Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Welcome aboard, I am building this for a GB over on BM and it is going fairly well, so I thought I would edit it up and add it here. My entry will be the 1/48 Eduard Bf109E-3 from the Royal Class Boxing. Here are the opening sprue shots: I intend this to be my first "in flight" build, so AM will be limited to the Aerobonus seated Bf109E pilot and the masks and PE that came with the kit. Disregard the markings shown below: The pilot is beautifully moulded, but has his left arm posed resting on the cockpit coaming, so a little modification will be needed there: It will be this E-3 from the Royal Class boxing which will also need a rear vision mirror from the accompanying PE: So that's the plan. I should break plastic in a week or so with this nice simple build to start. Regards, MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 I was pondering the question of the prop in motion and wasn't coming up with an answer. I was tidying up some of my young blokes toys and came across something that I think may help this build. I have a couple of spare motors for his R/C chopper which are pretty close to being perfect size to mount in the front of the aircraft: It will require some finagling, but I think it is close enough to try. Regards, MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 We have lift off! I ordered some smaller Micro engines from eBay and they arrived this morning. It fits into the kit engine better with some 2.5 x 2.5mm styrene strips top and bottom to centre the engine. I opened up the engine block front and rear using a round file. Some whittling with a micro chisel to tidy up the holes and remove some of the interior plastic to fit the oval shape of the motor: A function test of the motor was a success. The motor sits nicely and I will secure it with some epoxy. Once I've wired it up before I seal the engine halves, shall put another block behind the motor to ensure it stays forward. Regards, Lud13 and MikeC 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 MikeC and Shaka HI 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Whilst awaiting the arrival of some electronics, I thought I would turn to another area of importance: the cockpit. I have reasoned that not all the PE will be necessary as once the pilot is in, there isn't much to see. So I have opted for the minimalist look: The cockpit tub has been attached to the port side. Once painted and the additional PE panels installed the fuselage will be closed up. The Aerobonus pilot has the seat attached and I have started putting him together: The left arm is supposed to be resting on the edge of the open port cockpit sill, however this would not be feasible so a little surgery was performed to bring the arm closer to the torso. The more eagle eyed amongst you may have noted the injury sustained to his left hand during this operation. A false hand was shaped out of sprue and affixed to a hastily drilled hole in the sleeve. Once painted and with the fuselage halves and closed cockpit, it should look passable. A final look at the set up and just how much will not be visible: Regards, Shaka HI and MikeC 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Not much progress as the kids were sick during the week and fortunately passed it onto me! Just some finagling with the final PE in the cockpit area and some card stock down each side of the air cooler to address the gap issue. This will be sanded flush before painting: I also started working on the raised undercarriage. Upper half of the MLG as it won't be visible and glued the lower ends to the covers. As the upper covers slide over the top of the lower when down, I am going to use the upper gear covers as a template for some card replacements before sanding them flush with the lower covers then trimming the excess from the covers to fit. It's not a mm or two but I figure this is the best way rather than cutting the complete upper covers off and adding to the end of the lower: Regards, MikeC and Shaka HI 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Welcome back, I have finally felt well enough to get back to the bench. The interior areas, including the pilot, have been sprayed RLM 02 and await detail painting before assembly: The opening for the electrical motor connector has been cut out of the lower fuselage section. It will allow me to remove the aircraft for painting and transport. I will secure the connector to the interior using some strip on each of the length sides and securing another piece across the tops: This will allow the male section enough clearance to fit into the female connector and hopefully have minimal connector showing: I have a small video of the connected motor which will appear below: http://s219.photobucket.com/user/kahunaminor/media/Eduard Bf 109E-1/982298B8-8F90-4DA8-8662-8C1C6142AC29_zpsomqcfylz.mp4.html Hmmm....may have to work on that. Anyone provide a how imbed a video please? Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Welcome back, The pilot has had his base colours added as per the Osprey book: The engine has been painted and the install of the cockpit, gun deck and firewall into the port side has been completed: The rear end MG 17 are included as you can see them through the two openings in the gun cover: The wiring is a bit long so I have cut a hole in the firewall and it will be looped through and back to the mounting point. The firewall needed a notch cut to accommodate the plug but it all fits pretty well: Next up is the finishing of the interior before closing up the fuselage. Regards, MikeC and Shaka HI 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Thanks gents, Kids are on school holidays so a great chunk of my time is now devoted to keeping them entertained for 14 days, hence not much progress. I have glosscoated the cockpit and those areas that were to receive a wash with AK Interactive Neutral Grey: Some touch ups and highlights to go before the Ultra Matte. I then fit the upper IP in place and had to dry fit the fuselage: I moved the hole for the motor attachment further back towards the COG. What's that old saying, measure twice cut once? The first hole was filled with some styrene rod, cut off and sanded back to flush: The stand also progressed as well. I cut a 150mm piece of square brass tubing and then filed two sides to give me a cutout to insert the female electrical connector as it was the exact same width. Nestling it into the brass on two sides gives me better support. I applied some heat shrink material to shield the connections inside the brass rod: Hopefully I will get the pilot inserted and the fuselage together before the week's out. Regards, Shaka HI 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 And we have progress! Ultra Matte Varnish applied followed by some actual construction! I glued some styrene strip fore and aft of the connector location. Once the connector is installed, I will attach more strip across the top of the connector and over the strip to secure it in place....forever! Some work to be done on the lower surface of the oil cooler and lower engine cowl to remove a couple of hairline seams: I started at the tail and progressively worked my way forward, securing the fuselage halves and ensuring the cockpit tub, gun deck and oil cooler were correctly aligned and snug: The gun deck cover was secured in place: Once this has set up, I plan to dry fit the motor but secure the connector and lower wing assembly into place permanently. This will allow me to fine tune the motor position before the exhausts and cowls are placed. Hopefully next update it will have wings. Regards, MikeC and Shaka HI 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Welcome back, It has wings! Starting with wing root joins, I glued the upper wings section by section working out to the wing tips. The leading edges will require some clean up but the dihedral looks good: The slats had the underside mounting tabs removed and cut flush and the slats were then fixed into position: The underside is in need of some minor attention but nothing too onerous: The engine is still free but a test of the cowl suggests a positive outcome: Thanks for stopping by and regards, Gazzas, Girlscanplay2, MikeC and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Work on the stand has progressed: It has a slight upward attitude to match the position of the control column (planned of course! ). Regards, Girlscanplay2, MikeC and Shaka HI 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 (edited) It lives! My creature has life! The stand is complete. An offcut piece of pine, drilled and dremelled to provide wiring and battery. A couple of coats of left over wood oil to protect the finish. A piece of round 6mm tube was inserted into the base of the square brass and soldered to make it easier to drill out the mount. I will not get any awards for neatness on the wiring but it works. Some self adhesive pads to raise the base to allow the battery to sit a little proud (with all the excess wires underneath): Then the moment of truth...... http://s219.photobucket.com/user/kahunaminor/media/Eduard%20Bf%20109E-1/5C2EE1A1-495B-44D2-8988-98FB2AE40BED_zpsiyb8dc4w.mp4.html Regards, Edited July 26, 2017 by Kahunaminor Gazzas, Shawn M and Girlscanplay2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahunaminor Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 (edited) I've added the radiators to the underside and puttied some seams: The engine has been set in place and the cowling firmly attached. I had been worried about the engine position for the exhausts, but looking at it this morning, they will fit and you would never see if they were exactly over the exhaust ports on the engine. A test fit of the spinner back plate and all good. Regards, Edited July 26, 2017 by Kahunaminor MikeC, reconspit and Girlscanplay2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reconspit Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 ...very cool and totally inspiring... I'll do it with a 1/32 scale Revell 109G-6 Shaka HI 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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