IanC Posted January 5 Posted January 5 This is the latest boxing of Heller's Bf 109K. The parts look crisp with virtually no flash and the kit comes with a nice decal sheet and three marking options. However, my primary reference for painting will be the excellent MMP publication below. It includes photos of some interesting aircraft exhibiting that typical late-war appearance with undersides partly in primer or natural metal and components produced and painted in dispersed locations. That'll be the look I'm going for, without - hopefully - getting too mired in the RLM paint Rasputitsa... 😀 11
Graham Boak Posted January 5 Posted January 5 This kit was excellent when it came out. It was some time before people learnt that the refined bulge was much less distinct on the starboard side, so take the opportunity to sand it down. Less forgivable, the prop goes the wrong way round, but lots of aftermarket options. 2
IanC Posted January 5 Author Posted January 5 26 minutes ago, Graham Boak said: This kit was excellent when it came out. It was some time before people learnt that the refined bulge was much less distinct on the starboard side, so take the opportunity to sand it down. Less forgivable, the prop goes the wrong way round, but lots of aftermarket options. Yes, the prop will definitely be modified/replaced. 1
Troy Smith Posted January 5 Posted January 5 33 minutes ago, Graham Boak said: the prop goes the wrong way round, but lots of aftermarket options. No, one blade is a mirror image, which is weirder. 40 minutes ago, IanC said: my primary reference for painting will be the excellent MMP publication below. Hmm. Some of it is pretty tendacious and it's quite old. More recent research has turned up more detail, the main bit is a lot of K-4 looked patchwork due to use of dispersed subcontractors. Several threads on this at present. All 3 marking options are well known if using any of them. HTH 2
2996 Victor Posted January 5 Posted January 5 Great choice, Ian, I think this will be a popular choice of subject. Excellent info there from Graham and Troy - thanks, chaps! Cheers, Mark 1
Wez Posted January 5 Posted January 5 Great choice, this was my favourite 109 kit way back when. Interesting to note that it has different wing bulges to the kit @Enzo the Magnificent is making. Good luck and welcome. 2
Graham Boak Posted January 5 Posted January 5 It has the correct ones for the K. The earlier Heller K simply wasn't. Maybe a early G with a tadpole tail? It needed reworking to be an acceptable G, even by the standards of the time. Not that there were a lot of alternatives, but the Hasegawa was just around the corner. We'd only just learnt what the K REALLY looked like, and there was still some way to go. 1
IanC Posted January 20 Author Posted January 20 The fuselage is together and cleaned up. I forgot how tricky it is trying to retain raised panel lines while sanding. For a brief moment I contemplated removing them completely and re-scribing but life's too short and besides, I think it's important to keep a bit of 'character'. 🙂 The cockpit tub can be fitted from below, and I'm wondering if I should add a bit of detail there... 10
IanC Posted February 9 Author Posted February 9 Just to prove my build hasn't completely stalled... 🙂 10
2996 Victor Posted February 9 Posted February 9 Looking great, Ian, and I completely agree with you about keeping the raised panel lines - they are intrinsic to the character of these models. Cheers, Mark 1
IanC Posted February 19 Author Posted February 19 I've got the cockpit and canopy done, plus a few other bits and bobs. I used the seatbelt decals Heller provide and they look pretty good from a distance. It's ready now for some paint. 8
IanC Posted February 20 Author Posted February 20 I had a busy morning and got the main camo done using Vallejo paints: 7 2
2996 Victor Posted February 20 Posted February 20 Fast work, Ian, and looking absolutely brilliant! Cheers, Mark 1
IanC Posted February 26 Author Posted February 26 My completed Bf 109K. The kit decals went on ok and I finished it with a bit of light pigment weathering. I've enjoyed taking part in an excellent Group Build. More pictures are now posted in the gallery. 11 4
Snafu35 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Hello Yan, Your performance is magnificent, well done 👍 It's difficult to keep a model ‘as is’ now, without wanting to transform it with a new engraving, for example. You've perfectly preserved the spirit of the Heller model from the beginning of the 80s, like what I was trying to build at the time... But you've done it much better! Your paintwork is excellent. Well done again. Regards, Eric-Snafu35 1 1 1
2996 Victor Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Superb work, Ian, this is an absolute stunner and, as Eric has put so eloquently, you've preserved the spirit of the Heller model! Wonderful stuff! Cheers, Mark 1
IanC Posted February 26 Author Posted February 26 1 hour ago, Snafu35 said: Hello Yan, Your performance is magnificent, well done 👍 It's difficult to keep a model ‘as is’ now, without wanting to transform it with a new engraving, for example. You've perfectly preserved the spirit of the Heller model from the beginning of the 80s, like what I was trying to build at the time... But you've done it much better! Your paintwork is excellent. Well done again. Regards, Eric-Snafu35 46 minutes ago, 2996 Victor said: Superb work, Ian, this is an absolute stunner and, as Eric has put so eloquently, you've preserved the spirit of the Heller model! Wonderful stuff! Cheers, Mark Thank you both for those kind words! 🙂 1
jean Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Hi, a great job indeed. The problems with this kit were blown up after it came out, and to obtain a "proper" K-4 seemed like a massive undertaking. Life was too short then, and is even shorter now... You 109 looks just perfect and that is what matters. Congrats!!! JR. 1 1
IanC Posted February 26 Author Posted February 26 38 minutes ago, jean said: .. Life was too short then, and is even shorter now... Thank you, Jean. Wise words.. 1
Troy Smith Posted February 27 Posted February 27 17 hours ago, jean said: The problems with this kit were blown up after it came out, and to obtain a "proper" K-4 seemed like a massive undertaking. this is the 2nd go by Heller at a K-4, which is even now a good representation of the main features, the main goof being the odd reversed prop blade. The 1st try by Heller was basically junk, it wasn't even a good late war 109, and certainly NOT a K. That's scrubbed up very well @IanC A very good demonstration of how a good older kit built with care and modelling skill can look just fabulous. cheers T 1 1 1
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