Kotare teaser - it's a Bf 109K!

[Andreas Beck]

from 7:40 very short, after that P.1011

 

 

[D Bellis]

2 hours ago, Andreas Beck said:

from 7:40 very short

Interesting that there are no wing sprues on display...

 

D

[Troy Molitor]

Interesting indeed.  Maybe under further Kotare review on the wing design?  

[dutik]

Close-up of the K-4 parts.

 

Regards

- dutik

[Martinnfb]

[nmayhew]

On 1/29/2025 at 4:10 PM, D Bellis said:

Interesting that there are no wing sprues on display...

 

D

I reckon they are being ‘addressed’ 

[D Bellis]

57 minutes ago, nmayhew said:

I reckon they are being ‘addressed’ 

Exactly. In which case the issues are in fact real and not lighting, backgrounds or phone algorithms AS EARLIER CLAIMED... 

 

D

[Pete Roberts]

3 hours ago, Martinnfb said:

 

An Me 109 'Kermit'??

[Juggernut]

On 1/29/2025 at 11:10 AM, D Bellis said:

Interesting that there are no wing sprues on display...

 

D

Quote

Exactly. In which case the issues are in fact real and not lighting, backgrounds or phone algorithms AS EARLIER CLAIMED... 

So out of the five sprues we've seen of this kit, only two are shown at the show.  Are you suggesting that three of the five have issues or are you just cherry picking the one sprue you've faulted while at the same time insinuating the owner has ulterior motives for his explanation of what he has in his hands?  You may be entirely correct in your conclusion.   I will agree that the photo of the wing underside looks less than stellar but I am in no way qualified to predict what the cause of the anomaly is.  I'll accept the proprietor's explanation and even if it IS an error in the tooling, I completely trust the Kotare team to correct the issue before we see anything further.

Edited January 30 by Juggernut

[D Bellis]

1 hour ago, Juggernut said:

...the photo of the wing underside looks less than stellar...

My post merely highlighted the fact that Mark Robson's initial denials have yet to be proven accurate. 

 

No need to add or subtract any wild theories or presumption. 

 

D

[monthebiff]

Handbags at dawn over some plastic, I love it

 

Regards. Andy

[Mark Robson]

Hi again everyone,

 

Mr Bellis might be a conspiracy theorist perhaps and is looking for a fight, in which case I am happy to oblige, in a  friendly way. Despite George Bernard Shaw's famous quote about wrestling with a pig, I am a former football player (soccer to you Americans) and don't mind getting muddy

 

On Monday we all met in Wellington (apart from Radu who is in Ireland) to review the K test shots.  

 

Here is the gospel truth;

 

The kit designer (Radu) wanted to design the panels flush and just add the fasteners.

 

Richard with his uncanny knack for seeing things in photos that others miss ( I swear he would have been a photographic analyst during the war) has noted that there are in fact 2 panels that are of thicker gauge aluminium than the rest and which stand slightly proud of the wing surface. He will post some better pics of the runners and some photographic evidence as soon as he has finished the test shot report.

 

As asked, Radu then designed in very subtle raised panels.

 

The mould makers, who have generally done an excellent job, have over-egged the pudding a bit on these details and made them stand too proud, as well as the wing tip tapes. BUT, they don't look anywhere near as prominent as the photos made them look.

 

Now a multi page report goes to the mould company with a request to tone these down, as well as DOZENS of other things that need adjusting, just as is ALWAYS the case with first test shots.  

 

Then we get second test shots and build them, another report goes in.

 

Then a third, if necessary.

 

Then a  fourth, if necessary.........  etc

 

That's how it works.  At some point we realise that perfection, as ever, is impossible and we have to go to print with the mould that we have.  

 

We are optimistic our moulding partner is very good at what they do and we will only need a full set of test shots one more time ( a lot of minor things can be approved electronically) then it's all go. But if it takes more, it will take more.

 

Once again, thanks for all the feedback, I haven't been able to delve into the tail wheel  stuff in detail this week but rest assured Richard is.

 

Cheers

 

Mark

 

PS  Unless Richard got an email that I don't know about the nice folks at MBK made their own decision as to which runners to display and which not.  We were hoping they would display them ALL so independent photographers would post pics of the wings, but we did not to my knowledge guide their decision at all.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Martinnfb]

Mark,

Thank you again for pitching in and staying in touch with the community. This is how Eduard and Special Hobby got where they are now, they listened to the feedback via dedicated topics on the on-line forums. Your presence on LSP is a great way to stay connected and it is much respected/appreciated to know that you're interested in the reactions of your clientele. You have a great team and if Radu involved I have no doubts that this kit will be the holy grail of big scale 109s. 

 

Cheers

Martin

 

picture time

 

 

[D Bellis]

2 hours ago, Mark Robson said:

The mould makers, who have generally done an excellent job, have over-egged the pudding a bit on these details and made them stand too proud, as well as the wing tip tapes.

Thanks for clarifying that. Much better than abject dismissals. 

 

D

[CRAZY IVAN5]

That there were thicker wing skins is definitely news to me[ no surprise there]. Ya learns somethin' new ever'day! Was this just a 'K' thing or do the later G models have this feature? Always open to new info ,makes things interesting .