JKim
Senior Master Sergeant
Another diversionary project. I know these ain't everyone's cup of tea but there is something liberating about building a subject that is purposefully distorted like this. Gives me the liberty to try some things that I wouldn't normally try. Or ignore things that I don't want to do since accuracy is obviously not the main point here.
This is a Bf109 from Tiger Model's Cute Plane series. If you recall, I did the P-40 from Tiger a while back and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to try another. The P-40 was not given to my daughter as planned but instead, I offered it as a prize in a charity poker event that I hosted. When I turned over my labor of love to the winner, I felt a pang of regret since, as a non-modeler, he had no reckoning of the work that I put into that little egg plane. I tried to point out the scratchbuilt gun sight but he just gave me a blank sort of "whatever" smile. Urgggh.
Although it is not specified anywhere, the kit is representative of a Bf109E. I want to throw a little twist and convert this to an F-series and paint it as one of Marseille's Yellow 14's in desert camo. I'll have a little aftermarket help in doing this as you will see later.
A small black sprue holds the landing gear and prop. Although aimed at kids, the molding on these snap-together kits is quite nice. The wheels have some nice tread pattern and some spoke detail.
The main sprue is in grey and holds the fuselage and upper wings. The exhausts are molded in place so I won't be able to hollow out the ends... I'll have to use some paint trickery to achieve the illusion of hollow pipes.
The secondary grey sprue has the lower wings and some cockpit components. I'll have to scratch up a Revi gunsight.
The canopy is nice and clear with heavy framing, which I like as it will make masking easier. Unlike the P-40, the inner spar seems to be integrated with the location of frames so it should be less visible.
Like the P-40, the Bf109 kit comes with both waterslide decals and adhesive-backed stickers for the markings. The instrument panel is offered in decal and sticker format but the plastic IP piece has raised details which gives you three options in how you want to finish the panel. No swastikas here but I should be able to scrounge some up from the spares box.
It's hard to believe but there is an aftermarket resin set for this particular kit that allows conversion to an F/G type. The set is offered by a company in the UK called Retrokit. The set comes with a spinner with separate prop blades, the G-type beules, an intake plus tropical filter and throw in a seat for good measure. Everything I need for an F-type seems to be included in this set.
The seat is a nice surprise since it comes with the harnesses molded in... don't have to scrounge up PE belts for this one.
I'm planning on cutting masks for the "14", which should be fairly straight forward since it is all straight lines and no curves. The only thing I don't have is the insignia for III/JG27, which is an option since not all of Marseille's aircraft had it. I'd like to add it so if anyone has a pair of 1/48 JG27 insignias, I'd be happy to receive them.
This is a Bf109 from Tiger Model's Cute Plane series. If you recall, I did the P-40 from Tiger a while back and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to try another. The P-40 was not given to my daughter as planned but instead, I offered it as a prize in a charity poker event that I hosted. When I turned over my labor of love to the winner, I felt a pang of regret since, as a non-modeler, he had no reckoning of the work that I put into that little egg plane. I tried to point out the scratchbuilt gun sight but he just gave me a blank sort of "whatever" smile. Urgggh.
Although it is not specified anywhere, the kit is representative of a Bf109E. I want to throw a little twist and convert this to an F-series and paint it as one of Marseille's Yellow 14's in desert camo. I'll have a little aftermarket help in doing this as you will see later.
A small black sprue holds the landing gear and prop. Although aimed at kids, the molding on these snap-together kits is quite nice. The wheels have some nice tread pattern and some spoke detail.
The main sprue is in grey and holds the fuselage and upper wings. The exhausts are molded in place so I won't be able to hollow out the ends... I'll have to use some paint trickery to achieve the illusion of hollow pipes.
The secondary grey sprue has the lower wings and some cockpit components. I'll have to scratch up a Revi gunsight.
The canopy is nice and clear with heavy framing, which I like as it will make masking easier. Unlike the P-40, the inner spar seems to be integrated with the location of frames so it should be less visible.
Like the P-40, the Bf109 kit comes with both waterslide decals and adhesive-backed stickers for the markings. The instrument panel is offered in decal and sticker format but the plastic IP piece has raised details which gives you three options in how you want to finish the panel. No swastikas here but I should be able to scrounge some up from the spares box.
It's hard to believe but there is an aftermarket resin set for this particular kit that allows conversion to an F/G type. The set is offered by a company in the UK called Retrokit. The set comes with a spinner with separate prop blades, the G-type beules, an intake plus tropical filter and throw in a seat for good measure. Everything I need for an F-type seems to be included in this set.
The seat is a nice surprise since it comes with the harnesses molded in... don't have to scrounge up PE belts for this one.
I'm planning on cutting masks for the "14", which should be fairly straight forward since it is all straight lines and no curves. The only thing I don't have is the insignia for III/JG27, which is an option since not all of Marseille's aircraft had it. I'd like to add it so if anyone has a pair of 1/48 JG27 insignias, I'd be happy to receive them.
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Well then, if we're trying to drive John insane then the I.P. will have to change 
