CB's Revenge: Trumpeter Bf 109F-4/Trop

[wing_nut]

Your approach to a sludge wash is neat no doubt but I see what Marc is saying. Especially in the context of a few planes a decade opposed a every month. The discussion jogged my memory of oft used procedures of days gone by. Sludge wases to me were really dirty. This example is the only one i could find from back in the day and this was neat by my standards. I usually just painted the one darn thing. This happens to be pastels ground to a fine powder mixed with soapy water and wiped off with a damp paper towel folded really tight. But I used to use oils in the same fashion. This smelled less. All the streaking etc. was down in the one step of the wiping off. May be more than you are looking for though.

This is by no means a criticism of what you're doing. I already know what it's gonna look like when it will be done. I am almost down on one knee already to propose...

[JimD]

Bill, if you are just trying to highlight panel lines I'd recommend grabbing some Flory Wash. I use oil washes when I do armor, and they do work on planes, obviously, but I really like the nature of the Flory stuff. If you apply it over gloss you can pretty much wipe it completely off...leaving it only in panel lines. If you do it over a flat base then it will leave some pretty good staining too...depending on the look your going for determines what sort of base coat you'd use.

The best thing about it is that it's quick...and unlike oil you can leave it on a week and it will still rinse off. Just an idea if you plan to do a few aircraft.

[wbill76]

Thanks Marcel! Glad you like the results so far.

Dupes, I see your point. The enamel wash does dry fairly quickly vs. say an oil wash or something similar like the Flory, so using the clean thinner approach is really the only way to do it with what I've got on hand to produce the result I'm after. Adding dish detergent to an enamel-based wash would definitely have some interesting results...probably not the desired ones however!

Marc, the use of ground up pastels is an interesting one and not something I would've considered ordinarily, but it looks like it produces a good result! This is the only AC I have planned for anytime soon...and it's only because of a bet with CB, so it may be another decade before I build another, hard to say. As for proposals, you better be quick or Andy will beat you to it!

Jimmy, appreciate the added info on the Flory stuff. This particular kit doesn't have panel lines in the traditional sense (although there are a few places that are true lines), the rivet lines are just that, individual rivet holes, and how Trumpeter molded them on the different surfaces has presented different challenges in terms of picking them out. The depth of the holes and their angle varies a bit on the fuselage vs. the wings for example. So far I've been successful in picking them out, just have the underside left to do now. I'm using a gloss coat (very rarely do I apply washes on flat surfaces unless I want a 'blooming' effect) with the Future and everything's flowing as usual on that and it's doing its job in protecting the undercoats from the thinner, so it's all good. As I mentioned above, it's likely to be a long time before I do another AC but will keep it the Flory product in mind for the future if things change!

[dupes]

Yeah, that Flory / Promodeler stuff is nice - pretty much a pre-mixed sludge wash.

[ceresvesta.]

Mighty good looking modeling here my friends! I am taking notes!!

[wbill76]

Thanks Phil! Hope you can learn from my experience...rule #1, never make a bet with CB!

[wbill76]

I've been sneaking in more time on the 109 in small doses as I continue to weather the rivets and panel lines, made for an easier process to complete the rest of the wing, fuselage, and underside surfaces remaining. Definitely glad to have this stage over with!

[bbd468]

GOOD GAWD!!! Thats looks amazing brother Bill, Impressive indeed!

[wbill76]

Thanks brother Gary! I'm still seeing spots from staring at all those rivets.

[Leon]

Ditto what Gary said Bill,awesome looking results.

[wbill76]

Thanks Leon! Approaching the moment of truth when I find out if the Eduard masks did their job as advertised or not!

[deafpanzer]

BEAUTIFUL! It will be a perfect 109th wife for me...

[sabre]

Lovely work on the Hans Joachin Marseille's ME Bf-109 F-4 Trop, you've done an understanding job on the panel lines wbill76.

Some times it pays not to cut corners and judging by the result you have achieved on this Bf-109 all your hard work has really paid off for you mate.

I can't wait to see this infamous No.14 unmasked.

[wbill76]

Andy, watch out for wing_nut, he's already got his proposal rehearsed and has been spotted pricing out diamond rings!

Sabre, thanks very much for the kind words! Tomorrow will be the day of destiny after I let this sit overnight and give it another look over before sealing it with the flat coat.

[JimD]

Stunning work, sir. I think part of me is glad you don't intend to do more wingy things...it will be a lot easier to not have to live up to this quality all the time when I post my builds

[wbill76]

Feb 27, 2014 0:05:48 GMT -5 JimD said:

Stunning work, sir. I think part of me is glad you don't intend to do more wingy things...it will be a lot easier to not have to live up to this quality all the time when I post my builds

Thanks Jimmy! No worries there, I'm definitely itching to get back to building something with tracks and road wheels.

[ceresvesta.]

Feb 26, 2014 20:41:06 GMT -5 bbd468 said:

GOOD GAWD!!! Thats looks amazing brother Bill, Impressive indeed!

Garry! Stop stealing my lines! 
Brother Gary is speaking the truth Bill


word!!

[wing_nut]

Do you, wing_nut, take 109F-4 as you lawfully wedded model?

I do.

Do you, 109F-4, take wing_nut, as you lawfully wedded modeler?

Jawhol.

I now pronounce you... Modeler and Model. You may take the model and makes ZOOMING noises around your room.

[ceresvesta.]

That would make an awesome wedding picture book

[wbill76]

Feb 27, 2014 13:05:40 GMT -5 wing_nut said:

Do you, wing_nut, take 109F-4 as you lawfully wedded model?

I do.

Do you, 109F-4, take wing_nut, as you lawfully wedded modeler?

Jawhol.

I now pronounce you... Modeler and Model. You may take the model and makes ZOOMING noises around your room.

Awww...what a lovely couple! Better than ending up with fire-crackers strapped to the undersides!

Phil, glad to have you supporting Brother Gary!

[bullardino]

Lovely result Bill. Don't forget to add the exhaust stains

[wbill76]

Feb 27, 2014 16:51:10 GMT -5 bullardino said:

Lovely result Bill. Don't forget to add the exhaust stains

Thanks Lui! Those were added already in an earlier stage using black artist pastels. Took the masks off today and am just touching up a couple of spots and adding the final details...so almost done with her!

[deafpanzer]

Why is Bill's 109 hiding in my basement? And she is in her bridal dress... I think she ran away from a wedding. What should I do with her?

Bill, hurry you can manage to finish it and add it to MoM to make everybody life more "interesting". (devil laughter)

[bullardino]

This pic shows why I thought you already had to add them

[wbill76]

Andy, be careful, Marc knows where you live!

Lui, I've got that same reference pic but when I looked at the originals and other photos of #14, a lot of what shows up in that colorized version is shadow and not actual exhaust/soot accumulation IMHO. I did add some exhaust staining up to the edge of the access panel area as that seems about right but didn't pull it any further back other than using the pin washes to also bring out the line/rivet detail at the wing root join.

[wbill76]

Thanks Dicky! I thought you would be pleased, after all it's a Trumpeter kit...and we all know how you feel about that!

[Deleted]

Stunning work Mr P!!! ...We REALLY must do this more often!!!

[wbill76]

Ha! Nice try there Mr. CB!

Just for you, the closing bow.

The moment of truth finally arrived today. After a few minor adjustments to the previous rivet/panel lines, everything was sealed with a coat of Testors Lusterless Flat in the spray can. Then the Eduard masks were carefully removed on the canopy. They did their job pretty well, just a few small areas needed touch up here and there.



Then it was on to some of the remaining details. I used some Mig Gulf War Sand pigments on the landing gear because, well, you can't have a DAK subject without some dust, right? I also installed the wingtip navigation lights using Tamiya Clear Red inside the base of the clear piece for the left wing and Clear Green for the right wing. After the clear parts were installed, I brushed some Future over them to give them a nice clear look.



Last but not least, the main antenna mast and the smaller side antenna were finally installed and painted to match the rest of the aircraft. The small angled antenna in particular is in a tough spot, very easy to knock it off during handling (the voice of experience, I'm very lucky not to have lost it at least half a dozen times!).



That's all she wrote on this one! All done now.

[fightnjoe]

my jaw hurts.




looks incredible bill.




joe

[wbill76]

Thanks Joe! Just don't send me the dentist bill...