Reich Defenders V: Hunters of the Dark

You're most welcome, my friend! It's always a pleasure to watch you work! I hope we see you again in the second six months of this GB! (Second six months -- yikes, I MUST get a start on my 262!)

I'll try to get the pic up later today, Photobucket has done something weird with its code generator and I haven't worked it out yet...

M/TB379

Thanks guys... Choice of pics is yours my friend... I agree, with the right add ons,  ie...PE, Resin, Scratch built items, These kits provide a good solid base kit to begin with. They are kind of like the newer Lindberg kits, When I was a kid, the Lindberg kits were the well detailed and sought after kits. Now they are no more then a base to start from with the add ons required costing far more then the original kit. Thanks again Mike for sponsoring this build, and if time permits I'll do another. I will watch on and admire all the great work being done here.

Thanks

Doug

Nice work Doug.  I love the way you have color modulation on the black.  I really brought your bird to life.

Looks great and look forward to the next build you do.

Kim

Doug -- that's a fantastic piece of work! Yep, Hobbycraft is a demanding brand but the fact is that some very nice models can be built from their products, as you have certainly done! I especially like the canopy masking and etched loop antennas, very good!

I'll use the third pic from the bottom, if that's okay with you?

Cheers, M/TB379

Morning all... I stayed up late and finished up last night. here is my latest contribution to this GB.

OK, summary ... All in all, not a terrible kit but not a good one either, suffers terribly from lack of detail, and poor instructions and parts ID. The fit was so so... but over all a fair representation of the subject. Would not recommend for un experienced builders. I see now why people have referred to them as Hobby"Crap" kits. 

Would love to do another in the future but have a pretty full plate at this time... Thanks for the opportunity to do this one, and If not in this time frame I guess there is the next one!

OH... I have loosely tried to represent an aircraft of Zg3, Norway late 1940.

Thanks again...

Doug

Yeah I noticed that. Trying to figure out what to do with the exhaust.  Yes my Eduard kit is a full PE set.

moose

Great -- I thought maybe it was just an interior set -- the rad is really the only thing that cries out to be up-detailed on the exterior, though the exhausts are a bit of a disaster as well.

M/TB379

Thanks for the heads up on the radiator.  I see the Eduard had a screen insert that has nice detail.

moose

Moose -- the HC kit has no detail in the chin radiator intake, you'll need to scratch something as it's very noticeable. The Airwaves brass set has an insert for it, but I used some brass grille and plastic strip, and it looked okay under paint. I did a -D for the 109 GB earlier this year.

Can't wait to see this bird!

M/TB379

I have a set of H-models decals.  It has two of the all black D's.

One is 11(N), JG2 Richtofen at airbase Jever-Altenborg 1940, Norway.

The other is 10.(NJ)JG 26 at airbase Bonn-Hangelar 1939.

Yep, she is a Hobbycraft.  I am using the Eduard PE set for the pit.  I have a set of resin seat.  I already ground the set belts off. I want to put a set of PE belts in.  Also I have a Squadron Canopy.

As you guys can tell I love my aftermarket.  It's kinda an addiction.

I will be posting pictures of her.

Doug,

there is something about black that makes that look menacing. Nice looking bird.

Doug -- I feel your pain, there is nothing so acutely frustrating as being let down by one of the late stages of a project, and decals can be irksome in the extreme. You'll conquer this mountain, I know!

Moose -- an early -D nightfighter, that would probably be the Nacht staffel created by JG 132 in 1938 or so? Looking forward bigtime! Hobbycraft -D???

M

Thanks Moose.... Looking forward to your 109, That's where I'm going next too. Not a night fighter but likely an "F" version MTO craft.

Your chipping looks killer. Sorry to hear about the decals being crappy for you. That sucks.

Keep up the great work.

As a side note I will post some pictures when I get to a point in my next build.  It's for the Bf 109 GB.  Only thing is, she is a night fighter.  It's a Bf 109D from the early days of night fighting.

Keep up the great builds guys.

moose

Well here is some more from today... I'm getting the decals on and having a bear of a time. They wont lay out right and are silvering something terrible. The fuse (Staffle ID) decals had to be removed due to poor adhesion and silvering. I will repaint the sides and try again with dry transfers.

Started doing some of the detailing and weathering, using a silver grey artist pencil and dry brushing. She will wear the England Blitz crest like most all of the night incursion fighters did.

The new markings have been applied.

A little better look at the chipping effect and weathering.

Well I should be done pretty soon, mostly just touch up and fiddly parts, Maybe by this weekend? Thanks for looking...

Doug 

Thanks  Mike...yeah the wings forward top and bottom has some reasonable detail but wings back are all but non existant. With this kit I really had no good references to add scribing lines but was able and had to add rivets with one of my pounce wheels.

I think the weathering came out pretty good too and just hope the top comes out as well. I've already encountered severe decal silvering even with a good gloss coat, and have had to retreat with solva set to soften and remove some of the decals, to be replaced with dry transfers. More pics soon...

Thanks again,

Doug

WOW -- she's looking fantastic, I love the weathering on the underside! This is going to be a very spectacular bird!

M/TB379

Got some more done folks... Shes coming along fairly well now...

Got the "Glazing" in, as you can see I had to persuade the canopy to stay put. It looks like a pain masking, but all in all it went pretty easy.

Wheels on and the underside dark grey is on.

OK, the upper surfaces are done in the early war over all black.

Gloss coat applied and beginning the decals...

And lastly for now, I have the weathering on the under surfaces done. More in a bit...

Thanks

Doug 

Looking good Doug. I like the use of the old glazed nose and making it the solid nose.

moose

Alright then... as bit more from me...

I needed a metal nose to replace the glazing, didn't have one, so I took the piece sent with kit, filed down the frame work and smoothed down a bit. I didn't smooth completely since most pictures I've seem they look a little wrinkled and rough.

Installing the engines and nacelles,

Landing gear...

And shes on her feet.  That's all for now... more this weekend I hope!

Doug 

Thanks Bob.  True on the time.  I have done armor but not in about 5 1/2 years.  So this has got me back on the bench.  Much to my wife's dismay.  Yep more kits to the stash.

Kim

Looks fantastic Moose!  I wouldn't believe that's your first aircraft in so long.

Thanks for all the compliments.  It means a lot coming from the talent that is in this GB.  

Kim

Sorry, Fat fingers... BEAUTIFUL work!!!

Berautiful Job Moose! Outstanding!!!

My pleasure, Kim! I'm out to work in an hour so I'll get it posted when I'm home. Cheers,

M/TB379

Moose, that is one really good looking 110. Nicely done Sir !!

Thanks and the last one is good for me.

Thank you again for this great GB.

Kim

Moose -- Your first plane in thirty years? It's a pretty amazing build that displays considerable talent, and looks absolutely fantastic! Well done and double thumbs-up!

I'll go with the last photo for the Honour Wall, if that's okay?

M/TB379