2015 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Group Build

Absolutely stunning.  The level of the talent in this thread is stunning.  I am in awe at how easy these builds appear to be for all of you.  The paintwork is first class all the way.  The schemes seem so complex yet you seem to breeze through them.  

My humble admiration to all of you for your work.  Simply outstanding.

Joe

Hey Mike, glad you checked the kit. I probably have it backwards, you can make an F-2 out of any Hasegawa F-4 kit. You can check out the vector resin set made to update the Zvezda F-2 into an F-4, which was released cause Zvezda was draggin their  butt on releasing the actual F-4 kit. Not sure of its availability in Aus though...

Clemens

 I coulda sworn I put my entry in like late Dec or early January but didn't find myself on the roster.  Can you oblige me a 1/48 Monogram G-10???  Please!?!?!?  It will be Yellow 11 of JG52 (most likely) from late April '45.  What intrigued me about this particular bird is that it appears to be overall 81 or 83 topside with 76 undersides.  Haven't seen a build of this and it is a departure from splinter and mottling schemes.

 Got the kit, an Airwaves PE set and Eduard decal set.  I will post pics when I can take em!

Thanks for the info, all!

Jack, I remember that type of headrest armour from the K-4 kit, there are probably a few AM examples to be found.

Nathan -- I just rechecked the F-2 kit and you're right, some of those parts are right there -- the larger supercharger intake is on the sprue, as is the armoured windscreen. There's only one oil cooler -- I'm guessing the F-4's was deeper? There only seems to be one type of tailwheel, the same as the G-2's, and only the narrow prop blades. An F-4 prop and exhausts from Quickboost should be easy enough. You're right about the wheel well shape -- the unfinished F-2 in the box has the filets already removed, which was confusing me, so that's not a problem. It sounds like the oil cooler, headrest and tailwheel are the only real problems to solve! It would be great if I could bring together an F-4 from various AM sources and the F-2 kit, I could build a shelf of that variant only, based on the marvellous marking choices I have in stock!

The mask set for the Tammy E-7 was in today's post, so I can move on through the masking phase with that one now.

Cheers, M/TB379

Thought everyone could use a good laugh so I'm posting some progress pics of my first ever attempt at pre shading!  I hear the laughter already!  O.K., I have an Aztec (Testors) AB that has issues (namely me!) on getting a fine enough spray to do fine lines you'd expect to see on a good pre shading job!    I'm giving myself a goal of trying a new technique of some sort on every build I do this year, so this is my first attempt at pre shading,

Eagle90

Thanks Bish... Yeah I loves me some 109s! lol...Like Joe, you've had some Killer GBs like the Star Wars and the Stuka build and hopefully an all Messerschmitt build in the future!

Joe... as always, means a lot coming from all, and since your the administrator, It is very much appreciated, Thank you for the kind words... In mid 1942 the Germans sent 5 - 109"E-7s" and later when available a single 190 for testing. The schemes on all 6 were identical. Picture is up to you as always, and I will be back shortly with an "F" to build! As usual your GB is turning into another block buster.

Thanks all

Doug

Mike, you should be able to make an F-4 from any Hasegawa F-2 box. The larger prop blades, supercharger intake, and oil cooler scoop should be on the sprues. You'll need an armored windscreen however. If by some chance there isn't larger prop blades, there are a ton of am ones out there. All Hase 109 kits come with round wheel wells. Just cut out the corners like the instructions show. But there were even F-4s with round wells.

Mike: Wow man that thing is coming together fast!! I'm probably not going to have that same luck with my Eduard G-6. Thing just flew together! I hope your glass sprue makes it in soon.

Doug: I've gotta say that looks spectacular! I did not know that Japan had some of these beauties. I knew about the jets but not the prop planes. As well as liking your builds, I have also watched your skills grow while you've been here. You're doing some amazing stuff there friend. Which picture would you like to see up front pal?

I put the coolant reservoir straps on yesterday. Instead of painting, I used gray decals that I cut into strips that were just as wide as molded in straps. There was just no way I was gonna paint those as they would have looked painted on. Will be making steady progress on this. I have another side build that is involving more planning than I've ever used so most of my efforts are going there..............for now.

Doug, that is very nice. Great job on the scheme and those markings look real nice. Seems like your on a 109 role.

Mike, happy to help out.   Agree about the cannon size opening  shouldn't be an issue, nor pilot armour thickness.

I should give a better description of this revised pilot protection so can compare with what is in the F-2 boxing.  The usual armour-glass windscreen, but also armour-glass behind the pilot.  Below this was an armour plate to protect  neck and shoulders.   Above the glass piece was another plate angled about 45 degrees to protect the head.

regards,

Jack

Thanks, Jack! Some of those are essentially internal -- the difference between 15 and 20 mm on the bore of the canon would be imperceptible at 1:48th scale (well, it sure would be to my eyesight!), and the thickness of the pilot armour likewise. The supercharger intake -- I'm thinking one might be poached from a G kit which is built as a Trop, assuming Hasegawa actually registered the difference too! It's the wheel wells that pose the real problem, as the F-2 kit is set up with the squared off ends and it's not as simple as the corner fillets to get the two shapes in later kits. Hmmm -- sounds like it would depend on how early in production the example was, and that would relate to dates supplied on the decal sheets...

Many thanks, and I'll keep an eye open for possible match-ups as we go.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Doug - great job on the Japanese Emil.   That combination of markings and aircraft does invite a double look.

-------------------

Mike - looking at the Kagero publication on the F series, here's what I found for the F-4 variant:

- early on it's appearance was nearly identical to the F-2, with changes being introduced during production (unfortunately no dates provided)

- later F-4s dispensed with the tailplane reinforcement strips

- supercharger intake was revised (larger and stronger)

- extra pilot armour fitted

- majority had circular wheel wells

- 20mm cannon in nose (F-2 had 15mm)

regards,

Jack

Thanks Clemens! Hope your doing better now...

Thanks Mike! I will dig into a few books and see also. The head guard was indeed a bit dicey, But I've learned after being frustrated various times with them, to get them bent into a close shape, and just do (work with) one attachment point at a time, let the CA set up, then move on to the next. Its slow going, and you need to either file just a gnats wing of thickness from the attachment area to make up for the added (albeit miniscule) thickness of the PE. or file the whole opposite side of the canopy frame to get them to fit properly as a closed 3 piece set.

Doug

No need to apologize, Joe. I can only imagine how you must be feeling and you really deserve it.

Mike: She's coming along nicely! I can't wait to see her with some paint on!

Doug: That heavy mottling combined with the Hinomarus looks really sharp and you pulled it all off perfectly!

Doug, sweet! It looks amazing in Japanese markings! Excellent finish, too! (How did you find the etched headrest? It looks a bit dicey to me, I'm looking around for a spare plastic part... The other E-7 I have underway is the very same kit!)

I was just reading in Robert Grinsell's 109 volume for Janes/Zokeisha (1980, one of my standard references) about the physical differences in the -F model. The F-1 to F-4 certainly seem to have been very similar, separated by internal changes only, such as the DB601E powerplant coming along, change in the calibre of the centreline canon, thickness of pilot's armour and so forth. I have studied profile art in the book and there seems little or no difference externally. Some of them look like they had the larger, non-retracting tailwheel, but that's the only difference I could spot. How does that set with others' research???

My reason for asking is simple -- trying to get hold of Hasegawa's F-4 kit these days looks like it'll cost an arm and a leg, but their F-2 kit is still commonly available without breaking the bank. Last night I looked through my decal stash, I have multiple schemes on mint Superscale sheets and if an F-4 can be built from the F-2 kit with little to no modifications, that opens up new vistas of possibility!

Cheers, M/TB379

Very nice Mike! Gotta give it to Tamiya, they do make a nice kit!

Well heres my completed Hasagawa E7, on loan to Japan for flight trials in mid 1942.

Well there she is... #3 of the 5 sent to Japan for flight testing in 1942. All in all a nice kit to build with virtually no problems at all. Could have had a bit more detail, but nothing a bit of PE wouldn't cure. It actually had a small PE set for the oil cooler and the radiators, Oh and the head guard in the canopy.  

Well in a bit I want to start another, this time an "F" . Still not sure of the Group or Theater but in a week or two when I can begin, I'll have decided (I hope) The completion picture is your choice Clemens/Joe' Thanks again, and I'll be back shortly!

Doug

Progress report at last! They say the Tamigawa kits are shake'n'bake, and they are! I meant to shoot pics as I went but I went so fast there seemed no purpose! Here's the Tamiya E-7, structurally complete. The pit has Eduard harness, the rads are internally painted and masked, and the radiator pitch jacks are added with rod.

 I found a mask set for this one at a store interstate, it should be here in a few days. What little filling and sanding the kit required is done -- the canopy was not a perfect fit with the headrest armour plate, but close enough and I can use a little whiteglue in the base seam.

I'll set this one aside now and concentrate on the Hasegawa E-7, which means backtrack to the cockpit stage and finish the detail painting, then bring her together. The masks for that one should be coming in from the UK this week.

I've had no reaction so far from the Australian distributor with regards to getting a new clear sprue for the G-2, I might have to sort something out with an overseas source. Likewise, it'll probably be weeks yet before the masks for the E-4 show up from Hong Kong.

Thanks for looking,

Cheers, M/TB379

No apology needed Joe.   Your builds speak for themselves.   You should be excited.   And what a better way to share it then with your modeling buddies.  Congratulations. John

Thanks guys.  

Joe

Joe, even though we have never meet till this GB, I feel that your post was not ego driven.  You should be proud of the work that you are doing.  

I remember the first time I got a build in the readers gallery of Finescale.  I was proud and want the people I build with and consider friends to know that was me.

Congrats on being published.

moose

No sweat, Joe -- I remember the buzz when I git my first article in FSM way back in '96, it's a thrill to be enjoyed!

M/TB379

Thanks all.  

Joe

  As I remember it you expressed a large amount of gratitude while sharing the good news with us all. You're all good Joe.

Nothing to apologize for... I think its great! Good luck, and keep up the amazing work!

Doug

Last night I thought my post was a good idea.  This had seemed to develop quite a large number of views across the boards and I thought I better update it.  Woke up this morning and thought what an ego driven post that was.  Call it excitement still from getting the news but still......  

Sorry guys, feeling a little embarrassed for making a post like I did.  Let my excitement get the best of me.  Mind you I want to become a regular contributor to magazines, have had that desire since my teens.  Mostly because of the cool factor of seeing my name in print as well as seeing my work published.  But I am a realist and that means I realize that I am not a great builder, I am not a very good writer, and put the two together I am very lucky that I was given this opportunity.  The opportunity speaks more for the wonderful individuals who shared with me so many great reference materials as well as shared with me some great advice.  

Joe

Thanks, Mustang! I have the rads painted and installed, and masking over the painted faces so I can spray into the scoops. Next, rig some rod as the actuator struts, then mount the scoops.

There was some discussion recently of when the change in RLM directives took effect. I found some info in Wings of Fame Vol. 4 (1996) that shows what appear to be aircraft in 74/75/76 as early as February 1941, as well as shedding light on the appearance of mottle during the Battle of Britain.

Cheers, M/TB379

Mike that's a great start on that Tamiya kit interior. Those interiors are itty bitty aint they?

Joe: I told you not to cut yourself short! The amazing work you do Is credited by this opportunity. Good stuff bubba!!

Clemens: Man I hope you're feeling better man. I've had a light touch of that stuff myself. Knock on wood , it never seems to dig it's claws very deep into me and I can fortunately shake it off in a day or two. Get better soon pal.

Thanks Bish, RR, Clemens and TJ! The Tamiya has certainly fallen together. The fuselage is assembled, guns, cowl and rudder are on, and I'm working up the rads before mating the wing. The only sour note is the slats, they are a poor fit in the retracted position and I'm still fiddling with one of them.

Joe, great news, I hope it's a popular feature that has folks talking!

Cheers, M/TB379

Brandon right now it is still kind of an illusion.  Reality will hit when I see it.  With all the talent shown in this thread, on this site, I was not sure if I wanted to post the news.  Never did like to beat my chest.   I am just feeling grateful for the opportunity.

Joe

Joe - CONGRATULATIONS!!!

As a writer, I can tell you that you never forget the thrill of seeing your first piece published. And for it to be in a national/international magazine, that's awesome!

But to not only have writing good enough to be published, but also have your modeling skills be deemed up to par for the magazine is a step above. Well done. From what I've seen of your work posted on these boards, I can say I will definitely be looking forward to seeing it in print.

Once again, congratulations. And yes, it's OK to pick up spares and frame a copy of the article for the workbench wall :)

-BD-