Messerschmitt Bf 109-F2 Build Review, 1:48 Zvezda #### FINISHED #### Options

[Arkady72]

I read so much good things about this model that I have to buy it. And certainly it will build once and show here. Thanks for the inspiration Mike. I waiting for the end of your work and RFI thread.

[Mike]

Thanks Most of the decals are on now - if I get chance today I'll pop the rest on, and take some more photos. Then it'll be on to the weathering

[Jon Kunac-Tabino...]

Thanks Most of the decals are on now - if I get chance today I'll pop the rest on, and take some more photos. Then it'll be on to the weathering

Hi Mike - how are the decals with the kit?

Jonners

[Mike]

Hi Mike - how are the decals with the kit?

Jonners

Ok - the IP decal is a bit poor, but the rest settle down nicely. The one thing that I'm not that impressed with is the clarity of the smaller decals - they look almost as if the ink has spread when it was printed. Close enough for government work though

[Mike]

Took a quick snap before I popped the protecting coat of Klear on the decals and wing tips etc.

[Mike]

Gloss coat went on either yesterday or the day before - the days are all blurring into one at the moment

I washed the panel lines with Mig dark wash, then wiped the excess away with a sheet of kitchen towel. I added the glare shields over the exhausts, and fabricated the long beam that runs over the top of the cowling from strip. I made a new pitot probe from steel tube and brass wire, and painted, then highlighted the head armour in the opening part of the canopy (you can't see it now).



Next is a matt coat, then the weathering begins in earnest

[Mike]

Matt coat on... workshop off... night all!

[Skii]

Looking fantastic fella, 'specially that pilot dude. Can't wait to see this finished

[Smiffy]

Now that is rather nice.
Now that I finally seem to be getting the hang of acrylics, I may have to try some of these Lifecolour paints.

[Mike]

Cheers boys... finally the end is in sght

[Dads203]

Wow Mike, saw this last week and it didn't look like this !!

[Mike]

Wow Mike, saw this last week and it didn't look like this !!

Is that a good thing?

Did a bit of weathering with some Lifecolor schwartzgrau, then some silver and gun metal. I added a few dirty patches with some Mig Pigments, and sprayed on the exhaust staining after a bit of research to make sure I put it in the right places. As usual I used some Tamiya smoke, then added a little Tamiya Flat Brown to the mix later on to break up the color. I noticed that a few 109s had a bit of staining under each wing root, so I replicated that too, and added a bit of muck to the wheel well doors at the bottom too.

I glued all the small parts on, including the engine cowling, aerial mast, cowling props etc., and added some aerial wiring using black invisible thread. The insulators were added by using dots of PVA applied using a needle. Once dry they were painted dark grey. The little fly-lead was added by drilling a 0.4mm hole in the fuselage, adding a length of thread, then arranging it with a bit of sag and dabbing some CA to bond it to the main aerial. Everything was then cut to length, once the glue had set up.

I had to pin the tail wheel with some 0.5mm brass rod, as it is a bit weak, so kept collapsing - no big deal, but easier to do before you've painted and added all the little bits.











I've just noticed I've not painted the wingtip lights... I'll sort that out in a moment.

Conclusion
I really enjoyed the build, even though some of the construction stages were a bit mystifying until I realised they were talking about Version 1 and 2 being landed and flying poses respectively. I therefore made a few rods for my back, but managed to get around them in the end. Things to watch out for include whether you should install the bottom cowling panel open or closed when displaying the engine - might be best to leave off the cylinder heads if you leave it closed. Align the engine properly too, as otherwise you'll have trouble with the drive shaft once you put the prop on. When you construct the pilot, test fit his raised arm against the coaming and windscreen. I had to shave a bit off mine to allow it to fit into the cockpit.

I finally have a mainstream Bf 109 for my collection of finished builds, and am looking forward to the next releases from what looks to be the start of a successful line of kits of this venerable fighter.

[Jens]

Beautiful job, and very informative review Mike. Thanks!

If it wasn't for my stash of 136 1/48th scale Hasegawa Bf109s I would have bought several of these!

Jens

[Jon Kunac-Tabino...]

Beautiful job, and very informative review Mike. Thanks!

If it wasn't for my stash of 136 1/48th scale Hasegawa Bf109s I would have bought several of these!

Jens

Jens you need to sell 27 of these to have a properly balanced stash me thinks.

Jonners.

PS nice one Mike

This post has been edited by Jon Kunac-Tabinor: Aug 10 2010, 09:47 PM

[Mike]

No he doesn't Jonners - he needs to sell 27

ps - thanks

[Jon Kunac-Tabino...]

No he doesn't Jonners - he needs to sell 27

ps - thanks

Damn -you got me before I realised and edited.

muliple letters after Q

Jonners

[stringbag]

Most impressive Mike.
Lets see how well it stands up to physical inspection later today

Chris.

[Jens]

Jens you need to sell 27 of these to have a properly balanced stash me thinks.

Jonners.

PS nice one Mike

No, that would be too confusing! You wouldn't know what I was talking about when I mention my 109 kits, would you?!

Jens

[crookedmouth]

thats a good looking build mike - likey likey

[Mike]

Cheers Campbell