Messages

4006

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 09, 2011, 07:23:59 AM »

Yes, I have been told the late E had 66 in the cockpit also.

On the leading edge color, I've seen photos that show both the 02 and the normal camouflage colors. I suspect the ones painted with camouflage color may have been done in the field with the slats deployed or at depot rebuilds. It is just another fascinating variation of details that the '109 is so famous for!

P.S.
I'm still debating the paint scheme. I have a couple that I'm going back-and-forth on. Maybe over morning coffee I'll finally arrive at a decision!

4007

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 08, 2011, 08:31:26 PM »

Well, that is still undecided. I think it will be the just-before-the-war 70/71/65 scheme but a couple of others are still itching at me.

Also, the 02 under the slats is bothering me somewhat. Just like Draken's Hellcat gun bay color, there are different options on the leading edge color that I need to decide on.

4008

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 08, 2011, 07:34:55 PM »

Further along with this one. Primered and small flaws corrected, and then a bit of RLM 02 on the leading edges under the slats.

4009

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 07, 2011, 06:36:49 PM »

Yes and the embarrassing part of this is that I not only knew that the intake was different, the photo I was using clearly shows the long duct fairing! How blind could I be!!!! I think I just programmed my mind into thinking the airplane was a little later version rather than fully studying what I was looking at. No problem since I caught my mistake, though. This will give me a chance to build another '109.

4010

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 07, 2011, 06:18:09 PM »

I have learned another lesson about studying references closely! I had settled on a paint scheme for this Emil during the weekend and was preparing to lay out the masking this morning. I decided to examine my photo one more time. How I missed this HUGE detail I don't know, but the machine I was intending to model was a very early Bf109E-0 and the intake duct and exhausts are entirely different than my model. It is possible to modify the kit to match the early standard but I will pick another scheme instead. I don't feel like tearing this apart now and intended to build it out-of-box anyway.

It isn't like there are no cool paint schemes for the '109!

4011

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> F-84

« on: November 07, 2011, 07:06:54 AM »

Truthfully, I shouldn't have started the Bf 109E yet, rather I should have worked on this one!

4012

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> F-84

« on: November 07, 2011, 06:39:45 AM »

The major components are now all assembled and it was time for a full dry-fitting. Once this is glued together I doubt there will be more than a couple of tiny spots that will need filler.

4013

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 07, 2011, 06:37:12 AM »

A few more photos of the Airfix E. First two are the cockpit and a view of the rather thickly molded parts and large locating pins. These look a bit "old-fashioned" at first glance but the fit is quite nice.

The next two show the filler that was required. Really not much other than to correct a little fit issue in each leading edge where Airfix gives two options for guns. They give two leading edge sections for the early and late armament. Another place that takes a bit of filler is the aft wing-to-fuselage joint, but nothing that we all haven't experienced before.

Finally ready for primer and then paint. It's nice to build a kit with separate flight controls and flaps, especially when the parts fit as nicely as these do.

4014

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Fiat CR.42 Group Build

« on: November 07, 2011, 01:27:18 AM »

Apologies for the photos, I'll take more in better lighting at a later time. Still a tiny bit of weathering to accomplish before it goes on display.

4015

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 06, 2011, 07:12:09 AM »

Yes, it was introduced this spring I think.

I worked on it a bit more tonight and not much filler is required so far. It isn't quite as advanced as Tamiya but it is fun to build up to this point. I'm building this one straight from the box.

4016

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 06, 2011, 05:08:28 AM »

I got a start on the Airfix 1/48 E tonight. So far, the fit is quite nice and the engineering is pretty good. The locating pins are very large (reminds me of kits of the "old days" and there are a couple of ejection pin marks on the cockpit sidewalls. The fuselage almost snaps together. So far, so good, quite unlike the 1/72 beast that No.1 built earlier in this GB.

4017

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 05, 2011, 05:51:29 PM »

Exactly correct.

4018

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 05, 2011, 05:19:44 PM »

Now that the topic came up, I used some decals from an MPM P-63 kit on the Soviet P-39 earlier this year and they were very brittle also. They were salvaged with the clear coating, but didn't really snuggle down too well.

4019

Aircraft Modeling / Re: F6F-5 Hellcat (Eduard 1/72)

« on: November 05, 2011, 04:10:40 PM »

I don't think there is a definite reference that can nail down the colors inside the Hellcat. There has been a lot of discussion about the interior of the cowling, for instance. I just found this link that has much of the interesting conversation. http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=149739

My guess is that the later the airplane was built the more interior green one would see. A friend of mine had a wing from an F6F-5 and it was green in the bay, but this had come off of a 1970s "warbird" restoration so I wouldn't use it as a good example.

4020

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Bf-109 Group Build-All Variants

« on: November 05, 2011, 04:03:04 PM »

MPM decals are worlds leader in cracking 

I had the same experience with the decals in my CW-21, but I thought it was because they were so old. Good to know this problem for later MPM builds.

It's going to be a neat addition to the collection!