Hi all,

over the past weeks I built some of the kits components for this kit. Progress is slow as you know from me, but nonetheless I can show some pix alrady.

As I do not like building cockpits (shall I say hate ... I am probably the only modeler on the planet because everyone I ask loves doing cockpits) ... I started with the wings. Some cuting to get the slats monted and then pure modelling joy .. well not that much because I deviated from the very crowded and not always clear instructions. Thus I tried to mount the engine panels after the wing was together.
Big mistake! I had to cut all the fasteners to get this together. In the end you will hardly see this but as I first tried to fit it without cutting it was a bit tediuos.

BTW I really like the wheelbays of the Dragon kit.






An the it was time for the pit. It is still not done because

1. the instructions are really crap (and I normally do not use them to closely)
2. I used Eduards set for it (not the Zoom, but I should have)



slowly moving forward.

all the best

Steffen

Hi again,

as I wrote progress was(and is) slow! Between the last pic of yesterdays post and todays picture (taken some minutes ago) were some 2 weeks of fiddling PE and other small stuff. Still some parts to add and when the fuselage is closed there are another myriad parts to add to the - not so good fitting - cockpit framing ... tedious.



all the best

Steffen

Steffen,
For someone who doesn't like cockpits, yours is really looking quite good. Certainly an excellent effort of weathering.

I'm really impressed with the detail that Dragon has put into this kit.

Will be tagging along, following your build. As for your pace, it's about the same as mine.

Joel

Nice going Steffen

I hope you got a kick out of the "Steffen slats" - they're only there at all because I passed on your feedback on the original kit design.

All the best

Rowan

Thanks guys!

Joel: detail is a mix of Dragon and Eduard, but for what you can see after everything is closed, Dragon is pretty good oob.

Rowan: as you can see I build it with the Slats and it was really easy to do that option. Though I do not see why these are "Steffens slats"... Dragon did them, not me.

all the best

Steffen
P.S. hope to get the fuselage closed on the weekend...

Nice work Steffen,office is looking great.

Very nice, Steffen! I agree that those landing gear are the bee's knees, as they used to say.

Hi Steffen

But the kit wouldn't have them included if you hadn't stated so forcefully that they should be. I passed that on and Dragon took note and modified the moulds (see, everyone, manufacturers do listen to feedback sometimes ) - hence, they will always, quite rightly, be "Steffen slats".

I won't hold a grudge that they ignored me on the equal importance of depicting fabric-covered flaps - that's another story.

All the best

Rowan

Hi all,

sorry no productive update yet, but I want to thank you for your support!

Rowan: actually in 48 scale you won't see any differnce between a fabric covered surface and sheet metal. Even 1:1 the difference is marginal to the eye and best replicated with paint. But I understand your sentiment. I do not want to give the slats epic discussion .. we don't want to let Godwin's law come into effect

cheers

Steffen

I'm following.

Steffen, I hope Dragon rewarded you well for "slats feedback"


Chris

Hi Chris,

this is just a running gag that Rowan likes to play .. I had nothing to do with that!!! ...

Probably because I did complain when he posted the CAD here that there would be again no separate slats and thus the advantage over the Eduard kit would be very minor

all the best

Steffen

So here are the final Pix befor the fuselage was closed. Those who know the PE Set will notice that I left off a few thngs .. it is becaus you just cannot see it (I already built in some that I will never see again like the radio beneath the MG drums. Some parts are still glossy, but I will add another flat coat once thd glue is dry.:






Now the fuselage is closed and I hope I put enough pressure on the pit to get the canopy on later in the build... we will see.

all the best

Steffen

That cockpit looks really y good Steffen.
I have one of Dragons Bf 110s in the stash, so I will be following your progress.
Andy :-)

Now the fuselage is closed and some additional parts attached



BTW a bit more clamping than shown was necessary to get the fuselage top match the cockpit insert.

all the best

Steffen

Steffen,
Nicely done. I have that issue every once in a while too.
Joel

Very nice build so far Steffen. Both the wheel bays and the cockpit look outstanding. I have both the D-3 and C-7 in 1/32 scale waiting in the wings to build. I hope mine turn out as well as your build is.

Ernest

Vielen Dank!

Yesterday evening I put on the left wing. This way I could apply some pressure in the right places to make it sit right at the wing root:



all the best

Steffen

Steffen,
Most likely the right way to do it, but it sure does look funny that way
Joel

Hi Joel,

does this look better now?



BTW the u/c legs both broke during handling.. which was not that bad, as the were not equally positioned (and I tried hard to do so when I built the wings). Note for my next build: Keep 'em off as long as possible.

BTW 2 Exhausts are Quickboost for Fujimi, which were easy to make fit

all teh best

Steffen

Hi again,

now this Messerschmitt is a big belly bird ... really ugly, isn't it? I also completet the control surfaces on the tail. I cut the counter balances on the elevator and bent them with pliers. (I did not do it on the rudders).





Still a lot of small stuff to do in the cockpit area...

all the best

Steffen

Ahh, die Dackelbauch, die leistungsmindernden Schönheit! Looking good Steffen, the exhausts look very sharp!

Ernest

Steffen,
Yep. Looks a lot better with both wings on. The reattached landing gear looks quite nice.

You're making excellent progress. Slow but steady is my motto is how I also go about my builds.
Joel