parsifal
Colonel
Its just getting better at every step terry. nice work sir
**** DONE: GB-36 1/48 Bf 109E-4 - Axis Manufactured Aircraft of WWII
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- Thread starter
- #122
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Michael. My stiff hands and wrists are causing some tasks to be rather awkward, and I nearly dropped the model, twice, tonight. But it's almost finished.
Andy, I'm happy to report that the Microsol worked. The finished result is not perfect, but much better than before. Once the decals had re-settled as much as they were going to, they were given a gloss clear coat, followed by a semi-matt clear coat, and they look a heck of a lot better.
I didn't get quite as much done tonight as I'd anticipated - got a couple of interruptions with 'phone calls - but it's not far off being finished.
The undercart and wheels have been painted and detailed, and fitted to the model, the gun sight has been painted, the sun screen tinted, and a new reflector glass fitted, and the unit fitted into the cockpit.
The windscreen had the grab handles fitted, and has been attached to the fuselage, along with the rear glazing and radio mast, and some dirt and dust added to the wing roots, along with a general 'tidy up' here and there.
Apologies for the poor quality pics - I have difficulty holding the rather small compact digital, and the shutter button, for me, at least, is quite hard to press.
The new USB leads for my Nikons should arrive either tomorrow or Wednesday, so I can then use a DSLR for the remaining build pics, and the 'Finished' shots.
PIC 1. Brake lines were added to the gear legs, using lead wire. The leather 'gaitors' over the oleos were simulated by first applying streaks of CA to the oleos, to simulate creases and folds, and then painting the area in a leather colour. The wheels were painted matt black, followed by a gloss clear coat. The tyres had a mould seams down the center of the tread area, which had to be removed, and the treads themselves didn't match, front to rear of each tyre. A few light passes with a razor saw sorted that minor problem, and then the tyres were given a coat of 'rubber', mixed using matt black, white and a touch of Dark Earth. Once dry, the tread areas and shoulders were very lightly dry-brushed in a sandy earth colour, and each tread painted in the same colour.
The wheels were also treatd to a light wash of the same 'dust'.
PIC 2. The reflector screen had a mould seam down the center, and was also very thick. This was cut off, and the sight body painted, along with the padded 'crash pad'. The sun screen was given a coat of Tamiya clear blue and green mix, and a new reflector screen added from clear sheet. It's a touch thick, as I couldn't locate my thinner sheet, and doesn't quite sit in the right place, but it looks better than the kit part, and not too bad under the windscreen. Agai, sory for the poor pic.
PIC 3. Grab handles were added to the top corners of the windscreen, using stretched sprue, and the screen attached to the fuselage, first with PVA, and then reinforced with a spot or two of Tamiya extra thin cement. The rear glazing was attached in a similar manner, and the radio antenna mast cemented in place, but not yet painted.
PICS 4 and 5. The undercart and tail wheel fitted. The main wheels are just push-fitted at the moment, and will be cemented once aligning the 'flats' filed onto the lower surfaces.The tail wheel tyre has yet to be 'dirtied', which will disguise the rough painting of the whitewall conductor indicator !
PIC 6. A hole has been drilled to accept the antenna lead-in 'wire', and is deliberately over-size. Once the 'wire' has been attached, PVA will be built up around the hole, and then painted to represent the insulator.
PICS 7 and 8. How the model looks to date, with the above additions, plus the tail-planes and struts, and the flaps partly lowered.
All that remains now, after some slight retouching here and there, is to modify the canopy head armour and fit it to the canopy, which can then be attached in the open position, then drill-out, paint and fit the exhausts, followed by the aileron mass balances, pitot tube, cannons and prop and, finally, paint the radio mast and add the antenna wires.
I've got a bit of running around to do tomorrow .... er, later today (!) ....... but I hope to get this finished by tomorrow night.
Thanks again for looking and for the nice comments.
Andy, I'm happy to report that the Microsol worked. The finished result is not perfect, but much better than before. Once the decals had re-settled as much as they were going to, they were given a gloss clear coat, followed by a semi-matt clear coat, and they look a heck of a lot better.
I didn't get quite as much done tonight as I'd anticipated - got a couple of interruptions with 'phone calls - but it's not far off being finished.
The undercart and wheels have been painted and detailed, and fitted to the model, the gun sight has been painted, the sun screen tinted, and a new reflector glass fitted, and the unit fitted into the cockpit.
The windscreen had the grab handles fitted, and has been attached to the fuselage, along with the rear glazing and radio mast, and some dirt and dust added to the wing roots, along with a general 'tidy up' here and there.
Apologies for the poor quality pics - I have difficulty holding the rather small compact digital, and the shutter button, for me, at least, is quite hard to press.
The new USB leads for my Nikons should arrive either tomorrow or Wednesday, so I can then use a DSLR for the remaining build pics, and the 'Finished' shots.
PIC 1. Brake lines were added to the gear legs, using lead wire. The leather 'gaitors' over the oleos were simulated by first applying streaks of CA to the oleos, to simulate creases and folds, and then painting the area in a leather colour. The wheels were painted matt black, followed by a gloss clear coat. The tyres had a mould seams down the center of the tread area, which had to be removed, and the treads themselves didn't match, front to rear of each tyre. A few light passes with a razor saw sorted that minor problem, and then the tyres were given a coat of 'rubber', mixed using matt black, white and a touch of Dark Earth. Once dry, the tread areas and shoulders were very lightly dry-brushed in a sandy earth colour, and each tread painted in the same colour.
The wheels were also treatd to a light wash of the same 'dust'.
PIC 2. The reflector screen had a mould seam down the center, and was also very thick. This was cut off, and the sight body painted, along with the padded 'crash pad'. The sun screen was given a coat of Tamiya clear blue and green mix, and a new reflector screen added from clear sheet. It's a touch thick, as I couldn't locate my thinner sheet, and doesn't quite sit in the right place, but it looks better than the kit part, and not too bad under the windscreen. Agai, sory for the poor pic.
PIC 3. Grab handles were added to the top corners of the windscreen, using stretched sprue, and the screen attached to the fuselage, first with PVA, and then reinforced with a spot or two of Tamiya extra thin cement. The rear glazing was attached in a similar manner, and the radio antenna mast cemented in place, but not yet painted.
PICS 4 and 5. The undercart and tail wheel fitted. The main wheels are just push-fitted at the moment, and will be cemented once aligning the 'flats' filed onto the lower surfaces.The tail wheel tyre has yet to be 'dirtied', which will disguise the rough painting of the whitewall conductor indicator !
PIC 6. A hole has been drilled to accept the antenna lead-in 'wire', and is deliberately over-size. Once the 'wire' has been attached, PVA will be built up around the hole, and then painted to represent the insulator.
PICS 7 and 8. How the model looks to date, with the above additions, plus the tail-planes and struts, and the flaps partly lowered.
All that remains now, after some slight retouching here and there, is to modify the canopy head armour and fit it to the canopy, which can then be attached in the open position, then drill-out, paint and fit the exhausts, followed by the aileron mass balances, pitot tube, cannons and prop and, finally, paint the radio mast and add the antenna wires.
I've got a bit of running around to do tomorrow .... er, later today (!) ....... but I hope to get this finished by tomorrow night.
Thanks again for looking and for the nice comments.
turbo
Staff Sergeant
That's a very nice looking Emil Terry! 
Crimea_River
Marshal
Very sharp Terry.
JKim
Senior Master Sergeant
Lookin good Terry!
- Thread starter
- #127
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks very much chaps.
I hope to be able to get this finished tonight - pics later.
I hope to be able to get this finished tonight - pics later.
- Thread starter
- #128
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Well, I got to the bench much later than expected, and although some good progress has been made, it's been rather slow-going with the small, fiddly stuff, due to stiffness and pain in my hands and wrists - bl**dy arthritis !!
It's not finished yet, but it's close, with the canopy head armour modified and fitted, the Staffel Kapitaen's pennant made and fitted, the exhausts hollowed out, painted and fitted, some touch-up here and there, and the prop almost done.
I'm not happy with the latter, as the paint used was separating, with the oil-based carrier causing a translucent coating, so this will be lightly sanded and re-painted, using different paints, one it's fully dry.
Given that works out OK, then the final bits can be attached, and the antenna wires added.
PICS 1 and 2. Front and back of the canopy armour, as provided in the kit. Schopfel's aircraft did not have the overhead plate, so this was removed, and the 'ridge' on the rear sanded off.
PICS and 4. The amour after modification.
PICS 6 to 7. The armour painted and fitted into the canopy, with the support brackets added, made from stretched sprue.
PICS 8 and 9. The Staffel Kapitaen pennant was made from a piece of thin paper card, attached to the mast with CA. Once set, it was painted in the Staffel colour.
Pics of the exhausts in the next post ............
It's not finished yet, but it's close, with the canopy head armour modified and fitted, the Staffel Kapitaen's pennant made and fitted, the exhausts hollowed out, painted and fitted, some touch-up here and there, and the prop almost done.
I'm not happy with the latter, as the paint used was separating, with the oil-based carrier causing a translucent coating, so this will be lightly sanded and re-painted, using different paints, one it's fully dry.
Given that works out OK, then the final bits can be attached, and the antenna wires added.
PICS 1 and 2. Front and back of the canopy armour, as provided in the kit. Schopfel's aircraft did not have the overhead plate, so this was removed, and the 'ridge' on the rear sanded off.
PICS and 4. The amour after modification.
PICS 6 to 7. The armour painted and fitted into the canopy, with the support brackets added, made from stretched sprue.
PICS 8 and 9. The Staffel Kapitaen pennant was made from a piece of thin paper card, attached to the mast with CA. Once set, it was painted in the Staffel colour.
Pics of the exhausts in the next post ............
- Thread starter
- #129
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Exhausts as provided had very shallow openings in the end of each stub, so these were drilled, reamed, and then painted, before cementing in place, as shown below.
I should be back some time tomorrow, if I don't get delayed in town.
I should be back some time tomorrow, if I don't get delayed in town.
turbo
Staff Sergeant
Moving towards the finish line nicely
Crimea_River
Marshal
Quite nice my friend.
Almost there Terry, done good mate.
- Thread starter
- #134
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks very much chaps.
It's almost done - just got to fit the antenna wires, which I'll do this evening, when my hands have hopefully relaxed a bit. I don't want to mess it up now, due to lack of dexterity !!
All of the small fiddly bits are in place, and some further weathering and dust has been applied, including toning-down that rough tail wheel with dust and dirt.
PIC 1. Some nice detail on the prop, with the pitch gear cylinders and prop hub accurately represented. The prop blades have since been re-painted and clear coated.
PIC 2. The cannons have been painted and fitted, with a bit of a cheat by painting the muzzles of the flash suppressors to represent the dust caps !
PIC 3. Pitot and aileron mass balances in place. The pitot mounting post is rather heavy as provided in the kit, but I just couldn't be bothered to make a new one !
PICS 4 and 5. A locking latch was fitted to the inside, port lower frame of the canopy, and the canopy attached. It needs to be pushed down further at the rear edge. Note that Schopfel's aircraft did not have a canopy retaining wire, which is fortunate, as I find them a pain to position, with the canopy armour getting in the way.
PICS 6 and 7. Prop re-painted, assembled and fitted, with the spinner data plates and manufacturer's logos hand painted. Some abrasion has been added to the rear of the prop blades, as seen on most '109's.
I need to do a little re-touching around the cannon barrels, and adjust the 'sit' of the canopy, which I'll do before starting on the antenna wires.
All being well, I should have the 'Finished ' pics later tonight.
Thanks again to all for following this build, and for the nice comments along the way.
It's almost done - just got to fit the antenna wires, which I'll do this evening, when my hands have hopefully relaxed a bit. I don't want to mess it up now, due to lack of dexterity !!
All of the small fiddly bits are in place, and some further weathering and dust has been applied, including toning-down that rough tail wheel with dust and dirt.
PIC 1. Some nice detail on the prop, with the pitch gear cylinders and prop hub accurately represented. The prop blades have since been re-painted and clear coated.
PIC 2. The cannons have been painted and fitted, with a bit of a cheat by painting the muzzles of the flash suppressors to represent the dust caps !
PIC 3. Pitot and aileron mass balances in place. The pitot mounting post is rather heavy as provided in the kit, but I just couldn't be bothered to make a new one !
PICS 4 and 5. A locking latch was fitted to the inside, port lower frame of the canopy, and the canopy attached. It needs to be pushed down further at the rear edge. Note that Schopfel's aircraft did not have a canopy retaining wire, which is fortunate, as I find them a pain to position, with the canopy armour getting in the way.
PICS 6 and 7. Prop re-painted, assembled and fitted, with the spinner data plates and manufacturer's logos hand painted. Some abrasion has been added to the rear of the prop blades, as seen on most '109's.
I need to do a little re-touching around the cannon barrels, and adjust the 'sit' of the canopy, which I'll do before starting on the antenna wires.
All being well, I should have the 'Finished ' pics later tonight.
Thanks again to all for following this build, and for the nice comments along the way.
turbo
Staff Sergeant
Nice job Terry, like it!
- Thread starter
- #137
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Wojtek and Kirby.
Here's how it looks to date - just awaiting a tidy-up and the addition of the antenna wires.
Here's how it looks to date - just awaiting a tidy-up and the addition of the antenna wires.
Crimea_River
Marshal
Looks the biz Terry. Did you paint the flap indicator strip? I think I remember Tamiya including it on their decal sheet.
mikewint
Captain
Really looking nice Terry, what's with the little flag on the antenna?
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