GazzaS

It's official... I am now a rivet counter.

Hi Phil, The 7-point mounting system for the 109 was pretty stout. Even with one leg broken before I assembled it, the remaining 6 points were able to hold the engine in place easily. I like this kit, despite the tail and my earlier fitting problems. Lessons learned, I'll buy another when the release the next batch.

Great job on those decals, Peter.

Very nicely done!

After careful consideration i have altered my plans for the pilot and scene. Had I placed the seatbelts in a way that the pilot could have gotten into the plane, then I could have used those great figures. I will have to save them for the next build. So, instead I have a fall-back plan. A while back I went hunting for 1/32 Luftwaffe air and groundcrew. One of my acquisitions was this Masterbox set from 2012. It's just a scene probably repeated thousands of times in aviation history. A pilot being helped into his parachute. The figures are shaped nicely though some filling and fettling will be required once the glue hardens. The faces are nothing to be proud of. Heavily sculpted. But since they are downcast concentrating on getting ready for flight. The second pilot in the box has the back parachute used on the FW-190.

Hi Chris. Honestly, I thought I had reached the end of my potential in 1/48 scale singles. I still have a lot of 1/48 doubles. And Eduard... My first four experiences with Eduard were bad. I really don;t have a good feeling about them any more.

Chris, Thank you for the kind words. I'll try to reposition the figure and see what I can do. I'll be glad to see what you make of your 1/48 builds. I actually sold all of my 1/48 single engined kits, even though I had some of the Eduard kits.

Martin... My 1/32 figs are virtual giants compared to any of my 1/35 figures. Might get away with one... but if he doesn't look right... Why in the hell does that one dude got his leg up?

Thank you, Hubert. #3 looks most likely... he doesn't look like he's on the Russian Front. My unit is JG 11 which stayed in Germany as far as I know. Now if i can just find him.

Great pics, Martin. Where am I gonna find a photographer?

That is some good information. Thank you. I was on the verge of petitioning you for photos of pilots climbing into and out of their 109's. But first I wanted to see what I could do with what I have.

Thank you, Peter. I considered that I would need a more affable friend. I just didn't want to start chopping just yet. Finding LW heads... should be difficult.

Thank you, Kais! The clambering figure is from the Zoukie Moura 3-figure set for their Heinkel He-219. I got my kit from Metro Hobbies. But they are out of stock, unfortunately. BNA doesn't have it, either. I fear that you and I will have to wait for ZM to re-release the kit.

Thank you everyone for your likes and kind support. Now I need your help in another way. I need your artistic sense. And your sense of human movement. I have a small number of figures available. Here is the first example I am trying. The pilot has clambered out of his canopy and is pleasantly surprised by an old friend waiting by the fuselage.

Brilliant little looker.

Nice work Carl. Dammit... You've almost caught up to me. I think on my next one... I'll tackle the tail by separating the main halves of the stabilizer and bring them in closer, cleaning up the inside so the outside looks less 'messed with'. Of course that will mean separating the one-piece elevator.

It seems like a while since my last update. Anyway... masked and painted the canopy parts. The vinyl masks shrank a little, so I had to tape a few edges with masking tape. Then I installed everything except the Galland hood. I also detail painted the Revi 16/B gunsight and glue it in place... then weathered it as well as the radio hatch area. The tiny little black tab atop the sight is a tiny piece of PE fret bent at a right angle. Can barely see it in a regular sized photo. The Revi 16/B doesn't have a face crash pad. The top view of the canopy. The seam at the front is ugly. But it's the best I can manage. What I need is a self-levelling filler. Anybody know of one that moves slowly enough to dry before exiting the lower ends? I weathered the radio hatch area and gunsight with Tamiya enamels with a little aluminum chipping done with Citadel acrylics. ' Scratch Builders... You'll need to make some parts. There are no upper braces for the head armor and no canopy opening lever. I actually had to drag out my Revell G-10 Erla to get an idea of the size of the lever. Thanks for looking! Comments appreciated.

Well done, John! Always glad to see something off the Sod and on display.

Everything looks great, Rob! Have a good vacation.

Wow... that's the craziest thing I've ever seen. I'll be interested in seeing the kits cockpit setup.

WTH is that?

Beautiful work! Love to see all of the close-up details. Lovely weathering... just right!

Great pics!! But no reflector sight.

Love it, Martin! Though I'm having trouble thinking of a Ben & Jerry name for it. Putin's Peanut BTR Folly? Putin's KGB Crunch? Sundae, Bloody Sundae? War Crimes, Raisin, and Cherry Garcia? Seriously though... Powerful imagery.