AlexM

Another update:
1) I assembled and wired the engine, painted with a wash of Jet Exhaust Vallejo Metal Color. I wired with EZ-line, and the exhausts were painted with a mix of Tamiya red-brown and hull red, with a little black.
2) I painted the airframe with a mix of Tamiya Yellow, Red, and Earth, using the Aviation of Japan's blog as a reference.
3) I articulated the tail wheel by separating the base from the axle, drilling holes in each exposed section, then using a brass wire to reattach.
4) Next: landing gear and markings. I am using the Silhouette Portrait to make appropriate masks.
 
Cheers,  Tom
 

 

 

 

A quick update: I've riveted the airframe, using a straight edge, Dymo labeling tape, Tamiya tape, a riveting wheel, and a sharp pointed tool to add definition. Glad that's done!
 
Cheers,  Tom
 

 

 

 

Here is my recently completed Revell Bf 109G-10 Erla in 1/32 scale.  I added a few aftermarket items including:
  A.M.U.R. Reaver Bf 109G-10 Erla Resin Cowling A.M.U.R. Reaver Bf 109G/K Resin Spinner and Prop Blades Aires Bf 109G-10 Resin Cockpit Barracuda Studios Bf 109G-10 Resin Exhausts Eduard Bf 109G-10 Metal Landing Gear Legs and Gear Covers Montex Maxi Masks Small wheel bulge wing set from the Revell Bf 109G-6 kit   I chose to portray Erich Hartmann's G-10.  This machine sported Hartmann's distinctive black tulip markings on the nose.     For more information about the build, you can refer to my post on the Works In Progress board: http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=71741                          

Thank you Andy!  Going into this build, I was very worried about the AMUR Reaver cowling as I had never attempted such a big resin replacement.  I'm relieved that it turned out ok.
 
 
 

  Thanks Steve!  I can't believe how quick this one went.  My last build (Dora Black 1) took seven months to complete!
 
 

  Thank you Juraj!  I drilled a hole in the attachment point on the fuselage.  After I put the main aerial line into place. I glued the end of another piece of Uschi's thread into the hole in the fuselage.  Once the glue was dry, I placed a tiny dab of CA glue on the horizontal aerial in the location where I wanted the vertical aerial to attach.  I then gently stretched the Uschi thread into position and pulled it against the CA glue spot.  I actually had to do this twice as the first time, I stretched the vertical line excessively and it ended up pulling down the horizontal aerial too much.
 
 

  Thanks Gaz!  I really appreciated your presence during this build!
 
 

  Thanks Mark!  First time using the Uschi thread... I'll be using it more often!
 
 

  Thank you so much Torben!
 
 

  That's very kind of you to say Martin!  You're help on this build was essential so thanks for that!
 
 

  Thanks Brian!  Another one down... on to the next one!
 
 

  Thanks Chuck!  I've got some other LSPs coming up so please check in on those!
 
 
Thanks everyone for following this build!  The G-10 Erla is finished and I have posted photos over at RFI.  Please check it out...
 
http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=72790
 
Here's a sneak peak....
 

 

 

 

Finished !
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
A big thank you to my French friends for their help.
And another big thank you to you, for your friendly comments!

Thanks, Mark!
 
I know what you mean. I printed the parts with a resin that is advertised to be very strong. After all parts were glued together, I put some more liquid resin at the seams and put it under UV light to cure. Now, It's more or less one single resin part with steel-rods within. I'll watch it for some time and hope that is stays stable, especially at the weak point you mentioned.
 
One nice thing is that the balance can now be checked to prevent tail sitting. Until now, the necessary counterweight at the area forward of the main landing gear has only been roughly calculated. Now, with most weight-relevant parts provisionally attached, it already stands like it should. And the resin engines and the forward landing gear isn't attached yet, so I think at least regarding that aspect I'm safe. The weight on the nose landing gear will be minimal, so a fully printed nose gear without metal-rod-enforcement should be fully sufficient.
 

 
Cheers
Alex

afternoon ladies
 
 
 
Thanks Ben - the end is surprisingly near as will be seen
 
 
 
Hi there - I got them from 4D Modelshop - I provided my own artwork, if you need that too it would be even more expensive 
 
..so with a few days off, it seems like I have powered through a lot of the 'to do' list..
 
...the main job was getting the model on it's undercarriage and getting the gear doors on - I made up the big links the hold them on and spent ages getting it all to line up - hopefully the sit is right..
 

 

 
..also the tailwheel & doors were added with the retraction links and the aerial loop on the rear fuselage..
 

 
..then the prop and flaps..
 

 
..and it's ready for a quick walk around - the canopy parts are not fitted so are just resting (badly..)...
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
..any comments on the 'sit' or any of the details if they look off, please don't be shy - say something here. I am aware the P51 is so iconic that it must look bang on to pull it off..
 
..I still have to make the elevators, sort the other aerial and make the wing drop tanks (plus light weathering) so still some to go
 
TTFN

Peter
 
 
 
 

evening folks
 
 
 
thanks for that pic Antonio, I haven't seen it before - interesting it doesn't show the black tail - I assume that came later. Also very little exhaust staining so that will save me trying to do that badly
 
thanks again - great find!
 
 
 
 
Hey Juraj - no the canopy stays as is - i would need to start again and well I just don't want to (plus I only have one set of PE parts which would be destroyed trying to disasseble it..
 
And as for seeing it, yes if you are at Telford again, it will be there
 
 
..so, as I said before it's the bitty stage in trying to get around the airframe in a logical order and get it finished,
 
..I covered the whole model and sub assemblies in flory wash and wiped down to give some definition to the rivet & panel detail (especially on the painted wings)..
 

 
I removed the decal stencils and replaced them with rub down ones I had custom made - £60 for an A5 sheet so not cheap, but then a great improvement over the unavoidable decal film on natural aluminium..
 

 
..these gun panels will be weathered & chipped when it's on it's wheels..
 

 
..this vent door was added, the larger rear one will follow when I have finished the landing gear & doors..
 

 
..the cockpit sill was added and the canopy panel that hangs here finished..
 

 
..massive moment - the landing gear legs were fixed with JB Weld - funny story, about an hour after fitting them when the model was in a jig, I walked past it and thought 'I will just check a photo to make sure it's right' - well I looked and I had mounted them the wrong way around with the torque links facing forwards! A mad panic ensued, but as JB Weld takes 5 hours to cure I could just re-do them correctly (Thank God..)..
 

 
..the inner gear door hinges were fabricated and added - they are the two black structures on the centre rib at the top of each end..
 

 
..the corresponding lugs were added to the doors..
 

 

 
..and the doors were hung... I know there is a debate about having these up or down on the ground, but I made them and everything under them so I want to be able to see it - so these are down
 
..you can also see the retracting link assembly on the right connected to the door and piston, and a cable with fixings on the left which I assume stops them opening too far (?) although they are loose like this in refs I have so maybe not..
 

 

 

 
..outer doors next, and as I found I have a load of leave to take from my day job before April 1st, I hope to have it finshed by the end of the month
 
TTFN
 
Peter
 

 

Alex,  Sent you a PM about this.  :-)  Chris

Thanks, Mark!
 
I know what you mean. I printed the parts with a resin that is advertised to be very strong. After all parts were glued together, I put some more liquid resin at the seams and put it under UV light to cure. Now, It's more or less one single resin part with steel-rods within. I'll watch it for some time and hope that is stays stable, especially at the weak point you mentioned.
 
One nice thing is that the balance can now be checked to prevent tail sitting. Until now, the necessary counterweight at the area forward of the main landing gear has only been roughly calculated. Now, with most weight-relevant parts provisionally attached, it already stands like it should. And the resin engines and the forward landing gear isn't attached yet, so I think at least regarding that aspect I'm safe. The weight on the nose landing gear will be minimal, so a fully printed nose gear without metal-rod-enforcement should be fully sufficient.
 

 
Cheers
Alex

Thanks guys!
 
 
I think you are right, if everything else fails, a metal landing gear would be a reasonable investition. Meanwhile, I provisionally pluged the steel-rod-enforced legs and the small support struts into the the designated openings in the wheel wells for a first test. And right now, it looks promising. Not bending visible
 

 

 
I'll leave it like this for a while to see if it stays stable.
 
Cheers
ALex

Thanks
So, I'm calling the ball turret a success. moving on and making some progress in the build again.
Like Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith would say, "I love it when a plan comes together"



Thanks for looking

A little closer to the end:
 

 

 

 

 
As for the tail, these are RB and GasPatch parts with a little wash of PA mat alu to reduce the shine.
See you soon !

Good morning gentlemen, here I am:
 

 
The end is near.....Cheers !

And here's where we are just now...
 
Dry/test fit of the root intakes after clean-up. Fit is pretty good after a little fettling with a file and sharp blade. These were bonded to the rest of the airframe after the cowl had been fitted:
 

 
And, after some further prep and lots of test fitting - both to the forward end of the fuselage, as well as the cowling itself:
 

 

 
Tip: don't fit the gear door hydraulic actuators until assembly/prep of airframe is complete. Follow the instruction sequence and they are easily damaged - don't ask, I just know - OK? Damaged parts stashed away safely in a box for now...
 

 
More soon...
 
Iain

Thanks Tom!
Thanks Reuben, definitely share your build if you start it!
Thanks Si! Hoping to dirty it up now....just a few more layers (and weeks) to go
Thanks! Wish I could have left it off....I had to do some not so Tamiya approved mods to get it mounted. Made some mistake, somewhere!
Thanks Andy, it definitely took a bit to work over those spots. 
Thanks Grief! My last tip for HGW......let them soak a long time. They seemed to leave less residue the longer you let them pull up water. I even start removing the backing paper, dipping them again and then dragging them over a paper towel, which helped and didn't seem to reduce their adhesion
 
 
So, tonight's......decals are all applied, other than to the landing gear doors, which I haven't finished painting  I think she's looking pretty snazzy now, so next step will be another clear coat to seal everything up and hopefully, hide the carrier film edges on any decals I couldn't find an edge on. I'm also going to try and fill rivets/fastners that take a lot of abuse with aluminum paint, to hopefully show more wear. Something I snagged from Doog…..
 
Anyway, everyone likes pictures......so, here we are as of this evening. Suggestions, tips, critiques, random thoughts of the day....all are welcome.

 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Nice build which is a reference in itself.
 
I was so disappointed when I found out that new B-26 kit is that other Douglas one and not Martin's masterpeiece.

The guy in my video said it's in it's original paint and they aren't touching any of the paint,
just bringing out what's already there.
 
 

Catch a couple of screenshots here ...
 
https://www.stripes.com/news/us/world-war-ii-bomber-flak-bait-is-being-brought-back-to-life-at-the-smithsonian-1.615802?jwsource=cl
 
 

Very nice
 
Even though it's in plain sight, I'm still not entierly sure how to interprete some interior colors, especially at the bombardier section. I thought to do most in aluminium, but apparently it was at least partially painted in ... well ... maybe bronze green? Or grey?
 
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6j910hu3y308ged/AAAYV1_LjHDPlPwNlbNck8Mea/DSC_0624.jpg?dl=0

Very nice
 
Even though it's in plain sight, I'm still not entierly sure how to interprete some interior colors, especially at the bombardier section. I thought to do most in aluminium, but apparently it was at least partially painted in ... well ... maybe bronze green? Or grey?
 
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6j910hu3y308ged/AAAYV1_LjHDPlPwNlbNck8Mea/DSC_0624.jpg?dl=0

I once thought about metal 3d printing, and uploaded the file on www.3dhubs.com. Two pieces would cost 212 € in stainless steel. Aluminium would be a bargain for only 180 €
 
Since my current landing gear stayed stable so far, and shows no signs of material fatigue, I'll continue with them. In the worst case, I can still switch to stronger alternative.

I once thought about metal 3d printing, and uploaded the file on www.3dhubs.com. Two pieces would cost 212 € in stainless steel. Aluminium would be a bargain for only 180 €
 
Since my current landing gear stayed stable so far, and shows no signs of material fatigue, I'll continue with them. In the worst case, I can still switch to stronger alternative.

Hi friends !
This is the end !
I can make photos next week-end because too much wind !
I hope you like it
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi friends
Today next step !
I think i never finish this one
Glue........piece of grass and more piece of grass.
Glue some elements and bridge gaps with.......grass
Marking slabs.
I put more tree!
Tomorow  i paint the small guys.