On with the Old School Airfix 109! Assembly of this basic bird was a snap. Cockpit is just a featureless floor, seat, and instrument panel with raised discs for dials. Paint is Grau RLM 02 with a black panel. The only thing I added was a set of simple seatbelts made from Tamiya tape.

Camouflage colors are Model Master enamels; Dunkelgrün RLM 71/ Grau RLM 02 splinter and Hellblau RLM 65.



As for the markings, the decals in the 1975 kit weren’t all that sharp, and they were stuck fast to that 40 year old “protective” waxed paper they came with anyway. I had to try something else. The new tool Airfix 109E in my stash came with alternate German and Bulgarian insignia, so I raided that kit’s markings for Franz von Werra’s Battle of Britain aircraft.



(Profile Publications)

I don't agree 100% with the 1965 Profile Publications rendering (the colors and pattern of the wings camouflage and the red on the spinner, for example), but the painting is still inspirational!

Another difficulty with the kit was the canopy; detail on the kit part is vague and it doesn’t fit well. Also, von Werra’s aircraft was a Bf-109E-4, but the old Airfix kit is a Bf-109E-3, so the canopy was a slightly different design too. I opted to use a spare Hasegawa E-4 canopy from the scrap box instead. Fit was not quite perfect, but plastic shims fix things up well enough.

Nice fix, Tim.

Thanks Sean!

After applying the RLM 65 Hellblau undersides and fuselage sides, I added von Werra’s distinctive white markings on the wingtips, tail, and nose.


A brushed-on coat of Future glossed things up, then I added the markings. Unlike their decals from the 1970s, the decals that come with the new tool Airfix kits are first rate!


With the installation of the more delicate kit exterior details and a coat of semi-gloss (5 parts Future to 2 parts Tamiya Flat Base), Airfix’s Old School 109 is done!

Nice build Tim!
Update on my build, under surfaces painted Sky:

Chris: I like your very neat subject for a build. It is cool to see a fairly rare topic being built!

Tim: Great work on your 109; you certainly turned that old Airfix kit into a completed model that stands up next to modern kits very well. Well done indeed!

Guys, I finally got around to taking some photos of my Trumpeter Bf109 E3 build. This is the third 109 "E" that I have built in 1/32 scale - the other two were Eduard's "E4" that a built to replicate Helmut Wick's aircraft sometime in late October 1940 and the other was CyberHobby's "E3" that I built as a super detailing project to show the DB601 engine off. All three kits were fun to build and each had their pluses and minuses as far as accuracy and fit; if I had to rate them I would give first place to the CyberHobby kit, closely followed by Eduard's kit, with the Trump kit bringing up the rear.

I did not do any super detailing to this kit, as I wanted to enjoy a relaxing build, which overall it was! The aircraft represents Heinz Bär's mount as it looked around early to mid-August 1940. I actually like how the rather plain paint job turned out, and it makes a nice contrast to the other two builds as they each show the evolution of the camo painting of German fighters as the Battle of Britain progressed. The only aftermarket product I used was a seatbelt set from RB Productions with the rest of the build being oob.

I'll stop writing and post a few photos for you all to enjoy and critique!

I'll echo Ernest, great work everyone! It's good to see this historic event get the attention it deserves.

We have about three weeks left, so get 'em together!

Michael

Great build Ernest!

Outstanding job Ernest. Gotta love those 109s!

Now with my Me 262 done (two weeks late) I have a very late start on this one. I really would have preferred to start earlier, but sometimes it just does not work out.

I am aware that I probably won't make it. This is the 3rd campaign in a row that i have a late start on because of a 2 months modelling hiatus in the 2nd quarter.

O.K. here we go: I will use Airfix new Hurricane Mk.I. Decals come from the box (boxtop markings). Also I try to use a bit of aftermarket for some spice (this will nonetheless fall in my almost oob category as these are mostly replacements)



I'll "start" a blog as soon as there is some progress. (actually I'll resume my "Storm Front" Blog)

all the best

Steffen

I'm past paint and into decals now...
Tamiya decals- unit markings gray too dark by windysean, on Flickr
I used poster putty to define my camouflage edges, but hand brushed artist acrylics for the green, and that resulted in pronounced ridges at the edges. I should have buffed those down, but didn't, so now my decals are on.
The decals in this kit snug down very well! I used Walthers Setting Solution also, especially where decals hung over the edges (notably the corner of the tail rectangle marking) to get them to comply.
My biggest complaint now, is that the gray of the unit markings is clearly darker than the box cover example. I tried to match my paint colors to the box, and I think I my green isn't too light, but the decal gray is darker and fades into the green.
I could go over them with a light gray paint, but I'll leave it (probably). It certainly makes the national roundels pop out!
Into the home stretch, I have to paint the antenna mast, applied last, get a wash on the wheels and underside, and overcoat with Dullcoat. There's some tape gum on the canopy to clean off too, but that should do it.
I expect to be ready to post to the gallery as soon as that's fixed!
Cheerio,
Sean H.

Glad to see the excellent work here!

Today is Battle of Britain Day everyone, so let's take a moment to remember the Few who triumphed and all those who fought.

Michael

OK, apparently the galleries are fixed. A big thanks to Jim at Admin! Post away everyone!

Michael

And here I am, photos in the gallery. Thanks for the group build, everyone!



Cheers!
-Sean H.

Very nice Spitfire Sean.

Ernest

I forgot to add the link to the BLOG

Start post

all the best

Steffen

Great start, Steffen. I agree that there are parts of construction that we just grumble through. The cockpit parts look so awesome! I really should do that too-- and start leaving my canopies open. Thanks for posting!
Thanks also to Ernest for the encouraging words.
Sean H.

Thank you Sean, ... actually I am pretty advanced as I hope to start with the decals soon. (see next page of the thread)

all the best

Steffen

Nice work Sean!

Great progress Steffan! I really loved the Airfix Hurricane but I'm a bit of a fanatic on that aircraft. Glad to see yours coming together.

Michael

Less than a week to go everyone. How're you doing?

Michael

Hi Michael,

I got the larger decals on and still hope to make it until next week...



all the best

Steffen

Go, Steffen, go!

Michael

Some touch up and then decal time:

Getting down to the wire. I have painted and stared to decal now. 5 days left.
Here is the paint job.