Bf-109: Reich Defender GB The End

Frank, I think he was refering to the flaps. Flaps? And slats.

I've never heard that they were mechanically tied. The slats opened by themselves under certain conditions in flight. On the ground they could be pulled open by hand or shut.

Got some bench time tonight and actually put the decals on bird #1 the all 76 aircraft. The kit decals were a disaster so I raided the spares. Did my best to match what I needed and I think she is purdy. It was my least favourite scheme but seeing it taking shape has changed my mind. I will post some pics tomorrow.

Steve

Wow Aaron, it looks like your now a PE master. I saw those cheeky bits on the bottom of the LG. You sly old devil you. As for the wheels, geez, bin those beasts on the right they suck the large one.

As for the leading edge slats that you were on about, Frank was right. They were on rollers and needed to be pushed in before takeoff by the ground crew. They came out and in, in flight due to forces of flight on them to give the aircraft more lift. So on the ground you can pose them however you feel, in or out. As for the radiator flap. I think they were hydraulically operated so, if the machine was parked up, after a while they would droop. So once again, you can pose these however you want. Arnt 109's easy LOL.

...Guy

 Home again home again!  Thanks fellows! Glad there is a lot of leeway in the control surfaces and radiators. It is just another reason the 109 is such a great aircraft to model. Limited only by your imagination!

Steve looking forward to the pics you got me curious to how it looks all painted and decaled!

Apparently those slates were added to decrease the stall characteristic of the short wing and give some lift. Amazing that they were on rollers? Wow pretty innovative, Can't think of many allied aircraft that have things like that. I Know the Japanese used fowler flaps.  Very curious as I know I have seen similar hydrolically operated slates on modern jet passenger aircraft to give lift at slower take off and landing speeds.

 Oh yeah those ugly knobby wheels may not really be as far off as one may think. The Hasegawa ones definately have a more asthetically pleasing look but somewhere I have seen pics of 109G earlier types that had those chunky wheels. If I remember correctly it was an attempt to give a little traction to the tight scissor gear during the nast take off and landings that that gear arrangement could cause.  I'll keep my eye out for those pics. Ugly wheels may be accurate for some Aircraft.

 Been reading up can you tell Frank?

 Thunderolt, I did not realize that the 108 Taiftun had that slat arrangement as well. I will have to go check out that Edward kit again in the 48 hour GB that someone did a bang uo job on!  Wonder who?

Frank, the Owl decal set I picked up for the 110 also has a G-14 AS all in black, so I think I'll be going with Hasa's 1/48 G-10 with MDC's G-6/14AS replacement engine and cockpit set.

Should provide something a little different, and now I've got my big new tamiya razor saw I feel the need to butcher some plastic!

Marc, great job on the budget 109! I keep looking at their 262 and wondering about a bare metal and putty finish, as I don't feel like risking a Tamiya 262!

Aaron, the leading edge slat concept was invented by Handley Page in the UK. Many 109 pilots didn't like the slats as they had a tendency to open individually in tight manoeuvers, throwing off the pitot's aim, as one wing gained lift.

I can't think of any other manufacturer who applied leading edge slats to fighters, though Messerschmitt did of course with the 110 & 262.

Karl

 Awesome info Karl!  Invented by England to throw off the 109's pilots aim!  Those English are quite clever!

 I like that idea you have on your 109! Hack the plastic!!!!! Be different!  Looking forward to seeing it take shape.

Oooh eeee. Its me again, the man with the light in his eyes.

Glad to see were all waking up after crimbo. Ive been busy spraying today. Got the top coat on the bird. Just a few touch ups here and there then its future time, then decals. Getting close.

The frisket film worked out pretty good. Ill deffo use it again.

...Guy

I'm looking forward to those pics Steve!  Those single color scheme 109's are quite intriguing.

Mac- Impressive stuff mate!  You have really torn into this aircraft, and are making some very impressive headway.  Looks like I'll be asking you the 109 questions soon!

Karl- I know the markings of which you speak- very cool scheme!  Also good to hear we'll have another G-14/AS here soon.  Always good to see a variety of stuff.  I updated page one for you!

Guy- Give those elvves some rest, will ya?  You're a modeling machine.  Love that hard edged camo- very impressive stuff! 

Good progress Luftwoller. You'll be in the air soon.

Got to comment on the pics. Either you have a block of krytonite lighting your bench or your white balance is off. Check that camera, it's hard to pick out any color in your pics.

Daywalker wrote:

Karl- I know the markings of which you speak- very cool scheme!  Also good to hear we'll have another G-14/AS here soon.  Always good to see a variety of stuff.  I updated page one for you!

Frank, not so sure about soon, as I'm still sorting out the wings on the 110. Nothing on that kit seems to fit properly.

I'll be placing my order with MDc for the resin shortly, so if nothing more I'll be able to post some pics of that!

Aaron, I'm getting a taste for this sawing up kits, the new saw saw helps..

And yes those are the wings of my 1/48 110, which gives some idea as to the size of that saw!

Karl

Thnaks for all the comments guys.

Guy... I am doing Hartmann's White 1.  Ruddratt had a set to spare...Thanks again Mike.  the kit has those marking but they aren't very good. At least my set was out of register.

Tbolt is correct about the 108 wings being the basis for the 109 wing.  The slats opened automatically and independently if that wing was about to stall.

Karl, you should get the 262.  I almost picked that for the club GB.  A couple of the gusy are doingthat kit and it looks really nice.  A little TLC and these kits build up nice.

Marc, at this rate 2009 is going to be a Luftwaffe year! I think i built more IJA/N last year than anything else! Not sure where that urge came from.

I've got loads of spare decals for 262s, as well as a spares box full of Dragon/Tamiya 262 spares, so I may well pick up that 262 as an antodote to the 110 and the 109.

Guy, great looking progress on that K.

Back to rescribing the 110.

Karl

sfcmac wrote:

I do have another question that I am having trouble answering. The forward wing flaps or moving leading edge thingie? I have the flaps on the back wing all apart ready to pose but am concerned that the forward ones may have automatically opened as well. This could be an issue as I do not think there is an awful lot I can do with them without destroying the wing. The Plastic is very thick and the shape would not be accurate after chopping it of. So I think I am stuck with leaving them intact and alone. Will this be an issue with the position of the flaps on the rear of the wing?

Aaron- We had a lengthy discussion on this topic last year.  The forward slats were actually Handley-Page automatic slats.  They were held in place by airflow against the wing, when the angle of attack changed they would deploy to provide more lift to the wing.  According to 275 victory Experten Gunther Rall, they were usually pushed in (closed) when the plane was on the ground to prevent foreign matter from fouling them.  Most photographs of 109's on the ground show them closed so you're certainly safe leaving them that way.

Mike

Guy- Beautiful work on the paint!

Marc- Looking good, glad to see you got started!

I finally have some more WIP pics!  Finished most of the cockpit, just have to get the fuse halves together so I can finish up the deck.

Left cockpit side- Does anyone know the actual color of the throttle knob?  I have seen restored aircraft with yellow, white, yellow stripe, red, and any other color you can imagine.  I left mine RLM66 for now as I have seen that combo too.

Right cockpit side- Re-did the lwer front portion of the fuel line, added a section of clear sprue for the sight glass, and oxygen hose from coiled solder.

IP- added some glass lenses for the guages.

Cockpit floor- Finished up the seatbelts and installed the lap belts.  Belts made from lead foil, PE buckles from Eduard.  Can also see the rudder pedal straps here.  Added a few wires on the lower right side.

Frank, that pit is looking sharp.

Haven't a clue what colour the throttle knob ought to be, as like you, I have seen it in a variety of colours.

Karl

Hi Frank, wow, my friend, Thats some awesome work there for sure. How did you do the IP its awesome. Its the kit panel but the dials and the lens's are amazing. How?

As for the throttle lever, heres a pic of an unrestored late G model. I know it doesnt help much LOL.

but more common is the lever being yellow with what looks like a black end to it. Ill see if i can dig up any more stuff.

Mines now got the fuz mottles on and is futured. Next up decals but ill give the future time to go off properly.

...Guy

Heres another goodun of a late G,

Heres another Late G, this time it appears the throttle lever is all Grey, mmmm, strange,

Perhaps the pic aboves throttle lever is similar to this one, An E

Nothing but minefields these bleeding 109's.

...Guy

Luftwoller wrote:

...Nothing but minefields these bleeding 109's.

LOL, you got that right!  Thanks for the help fellas on the throttle handle.  I'll wait a bit before painting it anything else until I have to close up the fuse just in case another photo turns up (Did you hear that Stan? ) LOL...

Yes, that is the kit IP OOB.  I hand painted the detail, then used some 5 minute epoxy for lenses.  The trick is to keep the panel level while the epoxy goes off, and BE CERTAIN THE UNDERLYING PAINT IS DRY!!!  Otherwise, the epoxy will turn your nice little painted details into a white slurry.  Don't ask me how I found that trivial little bit out.

Well from reason got motivated last night and made a good start to the Academy G-14. Some work is required to build this as a  G-14. You have to saw to tail off drill the holes for the wing humps drill the holes for gun breach bulges and install them. The cool thing is for an inexpensive kit it offers alot. The fit is overall pretty good and the way the kit is molded you could easily build the kit as almost every version of the F through G versions with the exception of the G-10. I finished the pit last night got the wing halves glued up and sawed of the tail to replace it with the tall wooden design. Going to try to get the fuselage halves closed up tonight.

                                                                           Soulcrusher

Guy you are off the charts!  You will be decaling by tommorrow!  The masking worked out very well! The Pics color is off because he has to take them behind the aquarium glass cage that he uses to keep the Elfs imprisioned! Also the lighting in middle earth can be tricky. 

So my question was answered by just about everyone and closed is good! Whew I was wondering how I was ever gonna get them open and happy not to worry about it.

Your right Mike I figure anything I ask has probably been answered many times before by You, Stan and all the old hat 109ers! But that's me, I am so last year..... I mean look what kit I'm working on? Purdy old... Thanks all for taking the time to answer!

Frank that pit and fuel line is cool looks better than the AM stuff! That coiled hose is amazing! What color do you use for your pit DK Gray? I read once you used Tamiya Nato black then lightened it but it looks lighter than that to me.

So here is the one decalled and got started on a wash later. Im calling the other two paint jobs done for now and time for a clear coat in prep for the wash and decals.

I've grow kinda fond of the all 76 scheme and would like to know more info on them.

Cant wait to get some decals on these two

Steve

Mac- Thank you!  For this cockpit, I used Tamiya XF-63 "German Grey".  I also fogged on some lighter spots in the open areas to contrast with the shadows of the wash. 

Steve- You're right- those are very striking schemes!  As much as I love the standard camo schemes, those unusual ones really stand out.

Nice work Steve, 3? Thats just awesome. Dont envy you decalling the things though. Dont mention decals anyone RIGHT!!! I thought the 'Tulip' on the front of mine was kinda neat and not often seen modelled. Geez now i know why. If i were decalling onto a dead flat suface, it would be hard enough, but have you seen the front of the K's? Bulbous city Arizona!!

As well as the bad lighting here in Elvish Town. Im just glad i got 2 sets of decals. Im using the Hasa decals for the Tulip. The eagle cals have 2 pieces to each Tulip. A white back then the red front. It makes my head ache to think about it. Im only on here cos i need a break bad. And i fitted a shower this morning.

Going for a lie down.

...Guy