Airfix Messerschmitt Bf109E-4/N Trop

[Hawkins6685]

Hi guys this will be my first build since 2010. It will be as above in the North Africa colours flown in 1941-42 by Maj. Eduard Neumann.

Will post more pics and progress when I get started. Any tips before I start would be appreciated. Thanks in advance and hope you enjoy my build even though I'm a relative novice at this and this will be first model I will be using my airbrush. Wish me luck.

[CJSomerset]

Check out Pauls Vids on youtube. Everything you'll need is here!

[youtube]z0rzPnzo7vM[/youtube]

[Hawkins6685]

Check out Pauls Vids on youtube. Everything you'll need is here!

[youtube]z0rzPnzo7vM[/youtube]

Cheers cjsomerset have been through all these videos once already and will be looking at them again as I progress, have decided on a different colour scheme as didn't want to be a copycat lol

[Hawkins6685]

Right as this is my first build thread I'm not sure how to do this but here goes anyway. Night 1 I have opened the box lol.

Ok box is not open lol but here's what I found inside. This is the colour guide I'm going to be doing I delibrately chose this design as this is a practise plane for my next project all will be revealed at a later date lol.

Here's a pic of the decals. While we're on the subject I know there illegal in some countries so completely understand why there not here but does anyone know where I can get some swastika decals from please for the tail section.


Here's the fun bit. The sprues, I like to keep clear pieces sealed until I need them. Really liking the look of this cant wait to get stuck in. Only issue I see is a small chip in one of the panels but should be easy enough to fix or might leave it. What's peoples opinions this photo below



I know most of you have probably seen and even built this kit yourselfs but that's why I bought it cause there's plenty of reference material to see and I hope I don't bore you with it. Hope I've done this right will post more pics up With progress as and when I can thanks for looking.

[Paul]

Excellent, look forward to seeing you build this and hope my videos prove useful

[Hawkins6685]

I'm sure they will Paul. Thanks for doing them,

One thing I did notice as soon as I looked at spruces that I think is a nice touch was the wheels. They have a nearly flat edge to them to give the look of weight on them which I think is a really nice touch and adds a little bit of realism to it.

[Hawkins6685]

Ok guys couldn't wait till tomorrow so jumped straight in and built the cockpit tonight.

Accidentally broke one of the trim handles but think I have cleverly hidden it from view by having it on inside facing down. Which hopefully won't be seen once complete. Going to tidy it up abit tomorrow as going to let glue set properly before I sand it. Still undecided if I want to use pilot or not. I may make it without then add it at later date maybe as will be going for the open canopy aswell, not cause that's what paul done but because I have never built a plane with an open canopy before and as this is a practise plane why not try it.

[shortCummins]

Hannants sell swastika sheet's, here are a couple of 1:48 examples…

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AMD48545
http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/PSL48007
http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X48019

[Hawkins6685]

Cheers shortcummins will check it out thanks.

[Hawkins6685]

Right put some paint down today. Primed and painted cockpit and sides. This was my first time putting an airbrush to a model. Unfortunately local hobby shop didn't have an airbrush primer so have ordered a set of Vallejo ones. I did however have a humbrol grey primer spray can. So I de cantered it and used that, seemed to work well although it was a bigger to clean airbrush afterwards!! Unfortunately forgot to take pics of priming but let it dry and went over it all with life colours rlm02. 50/50 mix with thinner. This time things went better and I'm pleased with how it looks. I delibrately done cockpit last so u could fine tune myself to the action of airbrushing. So this is where I'm at today.

Hopefully might be able to get a few more bits done tonight depending what time i get home.

[m0rce]

Thats a great kit
Just completed mine a few weeks ago. Fit is great. My video is accesible through the thread in my sig if you fancy a look.
Enjoy the build
S.

[Hawkins6685]

Unfortunately build has had to wait till at least tues. As managed to get some work yeaaaaaaaah. Couldn't turn it down. So till Tuesday peeps.

[Hawkins6685]

OK a little update. I know it's been a while but with work and being ill I haven't been able to do much but this is what I done a couple days ago.
For some reason I painted cockpit in wrong colour so had to respray the correct colour

I finished painting and weathering the cockpit I'm quite pleased with it. I used a toothpick and vellejos silver to get the chipping effect and another toothpick for the white and Red on the dials. I then gave it a black wash which I think toned it down quite well here's a few pics.






Since I done that it is now placed in the fuselage. Wings have been attached and rear rudder is attached. Air intakes are done and front airlarones are done. Have cleaned and filled seam lines which took up most of my time as there was a lot of seams. The was one gap that had to be filled underneath where wings attach to rear fuselage. I will take photos and upload them tomorrow night. So far I'm learning a lot from this build like avoid airfix kits lol. But mainly I'm doing things that I have never done before particularly with the build eg sanding, filling and using extra thin. As fir painting I have never used an airbrush before this build and so far I think it's going OK. Well I hope you like the cockpit any comments good or bad is fine with me and will hopefully have another update with what I've done today ready tomorrow night.

[Hawkins6685]

Ok guys it's been a while and progress has been made unfortunately I didn't photograph every stage but this is how it sits at moment.



As you can see I'm applying decals. This was my first attempt at airbrushing camo and wish I'd gone for an easier design lol but in for a penny as they say. I'm reasonably happy with it and hoping weathering will hide some errors lol.

[Hawkins6685]

Oops forgot the pic of undercarriage here it is.

[patrickroos]

Think you did a great job with the airbrush mate!
Camo and paint looks really good, never seen one done in this camo before, and it sure looks cool!

I always make lots of mistakes but have learned that they disappear in the weathering process...
Another thing I have learned since picking up an airbrush for the first time three years ago, is:
1. Practice really pays of...experiment and practice as much as You can until using the gun is second nature.
I have painted so many scrap parts, cardboards, plastic lids that I have lost count...
2. Its good to "over do it" when painting. Its amazing how gloss coat, decals, washes, pigments and final coats of varnish blends things together and tones everything down. (and makes mistakes magically disappear! )

Looking great!

[Hawkins6685]

Cheers mate you just beat me to an update lol plane is now complete and finished. But I wasn't happy with it as something seemed to be missing. I think it's because I have giving it a slight sand dusting to reflect it being in north africa desert but just didn't look right on it's own so started making a Base for it ti help tie it together and some explanation fir the weathering lol. But here it is completed.



Here's the photo taken in 1941 in north africa

And mine from similar angle

Will do final reveal when Base is finished
Cheers

[patrickroos]

Very nice!
Really like the dusty weathering look, what did u use?

[Hawkins6685]

Umps sand wash really easy to use and gives a nice dusty effect