Ironsides for the Reichmarschall: Dragon's 1:32 Bf 110D-3

[Sturmovik]

Keeping with my trend of big scale Luftwaffe planes, I purchased this one today. Decals had some sort of rust colour on the sheet but none on the decals themselves. I tested the Dragon logo on hot water and was able to slide it onto the surface of a paint mule without breaking it.

 

The model is huge, almost the same size as my Ju 88 from Revell in 1:32.

 

The kit includes a small decal sheet (that doesn't come with the stenciling), a small PE fret, a metal wire, and over 400 parts molded in light grey plastic.

 

However, this one won't be my next build. My next one will be the Revell 32nd scale Me 262A-1a. I'm just preparing the mood for this future build .

 

Here's the boxart:

[Sturmovik]

Do you like Bf 110s? Then you're in luck, because I've changed my mind and instead of tackling the Revell 1:32 Me 262, I'll be building the 110 first. I read Tom Cleaver's article on Modelling Madness, and with his information I think I'll be able to successfully build this kit.

 

Long are the days in which I'd just grab a kit from the stash and build it without interest in further research. With that said, I found these three photos online which either show the aircraft in the kit's options, or are closely similar. The aircraft offered are Bf 110E M8+AP, 3U+NT, 3U+OT and an Iraki plane from Sonderkommando Junck. I'll be building the first one because: 1) I want to use the sharkmouth and 2) It's painted in RLM 74/75 (I plan on painting as many German planes with these two colours before they dry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 2022 by Sturmovik

[Sturmovik]

Hello guys,

I was finally able to start work on the Bf 110. I had an exam yesterday, and thought I'd make a start on this giant to relax.

 

Here you can see the smaller but most tedious parts of any WW2 kit: Propellers and landing gear. The main landing gear is made up of 5 parts each, but the basic assembly is formed of 3 pieces. I thought I'd start on these two because the assembly looked rather difficult on the instructions. The main wheels are made of six parts each, and the tailwheel are also six pieces. Propellers were also a fiddly step, with 9 parts for each propeller.

 

I used the Revell instructions of their rebox to build up the main gear, and followed the Dragon instructions for the props.

 

I'll keep working on the kit once I get back home. Tomorrow is studying day, because I have another exam this 28.

 

 

 

 

 

[Sturmovik]

With the smaller assemblies out of the way, it was time to build the cockpit and armament. Main parts were painted in RLM 66 with some black detaila here and there.

 

Here you can see the cannons. These had their own complex step. Because the Dragon instructions aren't very clear on how to install them, I had to check the Revell rebox of the 110. Revell instructs the builder to add the cannons from below the cockpit, whereas Dragon shows them fitting from above.

 

With the cockpit now glued (thanks to Tom Cleaver from Modelling Madness), it was time to join the fuselage halves and add the wingspars.

 

Another shot from above of the cockpit.

 

With the fuselage glued, I added the machinegun bay, and glued the nosecone over them. I'll hopefully won't break the long barrel.

 

That's it for now. I'll be building the wings next. Those exhausts look very intimidating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sturmovik]

Forgot to make a shout out to Daryna and the ICM team who, in spite of the Russian invasion, sent me these spare parts for my Ju 88C-6b in 1:48 (from ICM too). Thank you guys.

Edited July 23, 2022 by Sturmovik

[Mattlow]

HI

 

I know you're part way through and you seem to have Revell instructions which may cover the errors in Dragon's instructions. But, just in case, here's a link to some errata picked up by Brett Green on Hyperscale... I recall the wing and u/c bays had a few mislabelled or incorrectly oriented parts..

 

https://www.hyperscale.com/2008/features/bf110c732erratabg_1.htm

 

HTH

 

Matt

 

[Sturmovik]

@Mattlow thanks for the link. I followed mostly the Dragon instructions and didn't have many issues. Maybe part labelling was corrected in the D version of the instructions. 

I did have issues with the exhausts. I'll cover that later today.

[Sturmovik]

With the nose glued, it was time to add the other parts. Here you can see the bomb rack for the 250kg bombs.

 

Horizontal stabilizer glued.

 

Engines. Therse were a pain to build because the instructions were very confusing. I ended up gluing all the exhausts downwards, and when I realised my error, I had to remove them and reglue them in the correct position.

 

Airframe assembled. I'll let it dry before going into the painting stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sturmovik]

I mixed my studying time with building time. Here you can see the 110 painted in RLM 74/75/76 and yellow with Revell Aqua colours (69 Granite Grey, 47 Mouse Grey, 49 Light Blue and 15 Matt Yellow).

Decals will be added tomorrow. For the sharkmouth I'll be using Mr. Mark Softer for the first time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Walter]

Very nice

[Sturmovik]

I have two great news. The first one is that I passed my exam with a 7! The second one is that I applied the decals. Crosses are too small, but I didn't have aftermarket for them. The sharkmouty conformed to the fuselage after some brushes with Mr. Mark Softer.

 

Next step are varnishing with a matt coat and gluing the smaller parts. Then I'll be able to start work on the canopy masking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sturmovik]

Most time consuming pieces have been added. These were the landing gear and gear doors, bombs and propellers.

 

[Sturmovik]

Finished! 

The clear parts were a chore to put together, but I got them all in the end.