Airfix ME109 build

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Discussion

sad61t

Original Poster:

1,100 posts

209 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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I have two Airfix ME109 kits:
* A02029A, 109G-6 planned to do in Swiss colours
* A55106, 109E-3 'Starter Kit'

Why two? Well I ordered the G and got the E, so was sent the G (and didn't need to return the E; the postage was probably more than the kit). Thumbs up for Deanos Games' customer service.

-- The E
The E looks very similar to that built by dr_gn a couple of years back:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It will be interesting to see if they've improved the alignment.

-- The G
However, looking at the G, it's stripped right back with a one piece canopy and no cockpit tub, just a man (gripping fresh air) on a seat. To me it would be more suitable for the starter kit than the E.

On the plus side, the G sprues have a couple of variants as there's a second canopy (larger glass area); the field fit 20mm cannon pods or (what look like) rocket packs for the wing hard points; choice of midline bomb or tank; and an extra air intake with the oversize tropical air filter. Stuff for the spares box.

All very simple and I'm a rank amateur builder, but would a build thread be of interest?

Any ideas on the cockpit? Copy from the E? I really bought the kit for the Swiss paint scheme, but know it'll bug me looking through the canopy and out the radiator vents...

Eric Mc

121,776 posts

264 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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1/72?

72twink

963 posts

241 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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The G-6 cockpit definitely needs some help, even if it's just correcting the seat shape and a rear bulkhead, have a look at this build for pointers.

Finnish G-6

Eric Mc

121,776 posts

264 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
1/72 then smile

The G-6 is a very poor model - probably the worst of all of the newer Hornby era releases.

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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I'd be interested in a build thread. I think that many of the errors on the E-4 were corrected soon after release, although Lufbramatt might be able to shed more light on this.

I'd assume your E3 is exactly the same as the E4 apart from decals. IIRC the most distinctive external difference from an E4 is the rounded canopy edges on the original E3's, but these were often upgraded to E4 spec. while in service.

Rather than mess about with the G6 cockpit, I'd just build it OOB and get some experience. By all means fill the see-through bits in if it bothers you. If you fit a pilot and a closed canopy, very little will be visible anyway.


Eric Mc

121,776 posts

264 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
I gave my G-6 away to a youngster. He was more than happy with it.

sad61t

Original Poster:

1,100 posts

209 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for all the feedback. Had a longer look and agree that the G is poor - there's almost no detail beside the trough panel lines. Not even a rivet in sight - is it actually an Airfix kit?

After some thought, I have decided to do the G for practice straight out-of-box with a simple splinter pattern from the E starter kit, and then use the E with the Swiss decal pack for effect where I can use positionable flaps, cockpit detail, etc. with some recent experience in my hands. (Dug out my Miliput and it had gone off - it was £1.65, so that gives some idea how long I've had it. At least it wasn't priced in psd.)

Here are some G sprue shots:




The tyres are featureless, so wheels up seems likely. Should mention the internal cockpit detail - ejector pin marks:

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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The new Milliput I use is fairly solid; you could try mixing it with water. I always do this before applying, and remove the excess with a damp cloth. Saves sanding it back and damaging the plastic later.

BTW, have you got an airbrush? What paints are you planning on using?

sad61t

Original Poster:

1,100 posts

209 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
I'll try the water - nothing to lose.

Paint will be aerosol primer and then brushed acrylics (from the starter kit plus Citadel if they're still liquid).

Here's progress so far, dry-fitted the fuselage, pilot and wings.
* Gates were pretty big and needed a fair bit of care (so I'll have to be extra careful on the more delicate parts).
* Some flash on the leading wing edge (and pilot).
* Had to drill out the four seat mount points, but that has fitted in snugly now.
* Panel fit has been OK - wing roots surprisingly good, just the underneath wing/fuselage joins that need some filler.
* Question about the fuselage centre-line - should it be shown on both top and bottom? Box art/paint scheme has one running along the top of the engine cowling, very faintly behind the pilot but not underneath.



perdu

4,884 posts

198 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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Blimey

I think even the old (ever so very old) Airfix 109 G6 was better than that one


eek

You know the bit where peeps say "I've got the popcorn and I'm watching", on 'the forums'

no popcorn but plenty of beer, I'm looking forward to this

Eric Mc

121,776 posts

264 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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Old codger point - it was L S D - not P S D.

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
Assuming you are a novice, that's really very neat work so far. A smear of Milliput will soon sort those gaps out. As I said, wipe the excess away with a lint free cloth (lens cleaning cloth works well). Some of the starter pack paints are OK, most are hopeless. If you're happy with Cidadel, I'd use them throughout if possible.

If you need striaght lines, get some Tamiya masking tape, and cut with a #11 Swann Morton blade and steel rule to remove the factory edge (which can get contaminated and lose adhesion).

Rear fuselage had a top and bottom central, longitudinal joint line. Engine cover also had a top hinge like a vintage car bonnet. Don't know about the underside of the engine, but I doubt it would have a seam. Immediately in front of the windscreen would also be seamless I think.

Edited by dr_gn on Wednesday 21st January 23:16

72twink

963 posts

241 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
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Top and bottom of the spine.





(The underside image is an F but same centre line join on the spine)

sad61t

Original Poster:

1,100 posts

209 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
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L S D? thought that was something else from the 60s smile

Thanks to dr_gn and 72twink for the info on the panel lines.

Eric Mc

121,776 posts

264 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
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If you can get to the RAF Museum at Hendon, there is a beautifully preserved G model on display.

sad61t

Original Poster:

1,100 posts

209 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
quotequote all
Quick status update:
* Drop tank made, smoothed and re-scribed.
* Canopy masked up (followed method on Swanny's Models, but without Future). Hope it's worth it!
* Removed the ejector pin marks that were plum in the middle of the cockpit sides.
* Cockpit interior and pilot primed (in Citadel Incubi Darkness - a dark turquoise/grey). A second coat + matt varnish on the sides should be sufficient for the interior as there's no other detailing. In hindsight I'd have masked the outer parts of the lower wing to avoid contaminating the areas I'll want to glue later. In double hindsight I'd have done that first (before the canopy) so I'd have got the second coat done tonight.



ETA: Note about Humbrol 92. This is discontinued, but is "Matt black green" or "Flat iron grey"; Humbrol recommend 32 as a possible alternative. The Incubi Darkness was my closest match.

Edited by sad61t on Friday 23 January 08:46

sad61t

Original Poster:

1,100 posts

209 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
quotequote all
Last night's insomnial activity was to clean up the overspray; this highlighted the ejection pin marks on the mating surfaces of the wings and tail. I cleaned these up with a chisel edge blade and then a sanding block; the fit is noticeably improved over Wednesday's fit - would recommend it if you make this kit.

Planning to put on a second coat of primer this morning so it's dry for this evening. Then I'll be ready to paint the seat and pilot and be ready to glue the fuselage.

16VJay

235 posts

218 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
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No seam under the engine, whole panel swung to one side (forget which) complete when open.

sad61t

Original Poster:

1,100 posts

209 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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Hi all, been busy the last couple of days so it doesn't look like a lot:
* Painted the pilot and seat.
* Couple of matt varnish coats on the cockpit interior.
* Fitted the air intake.
* Scribed a tread pattern into the wheels.

Pilot took a while as it had some shading and highlighting applied (alas the right hand is just a misshapen lump), and a little bit of weathering on the seat's edges.


Edited by sad61t on Saturday 24th January 23:26

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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If you did want to add anything to the cockpit, you could add the angled rear bulkhead that fits in the fuselage behind the pilots head. The void that's currently there might be visible through the glazing. A simple bit of plastic might also be simple enough to make for an instrument panel.