Zvezda 1/48 Bf 109F-2

[tucohoward]

Very nice work, John. I tossed one of those in the trash mid-build some years ago shortly after that kit was released. Don’t remember why for sure. I think it had to do with the panels on the wings. Anyway, you’re doing great. I still have another one in the stash I think. May have to revisit it.

Cheers,
Jay

[jeaton01]

Thanks everyone for the likes and the nice comments!  It's not one to hurry on Jay but I'm sure you can make a fine example of it.

More paint on, and a clear coat drying so decals can be added. Still learning how to mottle and hoping the decals will distract the eye. This airplane, according to the pictures on the decal instructions, was lightly mottled.

[kyledehart5]

Camo is looking good. Nice work John!

[jeaton01]

This one turned in to a bit of work because I deviated from the instructions and thought to install the engine after the basic paint work. That was a bad plan because it turns out you can't work the engine mounts in under the fuselage skin. I had to break out the front bulkhead and fit the engine to that, and then work the bulkhead and engine back into place. The engine alignment is pretty positive because the cannon fits into the back of the engine with a pin and there is an upper attachment near the gun mount, in addition to the engine mounts themselves. The lower mount struts are way too delicate and both broke off the main mount but that was not too hard to negotiate. Final adjustment was checked by fitting the cowls to see that the front cowling part was properly placed. I had to remove some material from the back of the coolant tank as it interfered with the engine reduction gear housing. The decals from Crandall were good to work with with the exception that the stencil placement chart was for a G so some guessing was involved there.

[handiabled]

The engine/fuselage mating looks great for the issues you experienced

[kyledehart5]

That’s looking beautiful.

[jeaton01]

All done now. I'd like this model a lot if I didn't just have a distaste for 109's in general. At least its an F, the best of the type. A surprisingly good fitting and well engineered kit, but totally unforgiving of those in a hurry or who don't follow the instructions. One failing is the paint callouts which are not to be trusted. I don't usually build models with a lot of things opened up.  Difficult to see the shape of the airplane.

With the Tamiya A6M3 model 22.

[lyle]

John, that is a beauty!

[TJ]

Nice finish John

[stikpusher]

Excellent work on your Friedrich John! Bravo! 👍🏼👍🏼

[handiabled]

Very well done 109 John! It shows great with the engine opened up

[deafpanzer]

She's a beauty! Well done John!

[jeaton01]

Thanks, everyone, I appreciate the comments.

[cbaltrin]

Great looking 109 John!

[buddho]

This is one good looking kit. Fantastic finish!

[keavdog]

Well done John!

[dupes]

This came out great! IS it possible to build these closed up?

[jeaton01]

May 12, 2024 13:49:26 GMT -5 dupes said:

This came out great! IS it possible to build these closed up?

I think so, with a little work to leave off parts of the engine and the mounts for it which would not be needed in that case.  The kit has a different mount for one side and there are also alternate side cowls to be used if it is closed up.  When fitting the wing inserts it worked much better to put them on as the first step in wing construction as I did.  That way you can ensure they fit flush because you can work from both sides.

Thanks, Dan, Chris, and John.  And you too, Dupes.

[reserve]

Nice finish sir. For years Zvezda was a name I avoided having done some of their early kits but about ten years ago I did their new mold 1/35 T-90 which was nothing short of fabulous; I see this has carried into their aircraft kits as well.

Fine looking bird, did I say that already?

[kyledehart5]

This turned out killer John!! Great work. Looks awesome all opened up. Very sharp

[creading]

Great build! I only saw the first page and thought you hadn't finished it yet, thus the first post (which I deleted)

Cheers,
C.

[jeaton01]

Thanks, Mark, Kyle, and C.!

[406 Silverado]

I missed this finish up when you posted in John but I'm most certainly glad that I peeked in on the thread. I've never seen you open an aircraft up the way you did this one but have gotta say that you did a bang up job of displaying all of the goodies. I had this kit in my stash years ago and ended up giving it to Greg over at FSM to build. Great looking kit in the box and have heard nothing but good about it. Swell job on your finish up here John.

[tcoat]

Beautiful. All opened up will work perfectly with your airfield display plans and the wonderful support vehicles you have already built.

[thug626]

That is a mighty nice looking 109 you have there! I may have to give Zvezda kits a go.

Cheers
Dave

[jmarc]

LLLLLLLLLLLooking good as usual ,Good ideal to show the scale size between the ZERO and Gustav .. That would be cool to see some airfield accessories with them like you did for the US one ?

[Medicman71]

Awesome work John!!