Commencing soon ...

http://gallery3.kitmaker.net/data/500/2015_041800011.JPG

Finally was able to crack the box and started on this build .

It has been along time since I have built a Eduard WW 2 subject and the quality now is top notch in my books . After reserving this kit it lead me to pick up their Fw 190A-9 and the Hellcat F6F-5 .

Inside the box you get 5 trees . 4 in grey plastic and one clear along with super fabric seatbelts which is nice to see in a weekend edition kit . These seatbelts are new to me so I'm looking forward on trying these out . Instructions are tipical in the weekend edition kits , but you have 2 making options on which to choose from .

Option A , 2/JG 27,Ain En Gazala airfield , Libya 1941

Option B , Oblt Karl-Wolfgang Redlich , Co 1. / JG27, Ain En Gazala , Liyba July 1941.

















Work has also started on getting the parts cleaned up which will be trapped between the fuselage halves .

Started airbrushing last night following the kit instructions . Colours called for the cockpit are RLM 02 for the side walls , floor , seat , rudder pedals , oxygen container , trim wheels , instrument support and rad . Only other shade called for in the pit is black for the control handle grip and the leather boot . Instrument panels are painted RLM 66 .

For the RLM 02 I used Tamiya XF-22 and for the instrument panels I used XF-63 .

The builder has two options for the instrument panels . You can either used the rasied detail and paint this or the option of flat panels to be used with the kit supplied decals . I painted all the panels for I have chosen which one I will opt for .


Engine has assembled and painted using Mr. Meatl Colour Dark Iron with the motor mounts painted RLM 02 . Gun deck and ammo cans are also ready to go waiting detail painting . Main parts for these are painted RLM 02 while the ammo cans are painted Mr. Metal alum .


So far this is where I'm at . Detail painting and weathering are up next ...

Hi Terri,

nice progress so far!

If you are building this with sand filter you should try to find an aftermarket replacement (just check what you have in the box and you will know why).

all the best

Steffen

Terri,
Like you, I've come to love the Eduard WW11 kits. They're right up there with Tamiya.

Will be following your build right to your crossing the finish line.

Joel

Thanks Steffen and Joel
Steffen , there are a few things I would like to replace on this kit . The filter is one of them and a PE set for the cockpit . Mainly for the instrument panel . These ones are simplified , but still look rather nice .
I told Andy that this will be out of the box review


Have to agree with you there Joel . I have been buying Eduard kit's since the mid 90's starting with their first 48 scale release SSW D.III . They have come along way since then .


Almost done with the detail painting . Should have this part wrapped up this weekend .




Terri

With the weekend coming to an end it is time to post pic's of the progress on adding colour to components and weathering .

Mounting the engine was a bit tricking . The engine supports have very fine attachment points and care needs to be taking when assembling these parts . Right side framing needs to be in place first follow buy the crank case vent tube on the left side . The left side engine barriers can be fixed in place .























Terri

Terri,
Super progress. the Pit should really look quite nice buttoned up between those fuselage halves, as they have just enough detail to fool the viewers eye. And the engine really looks quite nice with the weathering you've applied. I'm assuming that you'll have at least one engine compartment door in the open/off position.

Joel

Terri,

Nice work on the cockpit, Eduard Bf 109 kits are the best.

Beautiful work! I love 109's in all forms.

Thanks guy's !

Joel , I will be leaving all off the cowling parts off . The kit has excellent detail in this area . If the cowling was in place most of the engine compartment are not used and a small area on the top front of the engine needs be either trimmed back with a hobby knife or sanded .So it would be a shame to cover all this up . The main cowl part doesn't split down the middle like on later version .



Had some time today at the bench and this is today's progress . Main components are fixed in place in the fuselage and the many parts which make up the wing assembly have been tidy up .












Before I called it a night yesterday the wheel wells I glued in place and held them in a clamp over night .





Which lead me here . Fitting off the tail planes needed to have their mounting opens opened up more so the parts would fit , it is a very tight fit . Same with the main wings and no fill is need so far until primer goes on to see how well I actually did . There is gap , see pic below ..










This is where things need more attention . Not sure how this happen , but the rad assembly is in it's correct location , but there is this gap which needs to get filled with scrap plastic card .








Terri

Hi Terri

Nice work! The kit certainly is packed with detail - it'd take me a month of Sundays to build it in a "weekend"!

All the best

Rowan

Great work Terri!
I especially like your engine, it looks absolutely splendid! Did you do anything special in order to get the metal feel?

Otherwise I see that you've found the weaknesses of the kit. Despite those, I find the Eduard Bf109E to be an absolute gem where you almost can't fail. Looking forward to a completed kit!

/Fredrik

Thanks Rowan and Fredrik

With the time I have sometimes it would be more then a month of " weekends " on getting here done .

Fredrik , for that metal feel to the engine block I used Mr. Metal colour dark iron . I applied this with a brush starting with one coat and when dried which only takes a few minutes a second coat went on followed by a dry brush for Mr. Metal alum . Using a short flat brush I went back and polished the surface than sealed this with future so the weathering could start .

For the washes I started with a dark shade first /brunt umber followed by brunt sienna with a final wash of Tamiya smoke building this up in layers and when dried another dry brushing of alum applied very lighty


Terri

I got that nasty gap filled over the weekend .

For this scrap plastic card was with a thickness of 30 thou and sanded , thinning it down until it was a nice snug fit . While this was in place I ran a pencil across the face , removed this and trimmed off the excess a bit of sanding and placed the part back in and fixed it in place with Tamiya extra thin .





One small hole still to fill . Didn't notice this until the pic



Terri

Terri,
The engine and cockpit really look outstanding once installed in the fuselage. Glad that you're leaving off the cowl on this build.

Nice job on the radiator gap. Just fill in that little hole and no one will ever know it was there.

Joel

Great build so far Terri.
Considering its a weekend edition kit, there is a lot of detail in there which you sure have highlighted to great effect.


You and me both Rowan. I have a fully PE'ed and resin one in the stash that I did start about five years ago, might have to have a look at it .
Andy

Terri, does the gap at the wing root run from the LE to the TE? BTW nice job on the office, engine (what colors did you use), and the cowl under surface gap fill in.

Bob

Hi Joel

Should look even better once there is the rest of the parts and camo on .





Terri

Thanks Andy There is a lot detail in this kit that just screams for more shades of paint then what Eduard calls for .


Terri

Not sure what you are referring too . There are no gaps at the wing roots at all . It's a perfect fit . Only gap is at the rad base which is filled .

A few post up the colours I used I have mentioned for the cockpit and engine .

RLM 02 I used Tamiya XF-22 and small details are pick out with Tamiya paints .

Engine is Mr. Metal Colour dark iron with the details pick out using Tamiya and Vallejo paints .



Terri

Terri, thanks for the information. I should put my spectacles on the next time I look at the photos, I could have sworn I saw whit at the wing root my apologies. I have a couple of Eduard 109's in the stash and you posts are giving my an idea on what to expect when I open the boxes. BTW nice job on the office and engine.

Bob

Terri has already shown this in this thread, but I'd like to emphasize this about the quality of the kit, especially with reference to Bob's comment quoted above.

The Eduard Bf109E kit is absolutely fantastic and it more or less builds it self. The only tricky place is behind the radiator opening , but Terri showed how easy it is to correct this problem. This is really a kit that requires a minimum of filler and sanding. Of course the building time for any kit is a function of available time to the builder, skill levels and the kit it self, but this is a kit that everyone could build fairly quickly with very good results.

So, Bob, open your boxes and get into it! You won't be disappointed!

Terri, please tell us that it's time for some paint!? I need more inspiration!
/Fredrik

Well Fredrik I'm almost ready for paint . Just need to mask off the canopy and wheel wells and it's pre-shading and camo time which , I hope I will be able to start Today . I did a basic pre-shade on the inside of the cowl parts and sprayed the RLM 02 . Will have pic's up soon to keep your inspiration going


Your welcome Bob , pull one down and start building !


Terri

I have made more progress , canopy is masked the per-shading is done on the under surface . Not as much as I wanted to get done , but I just started a new job and time is something I don't have like I used too .

Will have some photo's up tomorrow of what I have done so far .



Terri