2015 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Group Build

OK friends... Some more progress...

OK, all in all The kit is almost falling together by its self...There were virtually no gaps at all between wing root and fuselage, the dihedral is already engineered into the wing sections, and only the slightest of step on the starboard wing to fuselage mount area which was easily filed down, and the paint begins. This will be the standard Luftwaffe day fighter scheme of 74,75 splinter on the upper surfaces and 76 on the fuse sides and lower surfaces with a heavy 75 mottle on the sides and the tail and rudder.  Oh and since this was originally a trop kit, I had to scratch the filter housing since it was sent with a sand filter. More in a day or two! Take care all!!!

Doug

70gtvert: Did I see a G-10 to put on the roster?

Doug: Looks like you are refining your building order! You seem to be building aircraft quicker and quicker with every build! Lookin' good buddy!!

Well folks...................................here we go:

Primed and drying:

Bish: That engine is looking really nice so far!

Mij: Some nice scratchbuilding you got going there!

Joe: Your G-10 keeps looking better each update. You're doing some very inspiring work on that one!

Doug: And he got another one started! You're really speeding through those builds while still managing to keep up a really high quality standard!

Joe (mustang): That engine looks fantastic! Is that the Brassin set?

70gt: Just tell me the scale of that kit and I'll get you on the build roster right away!

Hi guys, I've been kinda quiet with work and all, and just wanted to give you a state of play -- the masks for the E-4 are on back order with LuckyModel and will be here hopefully in a few weeks, and I have written to the Aus distributor for Hasegawa to see about getting a replacement canopy for the G-2. The Bf 109 itch is such that I'm looking at others on the shelf and wondering about whacking another together while I wait on the bits -- I have spare harness in hand on Eduard frets, all I would need is some masks and surely I can track them down without drama (you'd think...) I hesitate to start the big G-6 as I don't have my new display case yet...

M/TB379

SchattenSpartan

Joe (mustang): That engine looks fantastic! Is that the Brassin set?

Mike: Lookin' forward to your progress..........

Spartan, it is the old Revell 1/4/8 G10 that I am converting, externally at least, to a K4 to use up some nice K4 decals I have left after a 1/48 K4 Fujimi build. Other then decals, tape seat belts, assorted wire and sprue parts it is OOB with no money going to aftermarket stuff.

Joe... yeah, I almost hate to say that I'm "building" this kit, its almost falling together all on its own. I really do like the Hasagawa kits.

Thank you too Clemens...this is going to be a fairly quick build, with no engine and a low part count, and next will ba an "F" I've wanted to do.

OH... and Joe... killer engine!

Coming on really well there Doug.

Joe, I like the engine. One question, the piece that mounted on your scalpel, is there a rim which goes right around the wider round piece. My kit instructions seem to show one there but the piece doesn't include it, you should see what I mean when you see the e-mail I sent. The odd thing is, its one of the pieces I had re sent and neither had it there, but on the parts diagram it seems to be a part of the piece.

Thanks SS.

Thanks Bish! Yes there is a ring around the oil reservoir in the front of the engine. I'll see if I can post some pics of the instruction sheet on that.

I did make some progress this morning. I got the engine base coated and have some of the piping/wiring detailed out. I got the timing cover and oil reservoir assy installed as well. Will start picking out more details and then dirtying it all up. I see a little trouble on the horizon with the coolant reservoir retaining straps not being defined. Wished I would have caught that earlier but I'll work it in.

Update -- I've decided to throw a Hasegawa -E into the mix, if I may! 1:48, it's an E-7 and I'm looking at going the AM markings route for a plane in the Balkans in '41. The mask set for it was sold out at my regular supplier in Aus, and on three-week backorder in Hong Kong, but I located a set in the UK and ordered it up, so hopefully that'll be with me in the next couple of weeks.

Cheers, M/TB379

Here are a few pics of the Revel g-10 being converted to a K-4. As I said, a basic kit. I added weld seams to the exhausts, cut out the rear opening to the oil cooler (molded in closed) and scribed in the flap for same. removed the molded on guns from the cowl. It really isn't that far from paint. Don't think I have 4 hours in it yet and have enjoyed every minute of them. The pedals came from a Hobby Boss 262 I put photo etch in. All in all a fun $15 kit.

Excellent progress! Sometimes, (not 100%) its hard to beat a good ol Revell kit. There inexpensive enough to where a little extra (pe, resin and such) wont break the budget, and they do present a good solid base kit to build on. I just ordered another RMX Bf110, couldn't resist the price.

Doug

PS... Theres an idea Joe... Sometime maybe we could do a "Messerschmitt" Build...Lots of good kits to choose from... 109s, 110s, 410s, 262s... etc...Hmmmm...

Woohoo! There'd be no staying away from THAT!

M/TB379

Doug. I'll be in for that.  Woohoo

Well, Shoot... Kinda sounding like a future GB starting to take shape, well... in thought any way, Yeah I'll bet that would be a winner!  Willie M. gave us a vast selection of great subjects to make that one happen.

OK... Something to think about...

Well friends, some more progress on my humble build,

Alright, both 74,and 75 now applied...

Guess its a bit hard to see with the light shine on it but there is a splinter there.

And the 76 is on now.

And lastly for now, the mottle . at first I didn't have it heavy enough and it just didn't look right. but after thickening the paint a tad and cranking up the air pressure about 5 psi, I was able to add moer to what was there and the light overspray blended nicely. I'm happy. The last pic is with the clear coat... we'll let sit for the night then start decals!

Thanks all... Take care!

Doug 

Looking sweet Doug, There were always exceptions, but weren't Emils still 02, 71 over 65?  Maybe Trop versions were different.  I didnt think the 74,75, 76 started until 1941?  Either way, beauty work...

Mustang (Joe), sweet DB bro.   incredible detail on that......

Joe

Law Dog... Yes I believe your right and according to my Luftwaffe camo guide for Day Fighters it states by Aug. 15 1941 Messerschmitt had set forth the new camo scheme with the colors 74,75,76, with fuselage mottle of 02, 70, and 74...However... these 5 aircraft were sent to Japan for testing in early 1942. The info I found stated 74 & 75 splinter with 76 undersides and fuselage sides with either an 02 or 74 mottle. Even the author wasn't sure, soooo, I just chose to mottle in 74. I do love the Luftwaffe of the time, but DAMN.... They did have a way of confusing those of us who try to build accurately! LOLOL...

Doug

Well, I'm going with done here....and I'm glad!.  To recap, it's my take on the relatively new Zveda F-2.  I added a PE cockpit set and Quickboost exhausts to spruce it up. Its in the markings of JG 26 ace Gustav "Micky" Sprick in June of 1941.  On June 28th of 1941, he was jumped by Spitfires and was KIA when this F-2 lost a wing during evasive manuevering.  It's also possible his wing was shot off but that was never confirmed.  He would end up with 31 kills.

Reference the kit.  Where do I start.  Ok...I'll be nice because it is afterall an inexpensive kit.  Let's just say that Hasegawa has nothing to worry about (soley my opinion).   I just wasn't impressed.  Why these companies can't figure out how to offer a closed option so you don't have to use the engine is beyond me.  I had to carve off half the engine to make it fit.  Also, the panel lines are anorexic especially on the fuselage.  Yes I could have scribed them deeper but I didn't feel like it.  After repeated Flory washes, I finally got a trace to remain in there.  The tail wheel was a poor design and I kept breaking the #$% thing off.  I ended up super gluing it on there.  As I indicated earlier, I don't like the wing dihehral either.  It just looks wrong to me.  

To be fair, there are some good things.  First, like I already indicated, its cheap.  I paid 22 bones for it.  It's also nicely detailed in the gear bays, the canopy sill top and the luggage door, which are either void or weak Hasegawa kit.  I thought the prop hub was better than Hasegawa's too and it easily held a wash (unlike the rest of the kit...lol).  All of the controls surfaces are separate too, a nice touch.

On this kit I pushed my personal boundaries with the weathering.  I left more Flory wash "residue" than usual and dirtied up the yellow nose with postshading and exhaust staining.  I added prominent gun powder staining to the spinner cannon as well.  

Thank you for having me, but its time to leave Luftwaffe mode and switch to Mustang mode.  I'll see you over at the Mustang GB...

Joe

Doug, LOVE the mottle, that came out great! As for the scheme, there are examples of Es in 74/5/6 on decal sheets, though they are rare -- I think the E was in the final throes of its service life, probably mostly with foreign users and training units, when the colour change happened, and some would likely have received the new paint during maintenance work.

Joe -- well, as you say, it's a kit with a lot of issues, but you've done a tremendous job on it, and the finished result is a visual feast well able to stand alongside better kits. Sterling work, sir!

I've thrown an extra Tamiya into the mix too, here are two E-7s I'll production line alongside each other:

I'm basically fed up of waiting for bits and pieces to arrive for the others. Weeks yet for masks for the E-4, no reply from the distributor about a new canopy for the G-2... Okay, let's build something!

Mustang, if you'd add these two to my build list, I'll do my best to do them justice!

Cheers, M/TB379

Joe: Wow!!! You really let loose on that build didn't you? I've gotta say Joe I really enjoy having you in here with the rest of the fellas! You make it look so easy and quick! Thanks for being a part of this GB. I might end up seeing you in the Mustang GB down the road. I've got a 90 Mustang LX Coupe I'd like to build. I've got a set of custom made aluminum Weld Draglite wheels in the 15x3 and 15x8 configuration and a cowl hood enroute to make it look just like mine did. That's gonna be fun! Let me know which one of these beautiful pictures you'd like to see in the into and I'll get it there buddy!

TB: You bet we'll get those on the roster!! Come on with it bud!

Doug: Great progress my friend. Another one who makes it look like a walk in the park. lol

Thanks, Mustang! I've spent the afternoon pre-painting cockpits, landing gear legs, bay doors, wheels and propellers, and have started cockpit detailing with washes. They should drop together pretty quick, I think. Pics tomorrow with luck!

Cheers, M/TB379

Doug - looking great. I love that mottling! It looks exactly like I imagine it looked in real life. Very nicely done.

Joe - I'm hearing it was a difficult kit, and all I'm seeing is a piece of art :)

I love those yellow-nosed JG26 planes. Great job on that. You nailed the yellow, and I really like the weathering too.

Thunder - You're going to have a Staffel by the end of the year at this rate! I've got the Eduard E-7, and I'm going to do it in the desert colors. I was planning to start it next, but I got going on a couple of Mustangs, and I just ordered the new Eduard 1/48 Spitfire XIII, so the 109 might get benched for a bit (I have built three so far this year if you count my S-199).

-BD-

mustang1989

Thanks Bish! Yes there is a ring around the oil reservoir in the front of the engine. I'll see if I can post some pics of the instruction sheet on that.

 

I did make some progress this morning. I got the engine base coated and have some of the piping/wiring detailed out. I got the timing cover and oil reservoir assy installed as well. Will start picking out more details and then dirtying it all up. I see a little trouble on the horizon with the coolant reservoir retaining straps not being defined. Wished I would have caught that earlier but I'll work it in.

Thanks Joe, that would be great. I don't understand why my part is missing it, but I think it will be easy enough to make. Really nice work on the engine, theres some nice detail on there.

Rigidrider

PS... Theres an idea Joe... Sometime maybe we could do a "Messerschmitt" Build...Lots of good kits to choose from... 109s, 110s, 410s, 262s... etc...Hmmmm...

I did think about doing a Messerschmitt GB a while ago to cover the whole period the company was running all the way through the MBB days to 1989. But I thought I would wait until the GB's quietened down a bit.

lawdog, another great looking build. Very nice work on the weathering and a lovely base as well.

Awesome work.

Thanks, Brandon! I'm not sure which markings I want to do for my Tamiya bird, it'll be either Joachim Muncheberg's White 12, in European camo with a white NA theatre band, or Werner Shroer's Black 8 in desert camo. If I do these plus the planned G-2, I'll have completed eight 1:48th scale 109s so far.

M/TB379

Bish I'll get you taken care of today. I got caught up in my two builds( yes.....two builds at one time! Jeez!!) and it slipped my mind this morning. Thanks for the reminder bud!

Today's update finds a little more detail and color on the engine. I'll paint the straps as soon as the aluminum color dries on the reservoirs.