Clear the Bench! Zoukei Moura Bf-109G14 Non-Hartmann Build

[GazzaS]

8 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Gaz

Terrific progress and looking so good. So far there doesn't seem to be any fit issue as the two fuselage haves look to have a perfect fit after adding in the front office and all the fuselage ribs. A few sink marks and I'll take that after spending hours and hours trying to figure out what goes where on the Whirlwind. Of course, no matter how well the kit is engineered, it's the builder's skill in the end that is the critical factors and all looks perfect. 

"Patience, my man" ...  yes, I'm trying as hard as I can.

.

Thank you, Peter.  It is a great kit...  I don't know much of the molding process.   But I imagine those small sink marks are caused by a contractor.

7 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

The fit continues to look excellent. The sink marks don't look too bad in your pic. Maybe you can use Mr Surfacer to fill them? Save on excess filler getting every where.

Carl

I will use Mr. Surfacer.  I don't use it very often because it shrinks so much when drying.

7 hours ago, Bomber_County said:

Gaz, this is looking amazing, having built two ZM’s now I’d be happy to build many more………seriously considering this 109……

Thank you, Phil.  I rarely buy a kit because a manufacturer makes good kits.  I'm more subject driven.  For instance...  All of my WNW kit's sport crosses and I have none with roundels.  The only roundel-bearing kit I'm contemplating is the new Kotare Spit.  I prefer the Mk.I above all of the others and have had little impetus to buy the later marks offered.  If they get around to a Mk,I Hurri...  I'll get that one, too if the Spit lives up to the hype.

7 hours ago, DocRob said:

Nice progress Gary. The cockpit looks nice and busy and the seat belts are eye catching. Good to hear about the good fitting and these small sink marks are no deal breaker. Is there the perfect kit out there, hmm,  just started my new Tamiya Corsair...

Cheers Rob 

Thank you, Rob.  Not really putting blame on ZM...   just sharing the news.  Stuff happens.  I imagine someone operating the molds wanted to go to smoko.

[harv]

Stress marks ?....harv 

[GazzaS]

Didja buy it yet?

 

I had mentally heralded the single-piece stabilizer as some great engineering.  After years of wiggling and adjusting, finally a flat tailplane.

 

but once I got to dry-fitting the entire empennage, the future wasn't looking so bright.

My first thought was that this model had just become a G6 instead of a G14.

 

So, I assembled the short horizontal stabilizer and discovered it wasn't very much different than the taller tail.

 

My next thought was that I could saw the vertical stabilizer in half and reassemble it making it narrower.   However, the fault is of different width at the bottom side of the vertical stabilizer assembly. 

So...    There will be some modelling required.  I will put some shims on the inside of the stabilizer to fill gaps.  Then, I will file and sand the offending areas to shape.   Heh...   all of that stuff we have been hoping to avoid.

In other news....

One of the great things about the directions is a blue highlighted area to point out gluing surfaces.

So, I glued the cockpit in as directed.

And then decided to check the directions regarding an interior frame I had purposely omitted.

Seems you need it to hold on the ventral plate under the cockpit.   So, I added it.

i

It also helps determine the height of the after end of the cockpit deck.

 

Much to my chagrin. I discovered that the first aid access hatch was too easy to sink too deep into the side of the fuselage.

So, I had to pry it out carefully and shim it up.

So...  I implore you.  Don't follow the directions.  Attach the first aid access hatch before you close the fuselage up.

 

I also put Mr. surfacer over the sink marks I pointed out earlier.

Now to let it dry.

 

Meanwhile...  I'll start back on the wings and ruminate further on the empennage mess.

 

Happy modelling!

[DocRob]

Phew, this tail fit looks downright ugly. It seems ZM has nearly always some areas, where a toy designer was at work (with exception of their Kai Phantom). I hope your surgery will succeed.

Cheers Rob

[GazzaS]

20 minutes ago, DocRob said:

Phew, this tail fit looks downright ugly. It seems ZM has nearly always some areas, where a toy designer was at work (with exception of their Kai Phantom). I hope your surgery will succeed.

Cheers Rob

Inserting two plugs into the base of the horizontal stabilizer I widened it fixing some of the problem.  However, there will have to be serious reshaping of the leading edge of the vertical stabilizers.

[Peterpools]

Gaz

Oh no, The B Team somehow found a way of getting their hand in the mix and it seems was given a few areas to work on. Fixing the tail area isn't going to be easy or fund and NEVER should have been there in the first place. With all the time, money and engineering lavished on the kit, with details galore, such a badly bit of engineering for the vertical tail fit is inexcusable.  

Just seems to me, with all the test fits ZM did, no one saw this? 

As far as the radio hatch/panel goes, the old saying that such panels and removable parts never seem to fit well, holds true. Easy enough fixed but shouldn't have been there either in the first place. I guess ZM's test builders and QC department missed it or never tried to add it at all, just leaving it off so the interior can be seen.

 

   

 

[GazzaS]

8 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Gaz

Oh no, The B Team somehow found a way of getting their hand in the mix and it seems was given a few areas to work on. Fixing the tail area isn't going to be easy or fund and NEVER should have been there in the first place. With all the time, money and engineering lavished on the kit, with details galore, such a badly bit of engineering for the vertical tail fit is inexcusable.  

Just seems to me, with all the test fits ZM did, no one saw this? 

As far as the radio hatch/panel goes, the old saying that such panels and removable parts never seem to fit well, holds true. Easy enough fixed but shouldn't have been there either in the first place. I guess ZM's test builders and QC department missed it or never tried to add it at all, just leaving it off so the interior can be seen.

 

   

 

I just can't believe it either, Peter.  How in the hell could the engine and cockpit be so perfect, and the tail end be such trash?  I have to be honest here...   if fixing it turns out to be a big headache, there may not be another one.

[Peterpools]

Gaz

I completely agree. We're talking ZM here and their kits shouldn't have this horrendous fit issue. All I can think of is at some point, the powers to be, decided to get the kit out the door and not to keep fixing the remaining issue, adding more cost to the project.  But the real question is: how could ZM even design it that way in the first place?

I'm basing my build on yours and this is a major downer.  

 

 

[Martinnfb]

Let me say something positive................................................................................................................................................................................ the tail seems to be properly angled to compensate to the propeller inertia pull.

You can do it , it is just an unexpected hurdle along the way. 

 

[Martinnfb]

[harv]

Looks like the stabilizer itself is cranked. The drawing doesn't show it as much....harv

[GazzaS]

OK...   so here is my rendition.

Step 1:  Insert sprue wedges to widen Horizontal Stab.

Step 2:  File, sand, and smooth fairings at inner edge of elevators.

Step 3.  Insert shim at front of horizontal stabilizer.

Step 4.  File and sand fairing to match thickness of the horizontal Stab.

It may require a little filler behind the shim.

I didn't have to remove the sphere parts from the fairing....  Thankfully.

[HubertB]

Well done, Gary. Of course, you would have preferred not to have this work to do, but the fix seems relatively easy for a proficient modeller like you.

Hubert

[GazzaS]

37 minutes ago, HubertB said:

Well done, Gary. Of course, you would have preferred not to have this work to do, but the fix seems relatively easy for a proficient modeller like you.

Hubert

Thank you, Hubert.  It's had two paintings to find errors.  I'll give it another before I move on.

[DocRob]

The tail starts to look like it should have been first place, nice surgery Gary. I hope this will be the last hair in ZM's soup.

Cheers Rob 

[Peterpools]

Gaz

Nice going and thank you for posting the detailed photos of your 'fix' - which worked perfectly. We're all in agreement that this fix should never have been necessary and shame on ZM for letting this error pass. 

Bill started his ZM 109 and has a build thread going ... going to be both fun and educational for me following and taking notes. I'm about two weeks away from starting mine and it seems we just might have a mini GB on hand. ☺️

 

[harv]

Thanks for sharing  ! I'll keep this in mind....harv 

[Irishman1]

Great model snd canto detailing by you! Very inspiring..

[Martinnfb]

Nice fix Gary, I guess ZM was trying to recreate the movable segment of the elevator with the fairings sticking too much out. Revell did much better work from modellers point of view.

[CANicoll]

Gary,  Wow, nice bit of engineering on that fix.  Having not built a ZM kit, yet, I was not aware of the gremlins that pop-up on their kits from time to time.  Definitely enjoying your build, the photos, and best of all, the commentary.  Keep going!

Chris

[Bill_S]

I'm still a LONG way away from that poor fit at the tail, Gary - you've done a remarkable job! My biggest complaint about the kit so far is the instrument panel. I can never get those big decals to sit as nicely as you've done on yours. I wish ZM would give us a nice acetate sandwich.

[Peterpools]

Bill. I'm with you and I'm not crazy about ZM IP's as well.

 

 

[GazzaS]

6 hours ago, Bill_S said:

I'm still a LONG way away from that poor fit at the tail, Gary - you've done a remarkable job! My biggest complaint about the kit so far is the instrument panel. I can never get those big decals to sit as nicely as you've done on yours. I wish ZM would give us a nice acetate sandwich.

Thanks, Bill.  Really...   I didn't get the fit 100% accurate.  Because of the high gloss on the decal itself...   I couldn't see that I was a little bit off.  Maybe some different lighting might have helped.

[GazzaS]

3 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Bill. I'm with you and I'm not crazy about ZM IP's as well.

 

 

They give you three.  Even one with complete 3D textures so that gifted painters like yourself can get everything looking smart.  Besides...  Once you assemble the cockpit tub and put the canopy lid on...even open....   It's not really highly eye catching.  Of course...   only FW 190 IP's are more difficult to see.

[CANicoll]

19 minutes ago, GazzaS said:

Thanks, Bill.  Really...   I didn't get the fit 100% accurate.  Because of the high gloss on the decal itself...   I couldn't see that I was a little bit off.  Maybe some different lighting might have helped.

Late war machines were probably not perfect in their placement or alignment either, so who is to say you don't have it accurate, anyway?  👌