Airfix Bf109 E4 1:72

[dr_gn]

16VJay said:

dr_gn said:

It's looking aircraft shaped now. Weathered the wheel wells, fitted the radiators, wings, tailplanes & lower engine cover, and detailled the tailwheel and part of the spinner assembly:



Will need some Mr.Surfacer 1200 on some joints, but nothing serious:



And then we take closer look at the underside and lo and behold, the tailplane strut holes are totally out side-to-side:



I'll not bother to comment.

Looks like there's a filled-in location hole just outboard and behind your port strut in that last pic? If it's too far outboard compared to the starboard tail, at least putting the top of the strut in line with the hole (i.e. further back) would stop the strut being angled further forward than the other side, as it is now.

I sliced it off and repositioned it. Trouble is I think the fuselage location holes are off too. It looks better now (or at least will do when I've spend a few hours filling and scraping the filled holes.

[dr_gn]

Merlin28 said:

Any tips on applying decals for a beginner? I always seem to tear them or they don't go on where I want them.

Apply them to a glossy surface.

Dunk them in water until they move around the paper easily - you can dip them and leave them on the side of a suacer still wet if you like, but don't force them.

Float them onto the model - damp the surface first with a paintbrush and keep damping it if you need to adjust them.

That's about it really. You can use a softener like Microsol if you like - this will help the decals to conform to highly curved surfaces or panel lines. It is a bit tricky to use at first though. Basically get the decal positioned then coat it with Microsol and leave it. See how you get on.

Finally, apply a varnish to help keep the decals from getting damaged.

Hope this helps.

[dr_gn]

Did I mention the front canopy doesn't fit? Can't get a picture because it's too transparent to show up. I can't think how to correct it; tried heat but it's too risky, tried springing it and holding with masking tape, but the canopy glue won't hold it. I'll have to live with it.

When I was correcting the tailplane struts I noticed something 'not quite right' with the wings. It's dihedral, or almost total lack of it:



Can't correct that without major surgery on the wing roots and probably jigging them with masking tape. Too late now and TBH I couldn't have been bothered earlier in the build.

I'll finish it now I guess, but I've lost interest in it a bit. Going to have to scratchbuild the guns (difficult becasue of the flared ends) and aerial, all of which were broken or damaged during removal from the sprues.

Go here to see what the BM crowd think of my obsevations:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showt...

Over 1000 views in less than 24 hours suggests that anything Airfix casues a lot of interest. Same with the Sunderland I built and posted there not so long ago.

Strange.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

I'm following this build on the Nritmodeller forum as well and some of the comments are very interesting.

Eric - I can't find a build log of this from anyone on Britmodeller...strange since the kit got about 8 pages of praise when it was released. Nobody had actually built it. Have you seen the new Airfix Mustang? Same thing - almost universal praise based upon a single photograph which already clearly shows a fundamental error with the open canopy.

It appears from the comments on the B.M. thread I linked to that there may well be two versions of the '109 kit in circulation. I simply cannot explain why some people have correct dihedral and accurate tailplane holes, where mine isn't.

People seem to be now suggesting that I either don't have the skills to built the model, or am deliberately making mistakes.

Airfix is an incredibly strong brand - it's amazing.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

Funny, one poster on Britmodeller seems to be building it. Did you not see his post? He says he is not experiencing anything like the issues you are coming across.

You are either a very poor modeller (which is patently not the case) or you have bought a dud example - which would definitely imply quality control issues at Airfix.

I am tempted to start the example I bought a few weeks ago to see if your problems are generic to the kit or just "your problems".

Well, my initial post on BM asked if Airfix have a Quality Control Department...It does seem there are two versions of this kit, either they have multiple moulds or they have changed their only one.

As I said, I can't find a build log for this kit (work in progress) anywhere on BM.

[dr_gn]

I know how this looks, but genuinely, since I only have very limited time for model building, there is no way I would deliberately screw up any model.

For example: I've already repainted the spinner and rudder twice becasue I wasn't happy with the finish I got initially.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

Perhaps you are a perfectionist. There is a little bit of that in all modellers but maybe the "force" is stronger in you

Well, this is the last time I'll be venturing over to the Dark Side for the forseable future.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

Through Adversity One Conquers.

I built a 1977 1:32 Matchbox Bf109E-4, and won an IPMS model competition with it earlier this year against some of the latest Japanese and resin converted kits...I know all about Adversity

[dr_gn]

Well, predictably, my Britmodeller thread has been closed:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showt...

Interesting final post by the administrator I thought...

[dr_gn]

SlipStream77 said:

16VJay said:

Yes they, like the rest of us, are fed up with you using this poor little 109 kit to show off your hatred of Airfix! Across at least three forums too...

Let's get real, it costs the same as a magazine (£4.99) and is comparable to your benchmark of the Tamiya 109 - which isn't "a few pounds more", it's £12. It's designed for kids and casual modellers to slam together (who won't worry about the "faults" you've mentioned) while still being good enough for the serious guys - who will sort the things you've mentioned without a quibble, probably getting the tails on square too.

And all the while being amazed Airfix do something so good for the price, like I was when I had a play with one on Saturday.

To be fair, dr_gn is an engineer and a superb modeller so his standards are probably considerably above those that most would consider acceptable.

dr_gn said:

Airfix are so close to achieving this with this kit that it hurts. The kit is engineered probably to 95% of what could reasonably be called perfect, and the last 5% seems to be missing due to someone accepting something that is clearly wrong, but failry easily fixable. They chose not to.

What he's getting at is that there are just a few things that need changing to make it a great kit. How difficult would it be to create a new decal sheet with a panel decal that actually fits the panel?

Appreciate the comments SlipStreram77.

BTW, 99 replies and 5,240 views (and counting) in less than 48 hours tends to indicate that not *too* many people were "fed up" with the subject.

Aaaaanyway, let's see if we can't find some more errors tonight eh?

Despite not being capable of putting a model together, I've somehow pretty much finished the main assembly. The fit of the fuselage halves was very good - in fact too good. The Bf109 had a distinctive longitudinal seam along the top and bottom of the rear fuselage, which I've had to re-scribe becasue there was pretty much no visible line there after glueing!

Masking is now complete, I've opted for an open canopy, so decided to try masking it externally and internally:



Aileron balance horns took some cleaning up - holding with tweezers while scraping with a scalpel sorted one out, but the other isn't quite right. I'm not risking any more fettling though.



Happy with the prop assembly now after 2 attempts - good detail on the hub brought out by a bit of MIG dark wash. Ditto rudder; pre-shaded the ribs. I Used Tamiya NATO black becasue for some reason Revell Aqua black didn't spray finely enough



Now here's one for Eric. The aerial was scrap - no way I could salvage it so I made a replacement out of a part from my scrap box. 10 Airfix points if you can identify the AIRFIX model the part is from:



IIRC I did in fact enjoy building that one

[dr_gn]

perdu said:

Contrary to the 'gainsayers dr_gn I'm enjoying watching your 'kampf mit Willy's bebe'

I generally support Airfix instinctively but definitely NOT the mouldings you were sold...

Rory's a nice name for a puppy


You are making this bugger sit up and beg too

Not taking sides but the keyboard warriors getting involved appear not to have opened any of your modelling links on Britmodeller, what they haven't seen might astound them



Did I ever mention having to almost destroy the Revell engine on my Sauber just to close the engine upperworks because of impossible parts fitting?

In general they can all be sods to build


I will be going out soon to buy Revell's Sea King (fixation driven purchase there) and the Airfix bf109E-4

I have to see for myself what all the fuss is about


bill

Strange you should use the puppy analogy: looking at it on the bench here it's a pretty little model. It's the same feeling you get looking at a puppy that's just crapped all over your carpet - looks cute, but what a hassle.

Must admit I looked at some of the Britmodeller profiles of the keyboard modellers on my Airfix thread - some didn't have a single model posted in 'ready for inspection', and a couple of the ones that did looked like they'd built their models blindfold, whch would explain a lot. At the time, none had completed this particular model either BTW.

Perdu - Go ahead and buy this model. It's no real problem for an experienced modeller at all (as some people have figured out, this wasn't the point of my irritation), and it does look great. IMO it's likely there are two moulds, or at least one partially corrected mould.

Toodle pip.

[dr_gn]

72twink said:

Can anyone answer the undercarriage leg question or is it just for Eric?

Well, Eric appears to be AWOL this fine morning, so go ahead.

[dr_gn]

72twink said:

F4D-1 Skyray

Yup, well spotted. No idea why I seem to be able to remember which kit any remaining tiny fragment came from. It's probably 30-odd years ago since that model bit the dust.

[dr_gn]

perdu said:

I play that game in idle moments too

I have truckloads of parts lying around from my career and from building up my Midget from "spares, it's quite therapeutic to see what donated what to let me bugger off to Le Mans next week

As to the undercarriage leg, I guessed American, fifties or early sixties maybe Maritime due to the obvious strength built in and the complex foldingawayfullness

But I didn't "get it" never built a Skyray

I did build a Grumman Cougar many years ago, on holiday at an auntie's in Scotland.


Dark blue plastic... I blagged some of her domestic "old paint in a drying out old pot" to decorate its white stripes

I think it must have been an Aurora kit from F.W.Woolworth...

Anyway, well spotted Twink

I have a lot of old models (from my bygone modelling years) in a chest of drawers.

Not sure what to do with them, but I wondered about sticking them in a blender and setting them in clear resin as an ornament...or a table top. We could play the "guess the fragment". Oh how the hours would fly by.

[dr_gn]

Nothing like a bit of preshading on a Friday evening.

Sprayed the canopy framing area with interior colour (RLM02), then overall base coat of pale blue (RLM can't remember), oversprayed panel lines with NATO black:





Then overpaint with blue again untill the black pretty much disappears:





The aerial I made yesterday snapped off at some point, never to be found again I guess. Probably becasue when I made it, it was too tricky to form a location spigot on the end to locate it into the canopy. The kit version had a spigot, which would have made a more robust joint, but I broke it on removal from the sprues becasue the gates are massive and in the wrong places. Got to remake another now. OK it's not the end of the world, but it's frustrating if you want a quick OOB kit to build.

ETA - shame the ailerons and radiator outlets aren't separate like the flaps, then they could be drooped too. Easy enough to cut them off and reposition them if you are into that level of detail though.

Edited by dr_gn on Friday 8th June 21:17

[dr_gn]

Red Firecracker said:

perdu said:

I found the benefits of my Trekker type "trainer sandals" in '07, running water in over the top and drain out off the sides.

Blimey it was wet though, perlease not again even if Le Mans rain is warm...


Are you going? Camping or Giteing? Or poshnosh hotelling?

I shall be taking up residence in Houx on Wednesday morning. Was on Annexe in 2007 but luckily we didn't flood.

I'd love to go to Le Mans one year. What's it like from a spectating point of view? Fully sanitised like Silverstone these days I guess?

[dr_gn]

Red Firecracker said:

dr_gn said:

I'd love to go to Le Mans one year. What's it like from a spectating point of view? Fully sanitised like Silverstone these days I guess?

Sportscar racing is totally different from other forms of international racing. That may sound obvious, but I am talking from a crowd integration point of view. The teams and drivers are accessible and friendly, they talk to the fans and there is interaction both ways. For example, Ralf Juttner, the no 2 head bod of Audi, walked into me in the paddock last year. Full of apologies and had a chat. That just wouldn't happen in other series I could mention.

From a spectating point of view, it's very good. Tetre Rouge has changed, but you can see over the fences right into the action. Indianapolis and Arnage are incredible, absolutely mind blowing senses of speed change and power. You're not going to get to stand next to the armco on Mulsanne without some serious effort and risk of meeting rather large security guards.

It's a fantastic event and is so much more than just racing.

So you don't need passes to get into the paddock?

[dr_gn]

Next year...I'll take the boy along too.

Back to more mundane things: Masked the undersides and applied RLM02 - preshaded of course. Strange how once you're used to doing a new process you do it anyway irrespective of if the subject really needs it:



Then masked for Black Green:



Remove the bandages (along with a tail strut and aileron balance dammit), and it looks OK:





Can't see this one needing a wash - panel lines are too dark for my liking already, but there's not much I can do about that; it's shadow.

Canopy framing turned out well too with the internal/external masking.

Tomorrow hopefully front of fuselage mottled, wing tips white and "newly painted" engine cover completed.

ETA Whoops - spot the deliberate tailplane camo mistake. It'll do.

Edited by dr_gn on Sunday 10th June 00:54

[dr_gn]

Wingtips & mottling done, cowling & rudder fitted. A coat of Klear and we'll be ready for decals:





BTW I've not made a huge mistake with the painting of the cowlings - they were newer ones fitted to Von Werra's aircraft, so there really was a colour and camo mismatch!

[dr_gn]

72twink said:

As mentioned elsewhere the tail plane mistake isn't worth the worry - I'd have kept schtum and seen who was on the ball It's funny I've been looking at that picture and the other one of it being disarmed and am trying to decide if the splinter of black green as called by Airfix under the rear cowl (left over from the cowl swap) is camo or shadow from the cowl not fitting properly?

Pretty certain it's a shadow - the rear sections were notorious for flaring under air pressure, plus of course this one isn't the original.

I don't think there is a photograph of the actual camo pattern of this aircraft, so who knows the exact scheme? Mine's obviously now not as per the Airfix plan though. Having said that, the plan itself is incorrect in the front of windscreen area - it's shown as solid Black Green which it clearly isn't.