Messerschmitt Bf-109-G, Erich Hartmann - Finished

[Dpgsbody55]

On 1/3/2024 at 1:50 PM, DugyB said:

Looking more like a true Smitty everyday now,  I’ve got two other types Zoukie Mura kits in my collection, I haven’t built up the courage to tackle one yet.   

 

I like their kits a lot, along with Tamiya and ICM kits.  I'd tackle one in your place as the recent ones are a pleasure to build.  Like Tamiya, everything fits well.  Just read the instructions carefully as you proceed and don't rush.  This is my third Z-M build and it won't be my last.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[Dpgsbody55]

The decals are on now and it's starting to really take shape.  It's been varnished and all the masking removed, so here's the progress.  Firstly it was glossed.  May I present the Shinyschmitt.

 

 

Next, the decals were applied.  This took me quite a few days mostly because of the stencils that had to go on after the main markings.  I felt it best to do an area at a time then let that dry before doing the next area.  The fuselage section numbers that go on the lower left side were the most difficult to do.  It was worth the effort as these stencils have brought the model to life compared to how it was with just the main markings on.  Shoulda taken a photo to demonstrate this...    The next photos are after all decals and satin varnish has been applied.

 

 

 

Masking now removed.  I need to tidy up a few areas, mostly on the undersides as the area immediately in front of each radiator is not painted well due to the sponge I had stuffed into each, and there's some over spray on the undercarriage legs and the machine gun ejector chutes and a tiny bit on the engine.

 

 

Here it is viewed from the top, with some of what is left to go on.  While I was applying the decals, I found I had to paint and build the prop.  Aside from the spiral, there was another stencil to go on over the joint between the spinner and backing plate.

 

 

In case anyone is wondering, that piece below the left engine cowl is the "hinge" for the left and right cowlings.  I've left a bit of the tree on while painting and varnishing it.

 

So my next job is to tidy it up as mentioned before, then I'm going to build the wheels and put it on those wheels.  Then I'll figure out what, if anything, I've missed and deal with that before beginning final assembly.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[Gazzas]

Fantastic progress!  Looks great!

 

[DugyB]

14 hours ago, Dpgsbody55 said:

 

I like their kits a lot, along with Tamiya and ICM kits.  I'd tackle one in your place as the recent ones are a pleasure to build.  Like Tamiya, everything fits well.  Just read the instructions carefully as you proceed and don't rush.  This is my third Z-M build and it won't be my last.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

I’ve got an idea on how I’ll do their TA-152,  May do it as a WIP build…… it’ll be different .... here’s a clue  

 

Edited January 7 by DugyB

[Dpgsbody55]

On 1/7/2024 at 2:15 PM, DugyB said:

I’ve got an idea on how I’ll do their TA-152,  May do it as a WIP build…… it’ll be different .... here’s a clue  

 

 

I have that one in my stash too in H-1 form.  I'm wondering when I'm going to get a chance to do it but it's one I'd love to do.  I built the Dragon 1/48 kit back in the nineties so I'd love to replace it with one I can see with my now aged eyes.

 

 

 

The engine cowl hinges work on this, and I'm wondering if I can do the same with the Z-M kit.  One word for the wary.  I'm told this kit, being an older one, doesn't quite have the same standard of parts fit and you need to be very careful how you assemble the wings to the fuselage.  Fore warned is five armed!!

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[Dpgsbody55]

Enough of them Focke's .  Back to the 109.  It's still a W I P, but not for much longer.  The undercarriage is now finished, the lower cowling is also on as is the DF loop base and the engine top cowl hinges.  I've also tidied up the overpainted areas or those which needed repair.  Or at least, I thought I had until I saw these pics..... 

 

First of all, the main wheels.  The very first job was to apply a decal to each  U/C leg, towards the top.  Next, I painted each wheel half before assembling.  The centres are semi gloss black and the tires are my own brew of tire black.  The wheels were then filed for that weighted look before mounting them on the model and allowed to dry.  The kit provides very good brake cables and these were duly painted flat black and attached to the undercarriage doors which were then set in place.

 

 

A closer look.  If you squint hard, you can see the brake line.

 

 

 

The next job was to attach the bottom cowl and I'm building this with all glued cowlings open.  As I'll have it in a display case like my last 109, it won't attract dust, need cleaning and repair of the open cowling which was knocked off while cleaning.  Hands up those who don't clean or dust their models. You won't understand...

 

 

 

I have no idea how the oil cooler pipes previously attached to the engine and the instructions only say to cut these off or not apply them if the lower cowl is displayed in the closed position.  Not that helpful.

 

Here it is now on it's own three legs.  The upper cowl "hinge" piece is attached to the engine in two places, so hopefully this is strong enough to hold the weight of both open cowlings.  The instructions say to attach the hinge piece to each cowling half then glue that assembly into place which looks very precarious to me as it will flop about a lot while the glue dries, probably in the wrong orientation.  This way should ensure the cowling halves at least look good for it's final round of photos.  You can also see the DF loop base attached to the fuselage spine behind the cockpit and painted the appropriate colour.

 

 

My next task will be to add some exhaust stains to the cowlings and fuselage with the cowlings temporarily taped on in the closed position.  Then I'll be adding the canopy, also in the open position, before finally adding the cowlings to the hinge piece and finally the prop.  Then a little more weathering and it will be done.  Hopefully within the next week!!

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[DugyB]

Awesome look, oh, it’s the eastern front too, you’d better use a tone of mud …. 

[mozart]

Really looks great Michael! Since all the panels are open so obviously being worked on, are you adding any groundcrew/figures around the plane? 

[Dpgsbody55]

10 hours ago, DugyB said:

Awesome look, oh, it’s the eastern front too, you’d better use a tone of mud …. 

 

The period for this one is August 1944, so lotsa dust .

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[Dpgsbody55]

On 1/9/2024 at 4:28 AM, mozart said:

Really looks great Michael! Since all the panels are open so obviously being worked on, are you adding any groundcrew/figures around the plane? 

 

I guess I should do, but I didn't think about that.  For the last week, I've been thinking as much about this build as my next, which is a bad habit of mine.  The kit has a pilot figure, but that's the only Luftwaffe figure I have available right now.  Something to add later probably, though I don't think it will be before the end of this GB as I'll be in New Zealand then.

 

But right now, I'm calling this done.  Here's the last of the progress to completion, starting with the canopy.  This is fixed in the open position, and supplemented with a stay made from fine copper wire.  I made a coil from this then threaded another piece through the bar at the back of the cockpit then pushed the coil over the looped ends.  The top was attached to the canopy headrest.  That part is my biggest complaint about this kit.  It's inaccurate.  After painting gluing it in place, I checked pictures to see that it was mounted properly and noticed that it lacked the two braces to the top canopy frames, one on each side.  I did think about making a couple but decided it was now too late to do so. 

 

 

The next job was a quick one to mount the engine cowls.  Firstly, I added some exhaust stains with the cowls held in the closed position, then  simply glued them in place on the now dry hinge piece I'd glued on a couple of days ago (see previous update).

 

 

The next job was to fashion a couple of props to hold the cowlings open.  These are made from 0.5mm stock rod, cut to length and painted the glued in position.  I believe that these folded into the cowling when closed.

 

 

 

I've also started dirtying up the model, with some dust added around the undercarriage.

 

Last and by no means least, the prop was added.  This goes onto a short propshaft and is keyed so only a small amount of glue was used here. 

 

 

The last job was to add more grime, starting with the undersides.

 

 

 

A couple more shots of the finished model.  I'm using one of the Trumpeter display cases for this, as the 109 is one of the few 1/32 models from this era small enough to fit inside.  I have some grass mat in stock, so this was stuck down to the base with PVA glue.

 

 

 

A picture of the model on my workbench.

 

 

That's it for this build, though a few more pictures and a little history of this plane will follow.  This has been a very enjoyable build and has me wanting to do another.  I remember when this model was released there was a lot of furore over the treatment of the tail and in particular the fairings around the tail plane incidence or trim adjustment.  For me, this area is about as well done as could be expected without resorting to photo etch which may be too much for many modellers to get right.  Now that it's done it's hardly noticeable.  What is noticeable and exemplary about this kit is the way the designer has tried, and I think succeeded, in trying to produce the best late model 109 yet made in this scale.  If you build one, check the way the rudder is shaped and mounted to counter the prop torque and wash more authentically than any other LSP 109 I've seen.   I look forward to seeing more versions, particularly the later bulged fuselage versions.  I would definitely build another, and there are so many extra parts in this kit to facilitate that.  Gripes?  The biggest is that canopy head rest which is missing the upper braces I mentioned earlier.  Perhaps it's meant for the more heavily framed canopy.  I certainly couldn't find the correct one with those braces in this box however, and this seems strange given the many alternate parts in the box.  The only other one concerning the kit is the radiator installation which I mentioned a while back in the flap and aileron update.  Oh, and I'm wishing now that I'd added the lines for the fuel pump when I built the engine, given that I've built a model with the open lower cowling .  Other than that, it's a great kit and highly recommended.  I'll definitely be starting on the new Z-M 190 this year.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[Dpgsbody55]

The machine I've modeled here is one of the planes flown by Erich Hartmann, at the time attached to 9/JG52.  It was in this machine on 24th August 1944 he scored his 296th to 301st victories in the Lublin area of Poland, for which he was awarded the Diamonds to his Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.  At the time, he was the first Luftwaffe ace to pass 300 victories, on his way to the all time high score of 352 victories.

 

According to a story related by him to Col. Toliver and Jerry Crandall, the SS ordered him to remove his side arm as the presentation was to be made by Hitler who had only recently survived an assassination attempt the previous July.  He refused this order telling the SS officers where they shove the award should they distrust him that much.  Never the less, Hitler did present him with this award on 28th August.

 

The machine I've modelled is a G-6, werke number 166221.  It is notable in that the werke number is stenciled in larger than normal on the lower part of the rudder, and it has an Erla Haube canopy.  The area around the canopy is painted in a darker colour (possibly RLM 66 black/gray) than the rest of the camouflage of RLM 74 gray/green and RLM 75 gray/violet upper surfaces with RLM 76 light blue under surfaces.  The spinner is black with a white spiral and there is no yellow band around the rear fuselage.  It was fitted with the short antenna, no battery box behind the pilot's head and a FuG 25a antenna beneath the fuselage.  See the pictures of Yellow 1 below.

 

 

Hartmann was well known for having the black tulip painted on his planes, and the Russians had named him the Black Devil and put a 10,000 ruble bounty on his head, yet in reality he rarely flew with that insignia.  Two of the four machines that can be built using the EagleCals decal set I've used have the black tulip whereas the other two planes have a black spinner with white spiral on one and the other has a black and white segmented spinner.

 

Here's a few more pictures of the model, with the figure of him which was included in this kit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've had a good time building this model and greatly appreciate the support I've received during the build, so my thanks to those people.  I'd happily build another of these, and hopefully make a better job of that one as I can see things that could be better.  But that's for another time.  On to the next one from my stash.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

Edited January 10 by Dpgsbody55

[mozart]

Very very good Michael, your 109 is a real cracker, and I appreciate the extra details with its history. 

[DugyB]

Pretty cool build there, it’s been a fun ride and journey along the way keeping up with your build.  I think me likes 

[MikeMaben]

Nice work Mike 

[Dpgsbody55]

22 hours ago, mozart said:

Very very good Michael, your 109 is a real cracker, and I appreciate the extra details with its history. 

 

Thanks.  I like to find out m ore about the planes I model if possible.  It makes the build process more interesting as well as add an extra dimension to the history of it.  BTW, I've started to cast about for a set of ground crew figures.  ICM seem to do a good set.  Just have to sneak it past SWMBO. 

 

10 hours ago, DugyB said:

Pretty cool build there, it’s been a fun ride and journey along the way keeping up with your build.  I think me likes 

 

Thanks.  It's been a fun build and needed some extra research as I wasn't building out of the box, exactly.  But it helps that it's a great kit too.

 

6 hours ago, MikeMaben said:

Nice work Mike 

 

Thanks Mike.  It was a very enjoyable build, but the next Z-M 109 I hope will be better.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael