**** DONE: GB-37 1/48 Bf109E-4B - Helicopters / Military a/c of BoB 1940

[fubar57]

Beauty, nice and subtle

 

[Airframes]

Yep, I like that.

 

[Crimea_River]

Thanks guys. Just added more 71 mottle to the sides and wing root and applied a gloss. Looks closer to reality now.

 

[turbo]

Nice - good job on the mottling

 

[Crimea_River]

Thanks Kirby.

 

[Airframes]

I agree, nicely done Andy.

 

[Wayne Little]

That's looking real nice Andy...

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Thanks all.

 

[Donivanp]

I like what you have done. THe salted bomb, did it taste like a pretzel?

 

[Crimea_River]

No, but the flavour exploded in my mouth.

 

[Airframes]

You know where your coat is ...............

 

[Wurger]

 

[Donivanp]

Mine explodes wburn it gets to the other end!

 

[Crimea_River]

Ahem, yes......

Today I took a cue from Kirby and did some filtering with artist oils. I mixed up some black and burnt umber for the underside streaks and some yellow, blue, and burnt sienna for the uppers in varying shades. Oil streaks on the undersides were simply applied with a fine brush in a linear fashion whereas the uppers were dabbed and smudged with a brush, Q-tip, tissue and the odd finger. I didn't want to overdo this as I hate when things look too contrived. I'm happy with how it looks in the real world but find that the effect becomes more muted on the pictures despite mucking about with the contrast a bit. Anyway, here's how it looks:

Note also that I added the cannon barrels to the wings but that I've not painted them yet. I'm allowing the oils to dry completely before applying the matte coat and will follow this up with a bit of chipping, the exhaust stains and some dust.

I also progressed on the gear legs by adding the flexible brake hoses. A matte coat was then applied and this took the sheen off the oleos which I may redo. Funny how the majority of kit manufacturers tend to mould these without the boots. I'm not convinced that this is realistic but adding the boots seems like a lot of trouble so I will leave these alone.

The prop and spinner has been addressed in stages but I didn't stop to take pictures. Here is the assembly more or less complete. In addition to the RLM 70 blades and spinner and the aluminum bits, the finish has also seen some lighter green filtering with oils and some chipping on the back of the blades which was done with a silver Prismacolor pencil. Eduard have moulded the prop blades rather thick and these have already been thinned somewhat, though they could have used some more. Surprising, really.

That's another day done. I may get the matte coat on tomorrow but more likely the day after. Thanks for giving it a peek.

 

[parsifal]

I reckon those oils treatments are excellent andy. Kirby really is onto something I think.

 

[Torch]

Damn that puppy looks good!!!

 

[turbo]

I reckon those oils treatments are excellent andy. Kirby really is onto something I think.

Agreed, nice work Andy . Those streaks on the underside can even be further blended by pulling on the streak in the direction of the air flow or dabbing with a dry brush with pleasing results.

I would encourage anybody to start experimenting with oils and enamels. They are an incredibly flexible and workable medium that give filtering, fading and weathering effects I just can't get any other way. In fact, I would have to say the biggest improvements in my modelling over the last few years have come from learning to use oils effectively.

 

[T Bolt]

Very well done Andy

 

[Donivanp]

That came out near perfect. I am reluctant to shade panel lines as I worked planes for twenty years and I just never saw it. Jet exhaust and leaking Hydro and oils and the underside of light colors, yes but few upper and sides. Often when I se rave reviews of a kit that someone has put in hard panel lines I wonder who out there would get in that aircraft and fly it. That's just me. I think your's has come out just about right for a war abused plane.