Zvezda 1/48 Bf 109F-2

[jeaton01]

This is the next project, a Bf 109 of the same vintage as the FW 190A-3 I recently built.  The plan is to do a little airfield display in France in 1940 when the 190A-3 was brand new but the 109 was already developed into it's best form, the F.  I read a few build reviews about this model as it has a lot of small parts and additive construction that usually lead to fit problems.  Seems the best way to build it is like an early Eduard 190, opened up in the engine area so that's the plan.  Apparently the parts for the nose do fit but with the engine in there alignment problems are an issue if the engine and it's mounts are not installed perfectly.  Time for me to do a 109 under engine maintenance!

I lost count of how many parts went into this much of the build.  Each exhaust stack is a separate part and the accessory drive is at least 6 parts.  All fits well so it has been fun.

 

 

[lyle]

Lovely work so far. You have such great projects!

[andreww]

Very nice start. Have you decided yet which markings she'll wear?

[kyledehart5]

Great start. Looking forward to watching this come together.

[jeaton01]

Andrew, it will be one of Assi Hahn's airplanes:

[handiabled]

Great looking scheme! I haven't seen a Zvezda 109 forever. I'll be following with interest

[stikpusher]

Oh I like that scheme John! Reminds me of the old Hawk 109 kit’s box art.

[lyle]

Apr 5, 2024 9:08:28 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Oh I like that scheme John! Reminds me of the old Hawk 109 kit’s box art.

Great box art and linear gun damage...Love the 3-4 hits on the engine and it is still running.

[jeaton01]

And it's such an early Friedrich that it still has an Emil wing! I don't think I've ever seen this one before. Oh, wait, it's a Maytag Messerschmitt because it's supposed to be a G!

[dupes]

How have I never seen this scheme before?? That's fantastic. Following along for sure...I have this kit in the stash, and wasn't aware of the nose-fit issues.

[jester75]

Oh man, I love this all around. Have the kit in the stash and those markings are seriously cool! Glad to hear the fit is good and looks like enough detail to give Eduards early 190's a run. Great start John!

[andreww]

I love that scheme, never seen it before, but always a fan of Assi's markings. Looks like that is starting off very well.

[TJ]

I'll be following along on this one John

[jeaton01]

Well, as Mark Deliduka says, welcome aboard, everyone.  But you'll have to walk as this cheap joint has no trams.

Apr 5, 2024 14:33:01 GMT -5 dupes said:

How have I never seen this scheme before?? That's fantastic. Following along for sure...I have this kit in the stash, and wasn't aware of the nose-fit issues.

Marc, I have only read about others having issues, and I have to say that this is one of the best fitting kits I've worked on.  However, if there was to be a fit issue it might be difficult to deal with because the part edges are quite thin.  I suspect that getting the engine mounts just right will take some special care and maybe use of the cowling panels as alignment aids when installing the engine.  I am also not following exactly the construction steps, such as adding most of the separate wing panels sooner so I can get to both sides.  Some parts are so exact that they don't set down all the way until some Tamiya thin is applied and then all goes right.  The only gap I have so far is at the trailing edge of the wing where they did it differently than most kit and the parts at the wing root mate underneath, not at the trailing edge.  It is slight and will be easy to fill and leaves a fine edge to the wing fairings.  I also truncated the ribs inside the wing at the inner end of the slat recesses, they were unnecessary and did not fit over some of the internal stringer detail.  The plastic reacts very well with Tamiya Extra Thin.

The white plastic is added to get rid of the step at the back of the slat well.  There really doesn't seem to be any provision for the slats in the down position but I doubt it will be difficult to work that out.

 

The white section of the fuel line is added rod to replace a section that exited to hyperspace.

 

 

This photo shows how the trailing edge of the wing root is handled.

 

Canopy parts fit is very snug.  I had to remove just a touch of flash before things fit.  I'm going to have the canopy open, but in this photo the center is pressed in but not glued.  The canopy framing is rather pronounced and sticks up above the skin of the fuselage, don't know if that is right, and it made it so I had to be careful that the aft section was exactly centered.

[handiabled]

Coming together nicely John! Looks like a little filler will be needed for dropping the radiator flaps

[kyledehart5]

Nice work!! Things are looking good.

[Tojo72]

Should be nice John,the red will really pop.

[jeaton01]

Well, the red would have popped... I should have known better when I found the scheme on Wikipedia! But I do have Scalemaster decals that call for red. Further research, including what Jerry Crandall had to say on the subject, indicates that the red was a misinterpretation of black and white film. I have edited the photo with that text so as not to further spread misinformation. I also ordered an EagleCals sheet for the model as if Superscale hasn't got the color right what else can I trust. Shoot, you can't even trust the Hawk box art!

Whatever. I am fairly confident that the RLM 76 I just sprayed all over the model is right.

[jeaton01]

Some more paint on this one, maybe I will work on the spine this afternoon but I also started on the Tamiya A6M3 type 22. My bench is awash in superkits! Somewhat balanced by a Mister Craft Alfetta, not so super.

[adt70hk]

Looking very good John.

Sorry I missed the start of this.

ATB.

Andrew

[kyledehart5]

Apr 12, 2024 16:19:49 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Some more paint on this one, maybe I will work on the spine this afternoon but I also started on the Tamiya A6M3 type 22. My bench is awash in superkits! Somewhat balanced by a Mister Craft Alfetta, not so super.

Ah. Beautiful work here. Mister Craft Alfetta? Would that be another rebox of the venerable old Merit kit? Not so super is right. 

[jeaton01]

Apr 12, 2024 22:21:00 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Apr 12, 2024 16:19:49 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Some more paint on this one, maybe I will work on the spine this afternoon but I also started on the Tamiya A6M3 type 22. My bench is awash in superkits! Somewhat balanced by a Mister Craft Alfetta, not so super.

Ah. Beautiful work here. Mister Craft Alfetta? Would that be another rebox of the venerable old Merit kit? Not so super is right. 

Thanks, Andrew and Kyle. Sadly that is the truth of the Alfetta kit. I work on it here and there. Expectations are not high, just afew improvements here and there.

[kyledehart5]

Clear disc wheels? 😑😑😑

[handiabled]

Great looking splinter on this John. I would have no patience for a kits that are a constant battle, I salute you guys that can see them through the finish

[406 Silverado]

You've got my attention with this build John. These Zvezda kits are definitely "all that". LOTS of details packed into these kits. Gonna be watching this one.

[jeaton01]

Brent, it's a bad road at all, but a bit of a long one to do justice to the nice fit and detail. I am working on painting all the loose bits while I wait for the Eagle Strike decals to arrive, should be here Monday. I don't want to paint the spine or do the mottle until I have those. I noticed that I had painted the wing camouflage too far up on the wing fairings so I redid that, and also made sure that the humongous hair on the side of the fuselage wasn't on the fuselage anymore like it is in the previous picture. Must be from my grand daughter who is working on a Revell 1/72 PBY on the same bench. Been years since I had any hair that dark!

[jeaton01]

One more update. I got the new decals and found that many things were different according to Mr. Crandall. Different splinter pattern on the wings, no yellow wing tips, and a flat black area on the wing roots. The panel lines on this kit are very fine, such that all the repaint has made them invisible so that will need further attention. Later. Still a happy camper.

[handiabled]

The paint rework looks good John.

[406 Silverado]

A very unique pattern with that black on the sides of the fuselage at the wing roots. This is coming long very well so far John.

[lyle]

Nice job, John! Paint looks great.