mattlow

Last one for today. Shape of the aircraft is starting to appear. 109G for size - the 155 was quite large and has a pretty outlandish wingspan (wings are going to be interesting!). Thanks for looking Matt Low

Next one. This shows the stages from balsa block through 'hacking' to sanding. Once basic shape has been approached I'll prime it with something to harden the balsa a bit. I'm sort of making this up as I go along, and fully expect to hit some problems along the way - but it is great fun!

OK Here is a section with balsa in place and first phase of sanding.

Hi all Well, I've finally put my neck on the block and am putting something up. Can't get into all my high tech plastic, resin and photoetch - so I thought I'd have a go at scratching something I've always liked the look of. This isn't going to be exactly spot on as I'm working from a range of drawings (mostly extreme enlargements of the images in the Monogram Close-up). What I'm after (if I reach the end of this project) is something that looks pretty much like the subject. Idea is to create template with series of bulk heads, then fill spaces with balsa, sand smooth and 'skin' with thin-ish plastic sheet (thickness of sheet has been accounted for in template and bulkheads). Below is initial progress. Cut out for cockpit area and mid fuselage is the location of the turbo blower which will need some cutting out. Matt Low

Bill Your 109's shaping up to be a real beauty. Can't wait to see it finished. Matt Low

Hi Just to add to what Steve said, you can see what scales are available from the list of drawings. On the right hand columns it'll tell you what maximum scale Arthur can reproduce at - obviously depends upon the size of the aircraft. You can also see what scale they were drawn at. You can basically have whatever scale you want, if '32nd is what you need he'll probably have to get it printed at a print shop. This may appear expensive, but it can be pricey getting something in '48th blown up to '32nd yourself. For example, I have the Do 335 set in '48th (biggest he could do himself) to get them blown up to 32nd would cost me about £24. Service is great, its well packed and he responds to email enqs quickly. Would always recommend his service. Matt Low

Steve Its looking very good. Glad the pics were of use. Matt Low

Wow Piet Very nice work for a 'trial run'! LSP is great - its so nice to see on a daily basis work that would give the pattern makers at Aires and the like a run for their money! Keep it up. Matt Low

Hi Jerry I am wondering - is this 'buff' colour (shown on the Montex produced scheme as RLM 76a) a complete 'red herring' (I realise there's no such designation as RLM 76a, just as there's no RLM 84). I've seen a couple of references to it in profiles and someone mentioned that you may even have samples of this colour as an undersurface/fus. side finish? I am absolutely fascinated by this aspect of Luft a/c. Matt Low

Dan Just a final additional weblink to an article by Michael Ullmann, again looking at late war RLM 76 variation. Hope this is also of use. Late-War RLM 76 Matt Low

Hi Dan Having looked at what responses you got over on HS, I would agree with Leonard in terms of going with JaPo's interpretation (if you want to go with an interpretation). Their work is the most forensic study of b/w photos I've ever seen and they tend not to make sudden 'jumps' in their logic to arrive at a convenient solution! Additionally, they are pretty honest about the possibilities of a scheme being in one of two (or more) possible shades. Do have a look at David E. Brown's article on Hyperscale Late-War Luftwaffe Fighter Camouflage part 3. Go down to the section August 15, 1944, Sammelmitteilung Nr. 2: - here he discusses the late war 'sky' colours. As far as I'm aware, no-one really knows where these colours come from (i.e. official or ersatze) or even if they represent new colours, degraded poor quality RLM 76 or, as JaPo believe, RLM 76 with an RLM 02 overspray (which would result in a yellow/buff cast over the RLM 76 -as seen on some Me 110s earlier in the war which had 02 over 76 side fuselages). Anyway, hope this helps. Difficult to get these 'wrong' as no-one really knows. Matt Low

Piet Verrrryyy nice. A really sharp build (not sure exactly what I mean but it seemed like the right word). Inspiration to watch this from start to finish - must start something myself. Looking forward to seeing the next. Matt Low

Thanks Looking forward to one of each of these (in '32nd). Matt

Hi Steve Sorry if I've missed this, but will the 1/32 D-11/13 sets include everything needed (mainly thinking of panel etc for outer MK108s for the D-11)? Thanks Matt

Piet That is very, very nice. Beautiful 109 as well. Matt Low

Chris I like this a lot. Paintjob (to me) really captures the 'worn out' look of late war Luft a/c. Will it get a more 'grubby', heavily weathered finish on the lower parts? Some of these a/c got really mucky. Lovely work. Matt Low

Jamie I did, but not until recently, used to live away from coast, but now I'm in Devon with Plymouth just down the road a few people have mentioned this. Is it just a sailor in general? Someone mentioned it was a trainee or inexperienced sailor?? Matt Low

Sorry, I forgot to add that Jerry also does a cast white metal undercarriage for the Ju 87 (sans spats) - I think this was something you were after as well?? Matt Low

Hi Jerry Rutman does a 'D' conversion for the old Revell 'B'. This includes the ETC 500 1XB wing hardpoints (which are not in the ' unused' components of the Has. G). Jerry may sell the bits you need to make a 'D' from the 'G'. HTH Matt Low

Hi all Still have to say that if you want to spend some cash on the Trump 262 the Eduard interior PE is the way to go. Link below: Eduard 262 interior PE Really does add some exquisite detail. My two cents worth. Matt Low

Alan Beautiful work. I wonder, could the Mr Surfacer be mixed with the correct fuselage or canopy colour and remove the need to actually paint the frames in a seperate job? How many passes / coats did you put on to get that level of relief? With yours and Radu's recent work, an out of the box canopy just isn't going to cut the mustard! Thanks for the inspiration. Matt Low

Chris Eduard do a very nice coloured photo etch set for the Trump 262. Beautiful instrument panel and all the 'fiddly' bits. Would probably work well with a resin cockpit, although I wasn't aware that the Trump cockpit was particularly deficient?? Matt Low

Thanks Radu This does help, I'm relieved that you understood what I meant! Do you know if that's how the real thing worked? Rarely see the canopy from the non-opening side. Cheers Matt Low

Hi Radu Lovely work on the canopy, it adresses something which is often these days the only weak point on otherwise very well detailed builds. It also surpasses the use of vacform canopies (in my view) in that it acurately reflects the actual structure - i.e. thin glazing but often 'chunky' framing. A very useful bit of trailblazing. Can you show how the right side of the canopy lower framing is shaped to allow canopy to open & close? I assume there must be some sort of curvature to lower frame to avoid canopy frame fouling on right hand cockpit sill. Does this make sense? Cheers Matt Low