Tim Moff Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 I got the Galland Eduard Bf109E and had a think about the subject. I saw the Possum Werks decals that covered the dogfight that ended in the demise of Luftwaffe top scoring pilot Maj Helmut Wick, Flt Lt John Dundas, his wingman PO Paul A Ballion. Perfect, I thought, 2 subjects in 1 go, I click buy.....then I looked at the date of Dundas'/Wicks' final battle....28 Nov 1940......after the official battle dates....not wanting to feel the wrath of the GB moderators, I looked at other options and with Helmut Wick he was promoted to Major just before the end of the battle, its debatable if his aircraft was repainted by 30 Oct.... So I sourced some other decals of his aircraft Wr 5344, before his promotion. He was the leading Luftwaffe ace the day he died, there are lots of old black and white pics of his aircraft, so thought I'd give it a go. Plenty of history here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Wick https://www.luftwaffe.cz/wick.html Never built Eduard, so any tips on this kit appreciated - will be built in flight so I have looked closely at the instructions ref the engine cover! Never done any mottling before so had a play over the weekend. The mottle on Wr5344 is really tight and what I would call 'dirty' so a sponge seems to be the best approach as per around the hole on the F111 wing! Nice 1/32 build here: https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/71809-eduard-bf-109-e-4-major-helmut-wick-1940/ http://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2009/12/helmut-wick-his-me-109-wnr-5344.html https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109E/JG2-Stab/pages/Messerschmitt-Bf-109E4-Geschwader-Stab-JG2-Helmut-Wick-France-Oct-1940-0A.html Hope fully an interesting subject. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Bob Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Since you are building this in flying configuration, pay attention to the instructions, the engine block has to go into the fuselage for the exhaust outlets but bits must be left off or the engine cowling will not fit. Guess how I know. The annoying thing I found on this kit was the representation of fabric covered control surfaces had a raised framework effect on them, shades of Trumpy, fabric control surfaces should of course be smooth and tight like a drumskin. Other than these niggles it's the best 1/48th Bf 109E kit out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 10 minutes ago, Retired Bob said: Since you are building this in flying configuration, pay attention to the instructions, the engine block has to go into the fuselage for the exhaust outlets but bits must be left off or the engine cowling will not fit. Guess how I know. The annoying thing I found on this kit was the representation of fabric covered control surfaces had a raised framework effect on them, shades of Trumpy, fabric control surfaces should of course be smooth and tight like a drumskin. Other than these niggles it's the best 1/48th Bf 109E kit out there. Thanks Bob - much appreciated. I'm no expert on the Bf109 ins and outs! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Bob Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 8 hours ago, Tim Moff said: Thanks Bob - much appreciated. I'm no expert on the Bf109 ins and outs! I would not claim to be an expert, more of an enthusiastic retainer of insignificant facts. Paint your cockpit RLM 02 light grey and I think I too would use either some sponge or a cut back paint brush, so that the bristles are only about 1/4 inch long for the fuselage mottling, I'm building in the T-34 GB and just about to start a 1/48th He-111 in the HE-111 GB or I would be in this GB as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 A great Luftwaffe mottling technique is to paint thinners thinly on the fuselage side then dot the desired mottle colour on. I don’t know if it would work for such an intricate small mottle like this though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted July 31, 2020 Author Share Posted July 31, 2020 Made a start on the inside areas, bit of work to do yet. At least I know that theres an actual seam on the top join in real life now! Having to try to spread the pilots legs to fit around the IP mount! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted August 1, 2020 Author Share Posted August 1, 2020 Stole a couple of hours with this build to catch up with the others, getting there. fairly close to dealing it up. Silver prismacolor pencil useful for chipping small worn areas 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 Go the canopies all masked up, just too hot to go in the garage. Close to closing it up and cracking on, just need the temp to drop a bit! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted August 16, 2020 Author Share Posted August 16, 2020 Moving forward with this, nice soft plastic allows a mostly good fit. the lack of pins etc makes a bit more subtle to join the fuselage sides, also sometimes need to do things in a slightly different order than shown. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 Hi Tim, this looks like a beautiful kit. Well done! Just one thing though: re the masking of your canopy, There`is NO frame in the middle of the opening section of the canopy. What you masked as a frame on both sides and on the top do not exist. These are just the overlapping plexiglas sheets. So just put masking tape over the gap you have left, if it is not too late. Cheers! JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 On 8/17/2020 at 8:48 PM, jean said: Hi Tim, this looks like a beautiful kit. Well done! Just one thing though: re the masking of your canopy, There`is NO frame in the middle of the opening section of the canopy. What you masked as a frame on both sides and on the top do not exist. These are just the overlapping plexiglas sheets. So just put masking tape over the gap you have left, if it is not too late. Cheers! JR Thanks JR so the area both sides and on top currently 2 squares on each surface should become a rectangle masking wise? like these pics? Can rescue this, but not on my other build - bugger! Thanks for catching this one! Some of the decal sheet pics are a bit misleading! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 5 hours ago, Tim Moff said: Thanks JR so the area both sides and on top currently 2 squares on each surface should become a rectangle masking wise? like these pics? Can rescue this, but not on my other build - bugger! Thanks for catching this one! Some of the decal sheet pics are a bit misleading! Yes Tim, just like these profiles show! Next one will be perfect! Great show! JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted September 8, 2020 Author Share Posted September 8, 2020 Some more work done, bit of a fight getting the hoods over the engine, I didi skim off some of the top of the engine. I think my IP may also be sat a little too high causing the employment of the overnight clamp! Clearly made for a wheels down build, I have looked at how the fit wheels up, the wheel covers (or whatever they are called!) will need some trimming and when flush are short at the join, so must likely will need to fill that area. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 15, 2020 Author Share Posted October 15, 2020 Pushing on with this build - time is short and I want to get that stipple brush into action!! Some white primer for the RLM04 yellow bits... Masked and primed... Used various colours ro 'marble' over the balck to get some worn tonal variation.... Half done! Not too worried by the sides as they will be fairly well covered in RLM71 stippled paint... Think its ok - not everyones taste but I like to try to have an appropriate wear and tear approach - the airframe was quite old for those days and been through various iterations of camo and markings as Wick climbed the promotion ladder... Same with the RLM02 - forgot to take the marbled pics... masked and ready for the RLM71 Splinter cam. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janneman36 Posted October 15, 2020 Share Posted October 15, 2020 Nice and tidy build this is , I think you are going to do great on the stipple scheme🤫 cheers, Jan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Laidlaw Posted October 15, 2020 Share Posted October 15, 2020 This is coming along nicely, too. I like the shading on this, and I wish I had the fine control needed for the technique. Looks splendid! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 16, 2020 Author Share Posted October 16, 2020 So on with the RLM71. I used light earth on the panel lines and a lighter green plus RLM02 to 'marble' the area to try to have some various tones Seems ok Stipple brushes at the ready! bit of practice on the paint mule and away we go.... First go was a bit heavy in some areas so I resprayed some panels with RLM65 tried again... references show heavy under the canopy etc and slightly lighter in other areas... So I came up with this.... Now the paints dried and were rough to touch, so for the clear and decals I needed to sand the surface as smooth as I can without losing the effect... Rudder just test fitted and the support arm will get glued back on... Think its ok - if I try to much more I may overdo it so I think its ready to gloss clear now... 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 I like that Tim, I think you've got enough without getting too much there Cheers, Stew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 18, 2020 Author Share Posted October 18, 2020 Gloss on and started the decals... thought I'd paint the exhaust stacks etc, cannons/guns a few more stencils to go. Lots of different references around of the aircraft through its life, showing the cam, lack of stencils in areas and also weathering.. Some interesting info on the link.... http://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2009/12/helmut-wick-his-me-109-wnr-5344.html Early pic Note exhaust stains Note propeller cap wear Later when Wick commanded JG2, you can what looks like bare metal wear mixed with exhaust stain on the wing getting in and out of the cockpit? couple of stencils aft of the air filter So will plan to finish off the stencils, seal in with gloss, panel line accent, some exhaust staining and chipping on the port wing root area and prop cap. Then will need to sort the antenna mast and wire, gubbins on the underwing etc and a flat cote...getting closer to the finish line.... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 That’s magnificent. Great technique and tones 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 (edited) With the end date creeping closer I got the Tamiya panel line accent on, weathering done and dullcote on dullcote on Edited October 24, 2020 by Tim Moff 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 26, 2020 Author Share Posted October 26, 2020 Final assembly ongoing.... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Laidlaw Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 That's looking great, Tim! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 Done...5 pics will go in the gallery. Thanks for the help and support along the way, much appreciated. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Good job Tim You've had a very productive Group Build and ended up with some very impressive models, well done mate Cheers. Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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