse through the Red Hot and Rolling auto GB. Took some time. For those out there, like me, that limit their viewing on FSM to aircraft, please allow me to give a shout out to our esteemed GB leader for his work there. Nothing short of amazing work on his auto rebuild. I'm in awe of the detail given to these builds. Beautiful work Joe. Nicely done!

Jay: As always... the modeling machine just keeps going like the energizer bunny! I was interested to learn you paint with lacquer. 

I have just a wee bit more to finish up, navigation lights and antenna on the F4. Will leave the canopy off and finish up the pilot a bit down the road before hanging from grandsons ceiling. I'll get the final pics posted tomorrow. Will also be inquiring as to where to get the artwork for a mug. My first GB, gotta do it!

Cheers!

Bob

Thanks Bob! All of those guys over at that GB are doing some amazing stuff. What started out as a filler "touch up" between builds starting in November of last year that was supposed to take up no more than a month or so turned into a four month ordeal. I never thought I'd go as far as I did with it because up until that point I had very little interest in automotive modeling. I'm still wrestling with whether it was a blessing or a curse that I ended up really getting into the automotive world of modeling again. On the blessing side I have learned more about automotive modeling in the last 5 months now (and stuff that transitions over to aircraft builds too) than ever before and on the curse side, I've been bitten by the "auto modeling bug". I have since acquired no fewer than 10 auto kits with most of them being things that I either built as a kid or wanted to build as a kid.

  I have one regret so far with building automotive subjects and that is my progress on my 109 has slowed significantly. I'm going to press through with the current automotive project that I am working on(just because I've got so much in depth planning on it)  and get back on my 109 that I have been planning out and looking forward to now for the last year and a half.

Thanks again for the kind comments Bob.

Invited here by Mustang1989, I’ve decided to make this entry, also being posted elsewhere as a “what if” project. The "what if" idea here is that while airframe designs continued to evolve, flamboyant marking schemes did not, the Germans hanging on to the garish Flying Circus type individual personal markings mentality, and as cool as they were, who could blame them?

The kit:

The inspiration:

Hey Bob... I too stick mainly to aircraft, but having built model cars as a kid, I do like to build one on occasion and it breaks the "comfort zone" bonds nicely. Also like Joe, I'm doing a few cars here and there and find them more enjoyable then I used to. Maybe the ability to be more realistic is the reason, but I'll never give up on my beloved Luftwaffe building! lol...I for one have enjoyed seeing your progress and hope to see much more from your "VERY CLEAN" bench! LOLOL...

Doug

Don't you have to thin Mr. Color with mineral spirits?

Welcome aboard Kevin!!!!! Bout time you made it! This looks to be a great idea bud!!!

Allen109

Don't you have to thin Mr. Color with mineral spirits?

Nope, Don't do that. They are lacquers and work best with their own brand, Mr. Color Lacquer thinner or the Leveling thinner. 

Well heading to Florida tomorrow. Dad's service is Friday. When I get back. Hopefully I'll get something done

Thanks, Joe, it should be a real good time for me.

Moving right along, pit is now all painted up, and fuselage halves are zipped up. Some cleanup is required on some smaller parts, then they too will be attached, along with wings. I'll grab an Eduard mask for the cockpit glass (as soon as I'm able).

Just finished prepping both wings, still a tiny bit of filler to add here and there though. I spent twenty minutes last night, looking for the under wing gun pods, only to discover this morning that they're already attached to wing;... how stupid.

Roadrunner,

Cant wait to see what your 109 is going to look like.  Should prove to be very interesting.  Best of luck with the scheme, and welcome to the madness.  I have found that 109s are like lays potato chips, you just cant build one!

<Matt

Roadrunner, now that's an interesting idea, looking forward to seeing this one.

Thanks a bunch. I think it'll definitely be different, that's for sure.

Thanks, me too.

I'm going to call this done at this point. I need to assemble and paint a pilot, but that will happen with my grandson a bit at a time. It would be easy to point out half a dozen serious mistakes with this build, but I'll just be kind to myself and learn from the errors. The biggest one was dealing with the panel lines through out the build process. At the end they simply would not accept the oil wash. Simply no room. Weathering is simply non existent. But I do know what what wrong, so that's a good thing.

And about the canopy. That' one I will hopefully not repeat. THANK YOU to those who both took the time to respond to PM questions as well as offer words of encouragement. It is truly appreciated!

I'm going to do a P51D for the Mustang GB and might come back here for an Airfix E3 I have in the closet. Not sure as I also have to choose between a Mitchell B25J or a B17 for the upcoming Boeing Build.

Thank You Gentlemen. Hopefully I'm off to a start with this endeavor. If it's OK I will continue to monitor and post to the GB until the end and hopefully continue to learn.

Cheers,

Bob

Very nicely done Bob! Excellent finish for your first GB... I'll be doing the Boeing GB too so I'll see you there too! Take care...

Doug

Well done, Bob! I think every build should be a learning experience. Seeing what works and what doesn't is a good thing and will help you with future builds. The desire to improve is, IMHO, the most important ingredient to doing so. Again, nicely done.

Jay

Wow Bob!! What a build man!!! I have never built a desert 109 but have always had an eye for these. I want to extend a thanks for joining this GB and have enjoyed your participation. Do you want this picture used for the intro post or would you rather take a couple of "glamour shots" of it and get back with me on a picture to post. Lemme know buddy!

Been working on painting this thing. Still more to do. Fairly happy with some aspects, less so with others. Working from one picture of the fuselage without the front cowling or tail so some is speculative, based on other similar schemes. May change/clean up some things, plus markings and weathering will pull it together a little more. Anyhow, here's where I am currently.

Jay

really nice looking build there Bob. You got me itching to start mine now.

Looking good there jay, nice looking scheme.

Good looking 109 there, Tucoh. I must confess that I've never seen a 109 with the lower rear fuselage painted like that, but with 109's, anything seems possible.

Thanks. That's one of things I like about 109s, a seemingly endless choice of schemes.

Jay

Wings all dolled up and now added. Pretty soon, it'll be painting time, and I loves me some painting! I must say, I really like this kit (ex-Hasegawa G-6 I think), and have had no major fitment issues, at least that weren't of my own doing.