**** DONE: GB-49 1/48 Bf 110 G-4 - WW2 Night Fighter

[rochie]

Looks great

 

[le_steph40]

Thanks gents
Well, cockpit and fuselage closed.


Next step is the nose and here, the "problems" begin. I use the term "problems" because I don't really know the armament configuration. I indicate in post #4 the "problem" I talk about: "I suspect no ventral armament and I read that H. W. Schnaufer didn't like the 30mm Mk108 cannon and didn't use the four MG 17 of the nose. It seems that he used only MG 151/20 in the lower fuselage as forward armament. So, I wonder what part on the kit I'll use for the nose..."
These informations about armament used by H. W. Schnaufer are from the excellent Neil's website: FalkeEins; infos here: Wolfgang Schnaufer's Bf110G

So, here is my problem: due the lack of photographic evidences for this project what should I make for the nose ?

- Option 1: no use of nose armament… What does it mean exactly ?
a/ standart MG 17 armament mounted but not used ?*
b/ MG 17 not mounted, but in this case, what part to put for this option ? In this case it's very probable that the armament openings were filled, isn't it ?


- Option 2: => standard armament (4xMG 17) made with resin part from Eduard kit 8208 (revised cowl with more rounded air scoop fairing).*

* Same configuration

I keep working... Oops, correction, I keep racking one's brains

 

[Crimea_River]

I'm thinking that the reported dislike of the MK108's meant that these might have removed from the nose and the holes faired over. The MK108s replaced the 4 MG's did they not? If so, how likely would it be that the 4 MGs would have been put back in and the cowl replaced to accommodate them? Maybe the additional 2x151/20's were also present in a pod to offset the MK108s being removed.

 

[le_steph40]

I'm thinking that the reported dislike of the MK108's meant that these might have removed from the nose and the holes faired over. The MK108s replaced the 4 MG's did they not? If so, how likely would it be that the 4 MGs would have been put back in and the cowl replaced to accommodate them? Maybe the additional 2x151/20's were also present in a pod to offset the MK108s being removed.

Oops, I forgot this "little" detail... Effectively, the MK 108 was installed as standard armament on the late G's . I don't know exactly when... So, as you said, it's possible that the nose of my project could be the number 2 below but without cannons.

 

[Crimea_River]

Yes, that was my thought. However, I don't know if these were installed in your time frame.

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far!

 

[Wildsau]

Great job Steph

 

[le_steph40]

Hello,

Here is the work of the week. Wings assembled, wheel wells painted (wings area) and some Tamiya putty added on parts glued.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Good progress. You'll need to do some fiddling to get the nacelles to mate with the wings nicely.

 

[rochie]

Nice work Steph

 

[le_steph40]

Hello,

Good progress. You'll need to do some fiddling to get the nacelles to mate with the wings nicely.

Indeed ! Some plastic card and putty to achieve a pleasant result but there was most work on the starboard wing/nacelle assembly than the port wing
Here is the result of the work of the week: some sanding and re-engraving left to do...


I definitively decided the option for the nose. I think to copy the nose of the aircraft "C9+EN" flown by Oblt W. Johnen which landed in Switzerland late in April 1944 and was blown up the 19 May. This aircraft wnr.740055 is from the production block 740000-740084 manufactured in September and October 1943 at the GWF factory.

My project is wnr.720260 from the production block 720151-720272 (factory not known: GWF or Luther ?). But the block 720151-720272 was manufactured in September-October 1943 like Johnen's aircraft. As you can see on Johnen's aircraft, no nose armament but the nose is the one designed for the 4 MG17's with the revised cowl (more rounded air scoop fairing).
Also, this aircraft is equiped with FuG 220 SN-2b with Fug 212 Lichtenstein C-1 and taking a closer look to the poor quality photo I have of my project, it seems it's the same antenna system...

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely work so far!

 

[Totalize]

Nice stuff. Looking forward to seeing more on this build.

 

[le_steph40]

Hello,

Nose installed, puttied and re-engraved. I need to fill the 4 holes of the Mgs


All parts of the fuselage that needed it were re-engraved


And some details added


Now, it's time to glue the wings with the fuselage...

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Steph you might want to consider hollowing out the face of the wing to fuselage joint to make sure you get a good fit at the surface. IIRC the joint is two flat faces that are supposed to butt together but that only happens in a perfect world.

 

[rochie]

Nice work

 

[le_steph40]

Hello,

Wings glued to the fuselage.


Some details added to the port wing

Needed to add the same details to the starboard wing when the glue will dried