Johnson

All. of what they said ⬆️ A magnificent build, brilliant weathering!

Magnificent!

But only in a 1/72 way (or 1/400...) 🤭 Happy Christmas Tony (and one and all!)

Excellent model Phil, The rigging looks superb. Great finish and I love the rivet detail in the close-ups. My only (very minor) suggestion, maybe some matt clear varnish on those tyres? Happy Christmas!

Most useful posts @michael_hase, thank you. I and many other modellers are quite happy to accept these 'differences' as part of the hobby, sometimes a bit of correction is called for and will enhance the final result. And there is also a fascination to examine the kit and know just how much it varies from the real thing. When I started this thread, which I think has been most useful, it wasn't because I wanted to change the 1/72 Heller Bf 109 G 2/5/6 I'm making, I was just intrigued as to far it actually differed from the real thing. And the same for you and all my fellow modellers out there! Best wishes

As usual my OOB build is drifting away... I added seatbelts, the latest Eduard steel prepainted jobs. Very thin and easy to bend and arrange, but I'm not entirely convinced by the 'shading' Mr Sulc was so pleased with 'Relief is achieved through a somewhat complicated application of colours, and to that was added a weathering-slash-staining effect.' Hyperscale review here. I also added some old Reheat models rudder pedals. The people at Heller obviously used their imagination with the i/p. It's a complete fantasy and bears little or no resemblance to the real thing at all. And looking at the pic (funny how you see things in a pic that you miss when building) the control stick looks a little on the hefty side! But hey-ho, it will look fine I'm sure. I've also compromised the OOB build on the wing bumps that I was agonising over earlier. I decided I couldn't live with what Heller were suggesting and I've straightened the long edge (as Michael @Toryu suggested) and reversed them to match the plans. The long edge shouldn't be exactly perpendicular to the leading edge, so I measured it from the plans and from the Tamiya Bf 109G-6 1/72 wings (and noticed that the Tamiya's bumps are very slightly different in their angle!) I did reduce their size a bit but they're still a bit on the big side. Still, If I wanted a spot-on accurate 109G I be building the Tamiya kit (probably not the last time I'll say that). Thanks for looking.

Thanks Pat! The Natter is a bit speculative, but it probably would have been similar in operation. Cheers,

I know it's been said before, 1/72 looks like 1/48 etc, but... well you get my drift. A phenomenal model John, really great. I hope you'll do an RFI, including the bomb bay! Cheers,

Thanks Michael, I could alter the shape but I'm not intending to make any mods to the kit, it will be OOB. That wasn't really my question. The way Heller would have you apply the bumps, they would be the wrong way round - according to the plans. Does it really matter? The more I think about it, the more I think I'll do it the Heller way. Cheers,

It's always a difficult decision, but you know when something's going to bug you and you just have to do it. Well done.

Super job Pete!

Lovely box art.

Haven't got that far yet, I'll have to check them against the Tamiya G6 in the stash. Yes, they go a bit solid and oily and that's the end of them, even when there is apparently lots left. The second attempt at getting some RLM 02 on went much better; and I even managed to brush some on the 'walls' of the wheel wells. The Heller kit gets a bit more complicated when it comes to the bumps on top of the wings that accommodate the different size G2/G5/G6 wheels. To model the G6, the moulded on bumps have to be removed - easier said than done - and replaced by kit parts supplied. If (!) I've followed the instructions, this is what you get (not glued yet); A - Wheel bumps according to Heller instructions Probably a bit on the large size, but this is an OOB build and I think that they look OK. But compared to plans (I have three sets in different books), and the Tamiya G6, they should have the 'straight' edge of the bump on the outside, like so; B - Wheel bumps according to plans (Sorry about the grubby plan!) Anyway, I'm not going to get in a spin about this, This is an OOB build and I'm going to follow the instructions as in the top photo A - Wheel bumps according to Heller instructions. But if anyone has a strong opinion on this, or you think I've misinterpreted the Heller instructions, please shout.

A start on the painting. RLM66 Schwarzgrau on the cockpit areas; Seemed to go OK. Then I needed to paint the wheel well bays, U/C and leg covers in RLM02 Grau, I know there's a tin in the box that's hardly been touched; Hmm, that's not so good! And it's only 1998! I've got Humbrol Authentics going back to the 1960s which are still OK. A letter to Hannants I think! In the meantime, I may have some more in the stash, hopefully a bit newer. Cheers,

Looks great Martin. Nice finish and great scheme! Cheers,

Don't rush or do anything rash! How about trying to shake and jiggle the window back into place and 'grab' it with some sellotape. Then some PVA whilst its in the right location to secure it. Maybe it looks different to you Pat, but it looks pretty good (and yellow! ) from where I'm sitting. Detail (panel lines) still there, masking good. Paint looks pretty smooth. I think it will be OK. Best of luck! Cheers,

Of course! Thanks Jean.

You're right of course Wez, if the weave were enlarged 72 times it would probably resemble very course sackcloth! And I have to ask... What does 'ISTR' mean? A new one on me (I will of course kick myself when I find out!) Cheers,

Heller Classic GB - 36 days left I'm going to try to get this finished before the GB ends. According to the list of builds, no-one has built this kit yet, which seems a bit odd as the Me 109 is top of the 'Top 10 Popular Subjects'. I'm sure @JeroenS can correct me if I'm mistaken. It comes in for a bit of criticism regarding it's accuracy, something to do with the fuselage length/shape, but it looks pretty good to me ! The detail - fine panel lines and fabric on flying surfaces - look beautiful. With the time left, I think it's going to be pretty much OOB. OK some seatbelts and maybe the i/p seeing as the canopy can be modelled open which I always like. Haven't thought about finish and markings yet. Cheers,

Bachem Ba 349A "Natter" and Fieseler Fi 103 "Reichenberg" IV Back in 1978 Heller brought out this interesting if slightly odd kit of a pair of last ditch weapons the Germans thought might turn the tide at the end of WW2. Kit No. 226 - Bachem Ba 349a Natter (Viper) & Fi 103 Reichenberg IV, which was a piloted version of the V1 Flying Bomb. For more information on the planes here's a link to the build thread; https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235083724-ba-349-a-natter-fi-103-reichenberg-iv-kit-no-226-finished/ Mostly built OOB with a few additions, seatbelts etc. Nice little kits to make, I finished them with Xtracolor enamels and a final coat of Winsor and Newton matt acrylic. Cheers,

The Natter looks really great Pat, the decals work very well. And I had exactly the same problem with my flying bomb, used lots of tape then some filler.

Thanks Scott. I love the way that the final matt coat completely changes the way the paint looks. You're too kind Steve! Sometimes it's easier to work on a small canvass. After my 1/24 Spitfire (still in work and going OK) it was really great to get back to 1/72. Thank you Michael. The Fi 103 Reichenberg IV, which was successfully flown by test pilots and was not apparently intended as a suicide machine, would almost certainly have been a one-way-trip. But according to what I've read, the Natter might well have worked quite well - if that's the right way to describe it - had it been used operationally in numbers. It wouldn't have altered the outcome however, merely prolonged the agony slightly. Many thanks Tony. I could probably have added more but time was running out and I'd like to get one more kit in if I can. It'll probably end up in next year's KUTA!

Hooray - finished! Matt coat on and final bits and bobs, like the very rudimentary sights on the front of the Natter. A very nice, if slightly strange. kit from Heller. More pics in the gallery later. But... can I fit another build into this GB? Cheers,

A great choice Tony. It would work well for me, I have too many Bf 109s lined up for the STGB, including the earlier version of Black 6 in Luftwaffe markings before capture. I've just added 2 Fine Molds Bf 109 G2s to the stash! I hope the GB flies as well. Great idea your 'advert' at the bottom of your posts, made me take a look 👍. Cheers,

I think this a great idea Tony. I was going to build the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G2 'Black 6' after it was captured by 3 Sqn RAAF in next year's Bf 109 STGB, but it would fit in much better here. Please book me in. Cheers