PeterB

I now have a "spotty" E-7/Trop! Xtracolour RLM78 and 80 with Xtracrylic RLM 78. Bit of touching up to do then its decal time. I have a left over white fuselage band dec from my Gustav so I will see if that fits. Pete

I have got the basic camo on. RLM 75/83 uppers, RLM76 unders and the vertical tail in RLM 81. Now I just have to do a second coat of RLM 83 followed by a bit of mottle and a general dirtying of the fuselage sides in RLM 83 before adding the large green Defence of the Reich band. Nearly forgot, here's a bit of background. Like the Spitfire, the Bf 109 remained in production throughout WWII and was subject to continuous development, which was generally driven by the engine . Both Daimler Benz and Rolls Royce managed to increase the power output of their engines considerably, but R-R had a couple of advantages – access to much higher octane petrol and also the Germans increasingly suffered from a reduced supply of the more exotic metals used in certain parts of very high performance engines. Comparing power output is not entirely straightforward as it depends on a number of factors including altitude, but in general terms the R-R Merlin and the DB600/601/605 series engines peaked at around 1400/1500HP, though DB started adding “boosters” such as MW50, a mix of 50% water and 50% methanol, and GM1 which injected Nitrous Oxide, both providing noticeable increases in power during combat, but they could only be used for short periods, perhaps only 10 minutes at a time, as they overstressed the engines. R-R preferred to rely on multi stage supercharging but again there were limits on how long the maximum boost could be used for. However, R-R had an ace up their sleeve – the Griffon engine which was more powerful than the Merlin but only slightly bigger, and that was producing over 2000HP by the end of the war. As engine power increased, so did weight as the airframe had to be reinforced and maybe more fuel added as consumption was usually somewhat higher. Also, the bigger and heavier engines meant that the area of the vertical tail had to be increased, and in the case of the Bf-109, shortage of materials meant that some had redesigned wooden units. There were of course many other changes as well, such as repositioned undercarriage legs and bigger wheels/tyres, together with larger air intakes. Following the G-6 series, the next and supposedly last G version was the G-14, and it was intended that this would be replaced by the “improved” K version, but as this was late in entering service a number of “stop-gap” G-10's were built which were essentially G-6's with some of the features from the K incorporated or so I believe -there seems to be some debate as to whether they were all new production or maybe in some cases existing G-6's converted after manufacture. Wiki say that the G-14 entered service in around July 1944 and 5500 were built compared with about 2600 G-10. The main production version of the K was the K-4 which was essentially a G-6 with the modified "Erla-Haube" canopy and enlarged tail, together with the longer tailwheel and fitted with a DB 605/ASCM/DCM engine rated at 1550 HP, rising to 2000HP with MW 50 injection and with a built in armament of 2 x 15mm MG151 in the upper cowling and a 30mm MK 103 or MK 108 cannon firing through the spinner. It had, depending on which source you use, a top speed of 452 mph at 19685ft, presumably with the boost operating, which is about the same as the Griffon powered Spitfire XIV. The exact number of Bf 109-K's produced is not known as records are missing, but it seems to have been at least 2400. Cheers Pete

Just looked this one up Rob it's huge - and there was me worrying about where I could store/display a 1/75 scale Cutty Sark. Pete Oops, finger trouble!

Sometime in the 1990's I think, I acquired this kit of the Mitsubishi A5M "Claude". It could be by Nichimo but I suspect it is the Fujimi version. I had read that the JNAF put a coat of protective laquer on their carrier aircraft which turned the light grey a brownish colour and the "metal finish" a sort of gold/bronze, though I gather this is now a bit suspect but I tried to replicate it, though smoke from my pipe over the years has also darkened and yellowed it a bit too. At the time I wanted to get a Ki-27 to go with it but the only one available was from Hasegawa and therefore a bit expensive so I did not bother. However ICM released one in about 2007 and I did buy that. I cannot be sure exactly how much I paid but even now they are selling for only £10.80 and I suspect that like my I-16 purchased a few years later it probably cost around £7 so is eligible for this GB. I was hesitant to build it before because like the I-16 it looked a bit complicated up front and the instructions were rather vague, but having just managed the I-16 without major problems I thought I would give it a go. It comes with 4 optional colour schemes/markings, three in light grey overall and one in the camo used in China - 2 greens and a brown on the uppers, but more of that later. It looks to be a fairly quick build except for the considerable amount of detail in and around the engine compartment and like the I-16 little of any of that will be visible so I may cheat this time - we will see. Cheers Pete

Thanks Pat, I already have the larger of the Airfix kits (1/130) and that was bad enough and the Billings one is 1/75 apparently. I see Revell made 4 or 5 different versions from 1/96 down to around 1/350 - which scale is yours? I have full rigging plans plus the Airfix book on building their version, but frankly doubt I will be up to rigging it these days, given how my hands are. Pete

Hi Pat, Yes, I have always fancied one of the I-15/15-bis/153 biplanes as well. Pete

Thanks Jes, That fits with my own interpretation that it must have been 2/JG 27, though I did not know which Staffel of I/JG 27 the two possible pilots were in - looks like Airfix got the right pilot but the wrong Staffel! As to the paint I seem to remember that I read somwhere that 78 and 79 were developed from some existing pre war civilian colours though that may be wrong, but it would explain how they were produced so quickly, even if the actual colour was not standardised until later - I have used Xtracolour versions and the RLM 80 mottle will be the same. Pete

Hi Pat, If I could find where I have put it I have the ICM Ki-27 somewhere. Bit bigger than the I-16 but very similar to build I suspect. Some interesting colour schemes as well. I may have a look for it later. Pete

RLM78/79 on but a little touching up needed. Airfix suggest that the RLM80 mottle is hard edged but I need to check on that before I start putting it on. Later, Airfix have provided painting instructions for "Black 8" of JG 27 which is one of the best known E-7/Trops, photos having appeared in numerous publications as an example of how good the camo was over the desert - or alternatively how bad it was over the sea! In spite of that there are serious problems deciding who flew it, which unit it belonged to and when. Airfix say it was flown by Fw Franz Elles of 8/JG27 in April 1941, whilst Osprey Aces shows a virtually identical Black 8 flown by Lt Werner Schroer of the same unit at the same time, the only difference being a green and white spinner on the latter rather than the red and white one on the former though interestingly Airfix show both spinner variations as being used by Elles! As to the unit, I/JG27 did move to Africa in April 41, being based at Ain El Gazala, but II and III Gruppen did not follow until the end of 1941 at which time they were converting to Bf109F. If indeed the plane is as at April 1941 it could only have belonged to I Gruppe, ie 1. 2. and 3 Staffeln and this seems to be borne out by the fact that is carries the "Lioness over Africa" badge which was in theory only used by I Gruppe, and if the normal pratice was followed the fact that the "8" is outlined in red suggests 2/JG27, though of course 8/JG27 would also use red. Oddly, although the pic in the Osprey book is labelled 8/JG27, the text lists both pilots as being in I/JG27. Of course the way units were formed could just possibly mean that 8 Staffel was in I/JG27 - the Luftwaffe was fond of grafting sections of one JG on to another to add Gruppen/Staffeln and make up numbers as I found with my Airfix Stuka build last year, but it seems highly unlikely. Finally we come to the date. According to a couple of my sources, when JG27 was sent to Africa the Luftwaffe had no official desert camo scheme and they arrived in the European green or perhaps the new grey scheme, which was soon found to be unsatisfactory. A new scheme of 78/79 was introduced as a result but sources vary as to exactly when - certainly by September 1941 I believe, but there are suggestions it was in use in July. Until then the implication is that they "borrowed" paint from their Italian Allies, though exactly which shades is unknown. Ullmann lists 5 "yellow/sand" colours, 3 greys for the undersurfaces though RLM65 or even 76 could have been used, and again 5 Greens. So it would seem to me that the suggested date of April 1941 is somewhat unlikely unless it was in European green or grey scheme or borrowed paint! Even later. In the "Classic Colours" series of books, Merrick has more info on the colour situation. He says that when the Monogram book was produced he too thought Italian paints were used but now finds that orders to use 78/79 were issued in April 1941. Not having expected to operate over the desert, the development was rushed, and although the "official" colour chips were not issued until the end of the year, some sort of temporary mix was clearly created and issued in April, which may explain the evidence of 2 or more versions of 78/79 that some sources now agree on. https://flic.kr/p/2mcNZRr So if we say June 1941 then the 78/79 scheme would perhaps make sense, though the actual shade may be incorrect. If anybody has any more definite info feel free to post it as this is something of a puzzle. Pete

Just about done - just needs a final coat or two of varnish. This is meant to be a plane flown by Major Kurt Brandle, Gruppenkommandeur of II/JG3 "Udet". After spending almost a year in Russia, they moved back to Germany on August 12th 1943 to re-equip and train, and a month later moved to Schipol Airport near Amsterdam, presumably to help attack the increasing allied bombing raids, so not the formal "Defence of the Reich" but near enough. Brandle was shot down and killed on on November 3rd 1943 over the sea, his body washing ashore on the Dutch coast on December 30th. He was credited with 180 kills and had the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). Earlier that day he claimed 2 P-47 from the escort of a force of B-17's attacking Wilhelmshaven. Later, a force of B-25 Marauders attacked Schipol and II/JG3 scrambled to intercept - it is assumed he fell victim to the RCAF escort. Cheers Pete

The cockpit is basic but adequate as very little will be visible. It came together pretty quickly with a minimum of filler. I think I have decided on a scheme so I will put the undercarriage on and make a start. Pete

I have the same decs in my Nieuport 11 boxing so as you say perhaps they have mixed them up. Yes, the moulded "windscreen" is a really silly idea that Toko had and I will be replacing mine as well. Pete

Just thought of something that really is outside my comfort zone! When I first started courting my wife back in around 1975 her father had a very impressive wooden model of Cutty Sark on a table in his hall - it was about 3ft long! I really liked it, and so, moving on 5 years and 200 miles further south, when I saw a Billings Boats kit of it lurking on the shelves of my them LMS I bought it together with the accessories set - probably cost me around £25, maybe a little more. Once I got it home I realised there were 2 major problems - lots of wooden bits to shape and glue together, and it was around 1 metre long when built so where the heck would I display it? I was going to give it to my father in law as his was apparently only on loan and the owner eventually asked for it back, but he died not long after I bought it so 40 years later it is still in the box somewhere in my roof and I cannot decide whether to build it or try and sell it - now they are fetching £200+ on auction sites. Maybe one day I will get the courage to have a go but the thought of simulating the copper plating on the lower hull is rather daunting! Pete PS. I don't like the new format much - prefer the old way of showing posts, likes etc, though I gather Mike may still be tweaking it.

Thanks Troy, The Heller kit has been replaced by the Airfix boxing so I am using it for spares - the spinner and intake went on my Italeri F!. Pete

That is a big improvement. The rear end of the canopy is the correct shape with only the apprpriate frame lines moulded. The Falcon canopy is meant to be for Hasegawa/Heller kits but with a little adjustment it fits this as well. I had to put a taller armoured glass panel in as the vac-form canopy is a lot thinner than the kit one and the first one I made was a good 1mm short of reaching the roof. A bit of touching up and it will be ready for decals. Pete