Aces on the Wrong Side of History GB - 2018

Thank you my friend. I completely agree!  The fuel line was a clear part supplied by the kit. 

Hello everyone,Here is my finished entry for this month, this is the excellent kit of the AZ Models 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4E . It is finished in the markings and scheme of the great Luftwaffe ace Gunther Rall of JG 8/52. It depicts his aircraft as flown on 28 November 1941 when he was in Russia. That day he was shot down and injured when he crash landed, breaking his back. He would go back to flying in August 1942 and finish the war with 275 victories, making him the 3rd highest scoring ace of all time.

Like nearly all of my kits this has taken approximately a month to do. It was a trouble free kit to build, with loads of spare pieces for the spares box, and has given me a new appreciation for the AZ line. Paints were a combination of Xtracolor, Alclad, Colourcoates and Humbrol enamel, built basically OOB except for a Yahu IP and Master brass gun barrels and pitot tube. 

The wash is Flory Models Black over the airframe, and grey on the wheels.

Thanks to the WaggishAmerican for organising this fantastic GB, and thanks for letting me share.

Awesome 109 there Mark. nice job form start to finish .

Nice Gunter Rall 109!

Chad, Clint and Nick. Thanks very much Gents, I really enjoyed buidling it and have a new found appreciation for AZ Models 109's.

Mark, very good work and a fine example of how these AZ kits can turn out.

There is something about the photos that loses impact.  It seems the light source is somewhat directed into the camera lens, causing problems with the digital capture?

regards,

Jack

mark, that loks really nice, great finish. And thanks for a glimpse of an AZ 109.

Mark,

Oustanding job on the 109!

Small update I've tried something new, I always hate getting the airbrush out to shoot just a small amount of clear for the pit before weathering takes longer to clean up then to put the clear down. So I found Krylon acylic gloss clear I had never heard of acylic spray paint before.

It turned out better then I thought it would. After that dried I went with some MIG dark wash. One thing I caught is the pilot seat belts are wrong for the type they had them draped over the top but there should be a hole like a 109 seat that they thread through so I changed that. So far a very nice kit Thanks for looking in.

looking good Clint

my latest pic the engine and flyer.

A bit more done on the 110 got the pit mostly togeather and the fuselage togeather. Had to use some putty in front of the pit my new glue don't melt as good as Tenex did needing more to get the same effect. First time using PPP it smothed out nice and was easy to use once I got it to stick to the model instead of itself.

I started working on the wings too they was a bit warped and the port side has some discoloration on it with what looks like a giant hand print in the plastic, Its not a glue mark since its also rather smooth. I couldnt get off with rubbing alcohol and will need to sand out. I did buy this kit at a IPMS show and the sprues where not baged when I got it the rest of the kit seems to be just fine (except for the missing part that was super easy to make). Thanks for looking in.

Thank you Clint .the cockpit is looking good ! I think a light primer coat should cover those prints. Btw I did finish the Finnish buffalo .

I have now made a start on my Stuka. Its not a usual scale for me, in fact this is only my second one, so is somthing a bit different.

I am adding an Eduard PE set, Aires resin guns, Quickboost exhausts and True Details wheels. As to be expected, this started with the cockpit with quite a bit of Eduard PE.

The flat PE head and back rest where thickened with some sheet styrene.

Black primer was followed with some Xtracolor enamel RLM 66.

I weathered this with a black Flory wash and some dry brushing with oils and then attached all the coloured PE.

And the PE ammo boxes which i will fit once the pit is in.

And there is just the stick to paint and fit which honestly i had not completly forget about until 2 mins ago , and then the pit can be fitted.

More to follow soon.

Thanks Clint, yes, there is quite a bit.

Lovely detail Bish, looking great. Well done.

Cheers Mark.

I've finally been able to get back to a computer, and get caught up on the builds-

aeroplanegripper, she turned out lovely, and I added you to the 'completed' section.

Bish, which detail set are you using for that Stuka? That is a LOT of photoetch. It's looking really good!

Rambo, your Bf 110 cockpit is stunning. I can't wait to see her finished. 

Everyone else, lots of great work around here. I didn't take good enough notes to mention everyone, but all the projects are great. 

I should be starting on my next entry fairly soon- I've got an F-15 and an Fw-190 to paint, and an OV-10 to finish up, and a high-priority "commisioned"/collaboration video project to do, but once all that clears my table, I should be able to devote the rest of teh summer to the A6M.

-TheWaggishAmerican

Cheers Waggish. Its just the standard Eduard PE set, 49324. It is a nice set and make me wounder if i should just have gone for PE rather than resin for the 72nd and 32nd kits i did. Its been a nice build as well, oinly been at it a week and its almostready for paiting, just got the last couple of bit of PE on the outside and the resin guns to do.

Clint, lovely looking pit there.

Thanks Bish and Waggish. Got some work done on the nose and also dry fitted the wings they are going to need some putty work, figured as bad as they was warped. 

That bit of putty on the back side of the engin was a 30 minute fight to get it there and smoothed out, I don't see the hype with this stuff it would rather stick to itself or anything that isn't the model. Maybe I got a bad or old tube of the stuff, think I will try vallejo putty next or just go back to bondo spot putty

Hey Clint, what type of putty were you using ? Might be one to avoid.

Cheers

Tony

A few things to show. I wanted to beef up the landing gear and since this is gonna be in a diorama like most of my builds you wont be able to see up in the gear bay. So I drilled a hole in the top of the gear and also in the ledge the gear sits on and added a thick gauge wire. That is being held in with some extra thick CA that once it was lined up was hit with some insta cure. I'm not going to worry about being able to see the wire poke out the bottom since once it's installed to the base it will not be coming back off unless broke off After I got home from work this morning I installed the wings and after doing some more research on PPP went to filling the gap on the one wing (slight gap on other side in places). First I put some of the PPP on a piece of slick cardboard then added a few drops of water and mixed it for a few minutes. I was then able to take a toothpick and lay it in the gap then smoothed it out with my finger. This time the stuff was like butter, now I know why people love it so much. That gap was around 10 minutes from the time it came out of the tube, cutting it with water, filling, let it set a few minutes and then smoothing it out.

Clint, i struggle with PPP at times. I often get it in, turn the model over and find a blob of putty on the bench. I think it ok when its new, but once you have got half out of the tube, i am finding it hardto get fresh putty and am just getting the semi hard stuff from the top.

Mark, that's a nice, clean 109 you got there.

Bish, I didn't think I'd ever see an 1/48 aircraft build from you. That cockpit looks very nice! The PE sure adds a lot to it.

Clint, I love what you're doing with that Eduard 110. I have one of their 110s (the G-4)in my stashy as well, so I'm looking forward to seeing it come together.

WA, I decided on my subject for this.

The mail man just delivered this beauty straight from Japan:

I might add some AM goodies once I get started on it.

Alright, who am I kidding, this thing will get loaded with AM sets!