What about converting the new 1/72 Bf-110

[phat trev]

Is there much work to do to convert the new 1/72 Messerschmitt 110 into a Night fighter? before Airfix bring out a new varient

What varients could be made with a little alteration??

(full of questions today!)

[FalkeEins]

Is there much work to do to convert the new 1/72 Messerschmitt 110 into a Night fighter?

none whatsoever ..the first 110 nightfighters were 'C' models not equipped with radar - just paint it black and chuck on some decals. The kit even has the parts for a long-tailed 'D' with the bigger tail wheel - Kagero do the appropriate 'owl' decals in their super 'Luftwaffe over Africa' monograph for a I./NJG 3 'D'. 'From the 'E' variant you'll need the cockpit heater air intake scoop on the nose and a different canopy by the 'G' among other things..see Neil Robinson's piece in the May issue of MAM which has a nice selection of (very poorly reproduced ie scanned) Bundesarchiv photos (not credited..)

Edited September 7, 2010 by FalkeEins

[phat trev]

Oh thanks! After a bit of a look around I am actually now on the lookout for an Italeri Bf110 Nightfighter as the 'swiggles look like a challenge..)

[mike romeo]

Oh thanks! After a bit of a look around I am actually now on the lookout for an Italeri Bf110 Nightfighter as the 'swiggles look like a challenge..)

Trev,

The Italeri 110G (if I've picked you up correctly) is not a good representation of the actual aircraft. Some issues:

- Canopy is the wrong style (the 110G canopy didn't have the large metal frames towards the back at each side, but a continuation of the framing as it is at the front. Is that understandable? Don't know).

- Engine cowlings appear to be the earlier style (they certainly look wrong to me). They have a very 'blunt' look.

- Propeller blades seem to have been moulded with almost zero pitch, and look like the wrong shape anyway.

- Propeller spinners are ludicrously shallow.

There are other detail problems, but the above really spoil the look of the thing to my eye. I spent some time trying to make mine look better by massive sanding of the cowlings, replacement of canopy (FROG canopy; wrong slope to the windscreen apparently, but at least the canopy framing looks more representative) and spinners from a Me 410. It looks a bit better, but still not great. Painting the squiggles was fun, though.

I would love Airfix to release a modified tooling of their 110 to give a more accurate 110G (pretty please, Mr Snowden).

regards,

Martin