CANicoll

Had the first casualty of the build. The bottom panel of the IP went missing. For some reason, Eduard didn't include the flap on the IP without the raised detail. I had the Quinta panel CA'd to the bottom of the panel, and noticed today it is AWOL. Probably out looking for a camel... Fortunately, I have two options: I can raid the Eduard Color PE kit for that panel, or I can go the kit IP/decal angle, which is probably what I'm going to do since I don't want to mess up the Eduard Color PE stuff. This panel is at the bottom of the IP anyway. However, here is what I was working on - attaching three knobs to the IP: one red, one white and one yellow. Quinta, to their credit, give you two of each as they are TINY. A dab of CA gel is currently holding them in place. A test fit of the cockpit shows how tight the fit really is. I close up the fuselage (no pic) and wow, German pilots were SKINNY. Oh, and I had seen this in a YouTube review of the Bf 109 kit: no alignment pins on the fuselage. In effect, the cockpit becomes how the fuselage halves get properly aligned. I have built another Eduard Bf 109G-10 but forgot about this. And have completed the cockpit itself now. Still doing a bit of detailing and weathering, but this is probably about as fussy as I'm going to be with it. It really is something how small the opening is in the fuselage. And if I had thought ahead a bit, I would have pre-painted the fuselage openings around the exhausts to make masking so much easier later, but completely punted on that. Oh well. It's only tape, right? Exhausts are Model Master Burnt Iron Metalizer which sprays beautifully. Left side exhaust will have a PE cover added later in the build. Interestingly, the nose gun openings drop in from the outside. And are definitely handed. They fit really well, but only on the side intended. (Ask me how I know...). Too nice a day to have been inside this long. Time to get out and celebrate Labor Day!

OHHHH.. Excellent idea!.....

I had no idea... I wonder if that would work for aircraft seats as well??

Thanks guys! I think one rainy-day project is going to be getting the boxes (yeah, more than one) out and doing what many of you already do: Organize it by subject. I have an entire organizer box just of figures from lots of kits - mostly 1/48, some 1/72 and a bit of 1/32 - so I bet I could make much better use if I actually had an idea of what was there. Appreciate the response and ideas!

After finishing a couple of large builds - 1/48 Catalina, 1/32 F-4, 1/48 B-58 Hustler - I have more than a few left-over parts - as usual. AM replacements, options not used, etc. Do you remember the old Monogram 1/48 B-17 kits and those large boxes? I have one of those boxes FULL of old parts from 20+ years of builds: lots of B-17 radial engines, interior/cockpit parts, Mustang side panels, missiles and rockets, wings, wheels, tyres, guns, canopies..... Some of that stuff I've not even thought about in 10-15 years. It is taking up a lot of space - but I just hate the idea of tossing it out. What do you all do with your extra bits??

Bathing Sand????

I'm feeling completely left out! First no dromedary and now 3D printing... Wow, This is going to be some build. Especially when you said you were re-scaling to 1/24. Wow.....

I'm also eligible for SS but the longer you wait, the more you get so biding my time for another 3 years I think. If I do pull another 25 years, that extra $$ will be significant...

Peter - you nailed it. I will probably clean off some of that pigment, but as you pointed out - it is not going to be seen anyway. But WE know it's there, right! The Quinta belts are nice - but also a bit brittle. I have to watch that.... I'll do some adjusting on them along the way... Looking forward to your Sa'ar.

Thanks Mark! Nice to get an early start and it is a nice kit.

Best advice I've heard in a long time, actually. My mother's side of the family has longevity on their side, but that is also a challenge - I could have 25+ more years to go. Keeping it funded is the issue.

Excellent choice and the details you are describing sound exciting. Can't wait to see the progress on this one!

Awesome!!!!

How in the world did you even KNOW about this aircraft, and any of the kits/ AM for it??? WOW..... I can't wait to watch this one!! And I feel left out. No dromedary's in my build.

You win.

Messed up the mechanism that allows the wings to swing, but oh well. The link came apart as I was gluing the fuselage together. No worries. Wing is now fixed and got the base coat of Pink Sand. Need to get the masks on the canopy and get that painted, as well as attach a couple more of the under-fuselage pylons and armament. Still working on the engines/exhaust nozzles (Model Master Burnt Iron) and have the landing gear to attach. Gloss coat is applied so hope to get the nose art and markings on tomorrow. Definitely not the same fit as the Eduard Bf 109F-4.

Martin, you are always a wealth of knowledge, experience and information! I'll be studying these photos. Thanks!!

Thanks guys!! I was horrible missing the Twins GB deadline so not going to hold everyone up this time! And apologies for the terrible focusing. Went back to using a real camera and missed the aperture. Ok, on with the WIP: Quinta IP, up close and personal. Missing a couple of switches which is on purpose as I know I'll just knock them off. This is actually 3 pieces. What is cool is that Eduard puts two IPs in the kit - one with all the relief for use with the decal, and this one for use with their PE or AM IPs. No sanding required. Sidewall detail with some light weathering/shading using gunmetal instead of a lightened RLM 66. The gunmetal looks like metal wear and highlights edges nicely. Worked nicely on the seat. The Quinta instructions say to cut off the mounting buckles, but internet cockpit photos show the buckles in place. Only the right side bottom seat belt (left in the photo) is glued down. The others are just placed, but staying. My preference is to not have the belts symmetric and I may even see about draping one over the side of the seat... The Eduard PE pedals look pretty rough here, but not sure if that is a photo artifact or what. The heel-cups on both side broke off when I tried to bend them (PE and I have a tenous relationship...) but these are the PE pedals, on the kit plastic petals, drybrushed with the gun metal. That is probably why the left pedal looks so rough. The toe-straps are Quinta, but are not long enough to form a loop but in scale looks ok. Already used the pedicure brushes which arrived this weekend! Both on the strap on top of the gun breech (red-brown strap) and on that metal loop on the flap wheel on the left of the seat. The 7mm brush was fantastic. Used the side of the brush to weather the floorboard and the edges of the seat (mostly hidden by the belts). There is still one more dual wire support on the left side of the cockpit that is ready to install. May still pull some washes out, but like the progress so far. I do like the Eduard kits. Sorry for the poor-quality photos! Will do better.

Got an early start to this build (like 4am this morning early!). Here is the plan for the build: Eduard's Profipak Bf 109F-4. Comes with its own Eduard PE and masks, but also have the Quinta interior set and for some unknown reason the HGW seatbelts which at this point are going to go unused (anybody need these? - Ditto the Eduard IP color bits - probably will not use 90% of the Eduard cockpit PE). MRP paints are going to be the base, but the cockpit is already Vallejo as the MRP won't arrive until Tuesday. Here are the fun bits. This is kind of typical: Picking up a kit, then over time adding AM to it. You should see the last Revell 1/32 P-51D I have. There is more AM than kit parts in the box! Already have found an issue with the Quinta set: the instructions have two call outs for the same decal (#12), and I can't figure out where decal #10 (a metal panel) is supposed to go. But these are nothing compared to what went on with the F-4 Phantom II so already looking like a much easier build. Too bad Luftwaffe cockpits were so tight. Hardly any of this will be seen once it is all closed up. The target subject (if you pardon the pun) is a F-4 originally for North Africa in the desert scheme, that has been modified for the Eastern Front. The camo scheme is what drew my interest. In-process pictures coming later tonight...

Tally-ho, I'm in!

Thanks PW!!

Can you imagine how long it took to paint all of those stencils???? and repaint them?

I don't see a WIP area yet for this GB. Did I miss it? I'm in with the Eduard Bf 109-F4, and likely a Pacific P-39/P-400. I have two of the old monogram kits, but am kind of itching to try the Arma Hobby P-39Q kit. Since Peter did that absolutely LOVELY Spitfire IXc in desert camo I'm not going anywhere near that build until everyone (eventually) forgets he did that beauty. I STILL go back to the RFI pics and admire the work... This one was originally slated for North Africa, then ended up on the Eastern Front where they partially covered the desert camo. (@Martinnfb If that doesn't fly, let me know and I'll change the subject). I just thought the camo pattern looked cool.

Peter, thanks so much! I always appreciate your encouragement and support. It was probably the largest, most detailed build I've ever attempted. Lots of help from you, Carl, Martin and Scott and others got me through. About 200 stencils/decals all-in and I did not do all of the underside stencils. I'm still in shock on that. The armament alone was nearly 75 I think.