Mycapt65 Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 I need to paint the supercharger intake filter on my Bf109F-4 trop. I left the filter off because it complicated paint the demarcation on the cowling. The demarcation splits to supercharger intake but I'm not sure how to paint the filter itself. It's hard to make out in photos and I don't necessarily trust internet artwork. The kit is the Hasegawa 1:48 Any tips or information would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Ron 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatFlyHalf Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 I'd use a brush. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochen Barett Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 I'd go with this pattern/demarcation line (who am I to question the RAF museum?): https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Bf_109_G-2_trop_RAF_Museum_London.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amos brierley Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 Hi, not sure about the question and what it’s asking. As a Luftwaffe specialist, sadly this is one thing I’ve not done. Everything but tropical.. I think you’re asking about the colours, I’d paint it solely RLM 78 blue. The restoration shows a demarcation 78/79…. I try my best to only use period photos, and have never seen a demarcation line……. Don’t mind being proven wrong….. As the filter would be a mesh I’d give it a wash of dark brown or black as a last resort. I think the desert tropical filters were fitted as when required hence my comment of solely RLM 78. Hope this helps. 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mycapt65 Posted August 1, 2022 Author Share Posted August 1, 2022 Thanks all. I should have been clearer. I didn't mean what tool to paint the filter with. I meant what colors or color to paint it. Thanks Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackG Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 (edited) This one example seems to show a slightly darker shade on top of the closed portion of the filter, Note too it is not applied in a linear line: The main body of the filter am not sure. If those narrow slits are meant for air to filter through the sides, then painting over them was not likely in the field at least. Then sometimes that detail is gone and appears to be quite light/shiny: regards, Jack Edited August 2, 2022 by JackG 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ingo Ritz Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dov Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 The filter for getting air sideward in, when the 109 was still at ground or in a low ALT. This item had to be changed or cleaned quite frequently. It is a steel mesh with eventually filter paper inside. No color, steel! Front cap mooveable, like lips. Happy modelling 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werdna Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 A lot of the pictures of trop filters that I've seen appear to show them as being over-sprayed with the fuselage colours, although replacement filters fitted in the field would probably not look like that ( as in a couple of the pics above). The last 109F that I built with a trop filter was painted the same way (ie with 78 & 79), but with some panel liner over it to pick out the surface detail of the filter itself, which ends up giving it a slightly darker appearance when compared to the scoop body or the clamshell doors at the front. I don't think you'll go too far wrong with that kind of approach.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mycapt65 Posted August 2, 2022 Author Share Posted August 2, 2022 Thanks all! Yeah it seams some were overpainted at the factory and some presumably replacement elements were bare metal. The opening end almost always seems to be painted. The opening end looks permanently and securely attached to the cowling so I wonder how the element was designed to be changed out? I also wonder why they would paint the element? I'd think the paint would clog or at least shorten the element's service life. Eduard gives two different photo etch elements as one is supposedly an early and one late. That's just food for thought. I'm just going to use the kit plastic. I'm like a fat kid, me and PE don't get along. PE is physical education or gym here, if you didn't get the joke. Be well everyone, thanks for the information. Ron 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochen Barett Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 (took me a moment to get the PE thing) Try it anyway, it might look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mycapt65 Posted August 2, 2022 Author Share Posted August 2, 2022 7 hours ago, Jochen Barett said: (took me a moment to get the PE thing) Try it anyway, it might look good. Not a chance. My shop carpet has more lost photo etch in it than is safe to walk on. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 3, 2022 Share Posted August 3, 2022 Overpainting the filter with the mesh in place would indeed be stupid, but is the metal guard a separate piece that could have been painted before assembly? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mycapt65 Posted August 7, 2022 Author Share Posted August 7, 2022 This is what I wound up with Overall pretty happy with it. It's the 48th Hasegawa kit. Thanks all who contributed. Cheers Ron 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ingo Ritz Posted August 7, 2022 Share Posted August 7, 2022 That is looking great! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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