2015 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Group Build

Rigidrider

LawDog, yes the air scale instrument dial decals are indeed individule gauges and are applied one at a time. They supply a sheet approx. The size of a a buisness card (depending on scale) and it is supposed to have every type gauge or indicator that the luftwaffe used. You can normally do several kits with I sheet. Drawback is they dont stick well, but  as was mentioned earlier, a drop of micro sol and or micro set will resolve that issue easily, and several drops of future will make a convincing glass face, to finish the process. They also sell placards and such which really dresses up the pit and any other area used on. I routinely place them around the pit and other areas of the aircraft, they do lend a nice touch.

Doug

Interesting....so they conform to the surface just like normal decals under Micro Sol.  In 1/48 I particularly wouldn't be too concerned about what the gauge actually says as long as it looks good.   Gotta try these. 

Doug, congrats on finishing that Emil.  You did a beautiful job, camo and all.  I too have a soft spot for those yellow nosed Emils...

Handi........killer camo my friend..

Prowler...great start.

Mustang...I have a 2014 Chalenger, I love that car...

Tom......I look forward to seeing that AK grime on that RLM 65....

Joe

Lee, good start and congrats on your first GB pic post!!!! That's a fine looking cockpit.

Doug, thanks for the additional info on EZ-Line. I also use fine for 1/48, as that's all I've built since back. The heavy looks perfect on your 1/32 though.

Joe (mustang), thanks for the tips on the sprue stretching, mate. Perhaps one day I shall try that.

Joe, (Lawdog), coming along great as usual. Man, you are fast and you don't let anything, even a stubborn airbrush, slow you down.

I missed the last two pages and have to run, not intentionally ignoring anybody.  ....back later

Bravo Sir!!!   Awesome!

Wow. Spectacular.   Great way to start this GB. 

You bet you will Bish! I'm semi retired and my wife travels a bit, and I guess I'm lucky where I get a lot of build time. I'm getting ready to crack the seal on my speeder bike, and am really looking forward to it! Also as soon as my paint arrives I intend to start the 1945 build.

Thanks for the comments Bish. I also like the yellow noses, and have always wanted to try this camo scheme (again) since the first time didnt come out too well. Also having built a few of these kits already, I knew what to watch for and what needs attention from the start.

Thanks again, and see you in Star Wars II !

Doug

Well, that's certainly an impressive start to the GB. I do like that scheme, I rather like yellow nosed German aircraft and the rest of the scheme really adds to it. You have done a great job on it and really nice work on the weathering. Can't believe you have done this in just a month as well.

And I guess I will be seeing plenty of you in two of those other GB's.

OK my fellow plasticholics... I'm calling this one done. This is a Bf109"E"4, of II/Jg54 , 1941 During the Balkan Campaign. Constructive comments, thoughts, and ideas are always welcome...

Thanks!

Well, all in all not to bad for a 38 yr. old kit. I am doing research on an "F" right now, and will begin as soon as I satisfy another GB I'm involved with in the Night Hunters IV and the 1945 GB and Bishs Starwars GB. Not exactly in my comfort  zone, but will be fun just the same! Back building 109s soon , but still looking in and seeing the amazing building going on here! Take care!

Doug 

Handi, Panter Pilot, Lee,,, Great work guys! (Herman too) All at various stages, Very cool!

Thanks guys. You all have awesome builds going. Got mine into paint today. Pics ASAP.

Thanks for the kind words everyone. Panzer looks great!  Herman does both pre- post lines weathering.  It gives it an added dimension he says....Can't wait to see more!

Handi, that leopard pattern looks too cool. I may have to give that a go one of these days. Nice work!

Thanks, Bish. I got some of that AK streaking grime recently but have never used it. I'll probably try it out here.

Looks good Tom, I am a post shader as well, mainly sticking with just Flory washes and maybe some AK streaking grime for a grubby look.

Pollyscale RLM 65 on the bottom. I'm a post shader, relying on flory, oils and streaking fading and some pastels instead.

Lovely work handi, great job on that scheme.

Dang, Herman!! Buy that man a beer.

You guys...you old Luftwafffe salts... are bringing tears to my eyes. Looking really good in here!

Man that detail looks great handi!!! Cool azz camo scheme that is executed well!!! 

Agreed!   Nice start indeed!   There have been so many updates/pictures of wips it has been hard for me to keep up with it all,, suffice too say everyone is showing excellent work !!   Here is where I ( I mean Herman ) is at,, bird is all together,,, added some detail to the gun pod openings and some color on, but will lighten some with a very thinned shot of RLM 71 and Italian Sand due to the nature of the Libyan sun baking the crap out of this....

Nice start Lee.

That's a good lookin' cockpit tub build there Lee!

Well, I am finally making a post. The cockpit is complete.

Thanks Doug! Yeah I posted a link that expained everything.

Joe, (mustang) That is indeed am amazing finish!  Do you explain the process in the other build?

LawDog, yes the air scale instrument dial decals are indeed individule gauges and are applied one at a time. They supply a sheet approx. The size of a a buisness card (depending on scale) and it is supposed to have every type gauge or indicator that the luftwaffe used. You can normally do several kits with I sheet. Drawback is they dont stick well, but  as was mentioned earlier, a drop of micro sol and or micro set will resolve that issue easily, and several drops of future will make a convincing glass face, to finish the process. They also sell placards and such which really dresses up the pit and any other area used on. I routinely place them around the pit and other areas of the aircraft, they do lend a nice touch.

Doug

Folks I should be finishing my Challenger within' the month God willin' and the creek don't rise! Got the gloss on the body yesterday and I'm down to the last parts of the interior, the outside mirrors, exhaust system, front and rear facias , BMF and a final polish and it'll be done! As some of you know I am running two group builds this year. This one here and my automotive Red Hot and Rollin' GB.  In short..............I'm a busy man! 

I just had to sneak this in here as I'm like really stoked about it. It's the best gloss coat I've ever pulled off!!

Joe(lawdog):Man that is one sweet looking build there fella! I wished your paint jobs would take longer so I could follow along like as in a tutorial. Your finish always turns out well weathered and smooth every time.

Bob: 1/32nd scale it is! We'll get you in the intro brother! And again, welcome aboard! You're among friends here! 

Doug, Greg and related on the stretched sprue:I posted this for one of the guys here in a PM and this is how I learned to stretch sprue. Of course I allotted a block of time to just learning this technique and it's paid off ever since. Here's the copy and paste mini tutorial:(you may have to weed out what you already know but this is the overview of it all);

And I quote:

"It aint that bad really. Cut yourself about 15 pieces of straight sprue that's about 3" long or so and light a candle. Just siddown in front of the TV or where ever you're comfy and hold the sprue with one end in each hand about 2-3" above the flame. When you see the middle of the sprue start turning shiny, take it about another 4-5 " above the flame and start pulling it apart slowly. You don't want to take it completely away from the flame because the plastic will harden again and you won't be able to stretch it out like you need to. If you leave it too close to the flame it will just come apart. There's a balance in there somewhere to this but when you master it you will be able to make all kinds of use out of it. I spent about an hour practicing and got it down to where I can stretch plastic out to finer than human hair!

 The trick to using this stuff as aerial antenna comes after the line is adhered to both points (usually the front mast and the mount at the rudder/ tailfin), it's gonna sag , that's just the nature of it. Then you light a match and let it burn for a second to get hot then blow it out. Then, while it's still hot, hold it under the sagging line. Don't let this next part freak you out , the line is gonna droop pretty fast. When you see that, pull the match out and the line will snap taught! I use a metal rod that I heat over a flame and hold it under my lines. It does the same thing but doesn't emit an odor. "

Hope this helps, Joe 

I was only aware of 2 sizes of EZ line, Fine and heavy, that's all there was on the sight I got mine from. I have not used the heavy yet, was keeping that for larger kits.

That's looking very nice there Joe.

Smoke and mirrors Tom.  Check out those monstrous preshaded panel lines, sure sign of needle issues...lol.  Aqueous can be found on E-bay.  Thanks for the compliment...

Joe

That looks really great, Joe. Coulda fooled me that you have needle issues! Very nice finish. I've been trying to gather up gunze aqueous for a while. RLM 76 is the hardest to get!

I'm painting this weekend as well and hope to get to the decals soon.