Wayne
Sand filter looks very good. I agree that once everything is painted it won;t stick out like canine test..... the proverbial :-) .

I'm back from my 3 weeks leave and spent the day doing all the odd jobs required after such an absence - mowing etc. I don't start work again until Tuesday (that was planned) so 2 days of Tomahawk should see some painting done - well priming anyway.

The wings were glued before I left so they need sanding. A quick test fit of the wings - fuselage joint looks as thjough it will be fairly clean with only minimal filler required. I do agree with 1 review I read of this kit - and that is that the tail is toylike. the way it fits together allows the rudder to move - but the fit is so loose that it just flaps - and I couldn't see any way to make the fit tighter as I was putting it all together. So there is a chance (damn big one at that) that some superglue will magically appear in the join and fix the rudder in place. Ailerons just have pins and can't be made moveable - so no problems there.

I am not too sure about the undercarriage, i think that it may not be strong enough so I am thinking of using some brass rod to brace it.

Once I clear the 350 pics off the card in my camera I will take some updated pics.

Brian

Wayne, I agree the filter looks good and will be fine once it's all painted up. Was it fairly easy to construct? I have very little experience trying to create things myself.

Brian, Looking forward to some pictures. Heck, if you want you can even share some from your leave - hope it was good!

My progress is, well, pretty slow. I am trying to build a little steam with my ki-84 frank duel build, so I only have the engine of this one done. Here is a picture. Removing the magnetos went very smoothly. After doing and painting it, I came across some pictures that make me feel like the items on the left of where the prop "pole" will go should be removed, but oh well. I'm happy with it as is.



I hope all is well, and I will try to keep some progress going...
Leon

Thanks for the comments on the sand filter guys. I got to do some last minute touching up painting and seam work. I think I am actually ready to put the base coat onto the 109. I am thinking seriously about trying preshading on this one but I need to do some research on it. I understand the idea and the main concept. Has either of you tried this before? How do you get the preshading to show through without really covering it up? Do you just not paint as heavily at the seams as you do at the center of all the panels or?? I'll take any advice you can give me. I havn't looked yet but I am sure to fine some good info and tips on this here at armorama.

Leon - The filter was actually very simple to make. I used 5/16" square tubing for the main part of the filter. I marked my length that I needed and drew in the little windows for the mesh. Before cutting the piece off I used my dremel at very slow speed and cut out the windows. I cut the filter piece off of the main tube and then cut the bottom off of the square so it would straddle over the top of the intake on the 109. That had to be a little fine sanded so it wasn't too tall.
I got all the edges carefully filed and cleaned up and then glued the mesh on the inside of the filter. I attached that to the side of the plane.
Out of 7/16" tubing I cut a piece to make the front of the filter and then glued that onto the front of the filter. I used a little filler to fill in some gaps at the front and rear of the filter and that was it. It was really easier than I originally thought it might be.

Hopefully you will get to work some more on your kit but it sounds like you have quite a bit going all at one time. Very understandable to not be able to put a lot into any one kit at a time. By the way - I checked out your project for your other duel. That Frank really looks sweet so far. I would sometime really like to try paint chipping like you are now experimenting with. That looks so cool and looks like fun.

Brian - glad to see you back and able to do some more on your project. It sounds like you have a lot going on with that one too. I am definitely eager to see any more update pics you have.

Oh, and by the way, there is no need for either of you two to hurry to just end up as shot up , smashed and smoking pieces scrap metal at the bottom of a big sandy hole. :-) :-)

Wayne, Personally, I love preshading; it gives a nice variation to the main colors that help give a little life to the model. I think there are some articles here on armorama, but if I may, I will point you to another great resource. On the testors scale model workshop site there is a 7 minute video that demonstrates the technique. This is where I first learned it, and I really liked actually seeing someone work through the process. Unfortunately, since the video is for streaming the quality is a little poor, but the demonstration / explanation / etc. are very good. The site for that is...
http://www.scaleworkshop.com/workshop/video4bg_2.htm




Thanks for the explanation on your scratch building. Seeing your result is inspiring to me, and while a very different thing, it has pushed me to try to scratch build a good sutton harness for my martlet, as well as who know what else.

As for the frank, it is a very fun build. I really enjoyed our rising sun group build a couple of years ago and gained a large appreciation for the Japanese planes at that time. I always kind of wish we could have "the sun is rising again" group build...

Well, I hope the video helps out, and I look forward to further progress.
Hope all is well.
Leon

Oh PS...



Funny!

Leon, thanks for the link to the video. As I type this is it downloading and can't wait to check it out. I am the same way as you. I can read things and learn from them. Sometimes I have to read things many times to really catch on. But if I can 'see' something done like in a video I learn it a lot faster.
It may not be feasable but a video section for learning technics and anything to do with modeling would be great. That would need more storage space for the server along with the time and effort for anyone to actually make a video. But with the talent of a lot of the modelers here at armorama, that could be so cool!! Just a pipe dream... boy, but what a dream!!!!

Sometime a litte later on we will have to do another 'Rising Sun' build. That first one was a lot of fun. I still have four other kits in the to build pile first which will take a while I am sure. I just picked up the Hasegawa 1/48 P40 Warhawk and the Tamiya 1/48 P47 bubbletop. Then I still have the AM B-25 and ... ... I am going to the dark side..... I have a Tamiya King Tiger tank that I can't wait to build some day. Ever since I saw the real thing at the Patton museum in Kentucky I have been itching to build this thing. First things first tho.
But anyway, after all that rambling, let's definitely keep it in mind and sometime in the future we will start up another 'Rising Sun' group build.

Good modeling,
Wayne

Wayne, sounds like you have some good builds coming up. One of the ones that I am working on right now is the Tamiya 1/48 Razorback Thunderbolt. It is a great kit! I'm sure the bubbletop is its equal.

Anyway, I hope the video helped you out. Check your pm messages...

Leon

I have a major update and pics to prove it.
I am thrilled with my progress so far. This is my first attempt at preshading and think that it didn't come out too bad at all. The pics were taken under florescent light so the colors aren't quite true. I am sure everyone knows what the colors should look like. The main scheme is done but I still have to put the olive spots on which will be fun.
Plus there are obvious exterior things that I have to go back and paint up such as grills, filters, gun barrells,wheel wells, etc,...etc....
Let me know what you think.

Good modeling,
Wayne

Hi Wayne!

This is becoming very interesting! I think the colors are just fine. I can't wait to see the green mottles on it!
I see you made a replacement sand filter from scratch. Nice job! I'm so sorry I didn't found a spare one but I'm sure I will find it now you don't need it anymore!

You make me want to start my Bf 109 G-4!

Jean-Luc

Looks great Wayne! I really like the pre-shade effect. Really nice! I can't wait to see how the green patches come out. Keep up the good work
Hope all is well.
Leon

Thanks guys,
I am, so far, very pleased with how the 109 is coming out
I have the green camo done now and it also came out great
I didn't copy the spots exactly as they are in the pic earlier in this thread. But I did use that as a strong guide line and ended up with a close representation of the original pic with a little bit of my own interpretation.

I used liquid mask which I am trying to decide if it was the best way to go
It was tedious and took quite a length of time to paint on which was no big deal. Good modeling always takes time. But afterwards ... ....
taking the mask of started to be a chore. I let the olive set up a little bit and then started picking away at the mask carefully with a toothpick. That was going to take til around Christmas 2008 doing it that way

I started rubbling real lightly on the mask with my fingers and it warmed up and rolled off really nice with no damage to the spots Plus one happy side effect - around the wing joints where things were kind of tough to get into with fingers, I had to rub a little extra which in a way buffed and slightly dirtied up some of the paint. It didn't rub off or smear but just kind of changed a little because of oil or whatever from my fingers. Well heck, this just helps add to the weathering/realism factor.

But ... ..... the mask grabbed onto some of my earlier painting around panel lines and tight spots and peeled off small spots on the wings and body. Which made for a small amount of touch up to get things back to normal. That is all done and things are looking really good again

Free hand was out of the question for me doing the spots. I don't have the experience and practice to do that kind of thing yet. I was curious as to what other ways some of you might have done this camo scheme.

I have a little bit of painting on small exterior things to do such as gun barrells...etc..etc, installing the landing gear and a few other small pieces. I want to get that done before I post any pics of my 109 again.
I'll try to get a few good ones before I clear coat it and start working on the decals.

Good modeling,
Wayne

Looking awesome mate! Look forward to see it finished....

Well here it is with the camo all complete. It is now ready to be clear coated and decals added. The only thing that I am -slightly- disappointed on is that all the edges of the spots seem a little too sharp. I would have liked to have had a little bit of feathered edges to them. Experience and practice will help for the next time around.

Hi Wayne!

I agree with you the spot look a little hard edged and therefore not 100% accurate but from an artistical point of view they look very good! The decal will improve the look of the model even more. Fantastic job so far!

Jean-Luc

Looks really good to me Wayne. Maybe another way to mask it would be to use an index card with the shapes cut out raised a little from the plane with bluetac. This would give it a somewhat soft edge. I imagine it would be really hard to line it all up though...? Anyway, I think it looks good as is.
Leon

I have done some major research and experimentation with the camo on my 109 and thought that I would share my results
I was worried about the olive spots on my 109 not being feathered and working as well as they could. I tried an experiment which might be slightly flawed but it was the best I could do at the time

First of all, I do not have an authentic flying Afrika Korps Bf-109 such as the one I am currently building And furthermore, I do not have an African desert anywhere in, around, or near my yard
But.... if you check the photo below, it shows how my camo would work, ..if, by some chance, an Afrika Korps Bf-109 would fly over the carpet in my bedroom :-) :-) :-)
You ask Where is the 109 in the picture Well look at the picture VERY closely and you will spot it somewhere in the center. Pretty darn impressive :-) :-) :-)

Now, once we have our three planes done for our duel, and if we fly our duel over my bedroom carpet, then I have a very distinct advantage if anyone happens to get altitude over me.
Good modeling,
Wayne

Geez Wayne, I wish I could have gotten to you sooner. At Gator's Paint Mask, I carry the 109 tropical camo mask.

This one was done by a customer and reviewed for IPMS/USA.



I also have the German insignia.

Kenny
Gator's Paint Mask

Thanks anyway Kenny,
That mask looks awesome and would have been a really good way to go. Although I did give myself some learning experience doing the camo with the way I ended up doing it.
Just curious tho.. The 109 in your pic looks like 1/48th scale. Does that mask come in different scales? My 109 is 1/32nd.

Thanks again and good modeling,
Wayne


I asked too soon... I just checked out your link and your mask is also for 1/32nd. Cool. I will keep your masks in mind if I need one for a later project.

I do custom orders too. I have code letter fonts also.

Looks great Wayne. I love the carpet camoflage. I had to look and look to see it. It was like one of those weird pictures where if you unfocused your eyes the 3d image would finally appear... Can't wait for the decals.

Hope all is well.
Leon

Wayne

Great work on the 109 - it doesn't matter what the colour is, a target is a target :-) . Seriously though that is what this whole exercise is all about - learning. You have had a crack at a new technique for you with the painting and that is the most important thing. (well after having fun).

Since my last post the excrement has hit the rotating blades at work and everything has gone VERY pear shaped. I should find out in the next couple of days whether my application for a transfer has been accepted - and if so I will have 4 weeks to move 1200 kilometres.

The Tomahawk is sooooooooo close. The decals for Nicky Barr's aircraft arrived the other day from Aero Imageworks. The wings are on and cleaned up I just have a couple of gaps with the engine cover and the chin scoop to fill and then it is off to be painted. And if that doesn't happen in the next couple of days then it probably won't until after Christmas. (Same old deal - house to sell - move - house to but etc etc)


Leon - you must have better eyes than mine. I had to convert Waynes image to an infra red one in order to find the 109s engine - then with some ingenious deduction I wasd able to determine the outline.
:-) I think we shouldn't let Wayne "go low" we will have to keep this hun in the sun.

Brian

Oh my! Incredible progress, incredible quality! I feel ashamed because I wanted to check the messages about this campaign to get some motivation and start, and I see that you almost finished it! Congratulations mate... I loves the interior very much.

Cagin

Hi,

I have a website that anyone might find it will come in handy http://www.ww2incolor.com
It has a couple of 109 pics in colour

Sebastian

EDIT: I found it through google

Thanks Leon - I just finished up the decals and they are looking pretty sweet I am going to do my wash and a few other little things before I take any more pics. I am getting fairly close to be calling my 109 complete.

Thanks too Brian - Glad to see you are still making progress. Wow, Good luck and I sure everything works out with the job and all Real life can sure get a little crazy at times. It's great hobbies like modeling that helps us get away from it all and helps us keep some of our sanity

and Cagin - Thank you much for the comments. I enjoy the whole process of building model airplanes, but my most favorite part of the whole thing is the cockpit interior. I really appreciate your kind words

Sebastion - Thanks for the link to your site, You have some very cool pics

Good modeling all,

Wayne, I think your "experiment" worked out wonderfully. Nice job. Looking forward to seeing it with decals

I am thrilled and almost done. I got all the decals on which look great. Put on a laquer coat and oil washed panel lines. Antennea wire is on and glue blobs for insulaters are on and looking good. I am just waiting for the oil wash to set up so I can put my final coat of laquer on and then my Bf-109 will be complete.

This was my first time for using an oil wash and I like it a lot better than what I have used or done before. Once the oil wash sets up a little bit it is easy to fix a little excess wash here and there. With a que-tip or a small rag you can drag or brush the wash in the direction of the airflow. This helps smear and blend the excess. To me this even helps to add a little more realism to the weathering of the aircraft.

There should be some final pics of my 109 here shortly.

Good modeling,
Wayne