Kotare Bf 109K-4 with AIMS decals

[denders]

This is for a GB elsewhere but I'm going to share it here too.

For those who are interested, this is the contents of the box.

Now, I'm patiently awaiting the decal sheet from AIMS so I can choose a subject and be sure of the options available in the kit.

BTW, this will be my first Kotare kit to build. I do have some of the Spitfires in the stash.

 

[denders]

These came today. I'll have to spend some time and choose which aircraft.

[Martinnfb]

Now we're talking. 

[denders]

Okay, the HGW seat belts have arrived. The 1Man Army masks arrived last week. I guess it's time to really get started.

I have not used either of the items before. Adventures here we come.

 

[denders]

I haven't physically started, but I think these are the markings/aircraft I'm going to model. Lots of colors.

I'm in the progress of deciding what color I'm going to use to be RLM 77 since MRP doesn't make it in their lacquer line. They do have it in their aqua line, but I don't want to mix paint types.

 

[Count0]

On 12/20/2025 at 11:25 AM, denders said:

Okay, the HGW seat belts have arrived. The 1Man Army masks arrived last week. I guess it's time to really get started.

I have not used either of the items before. Adventures here we come.

 

I've used both. The masks are sublime. Careful application and removal will allow re-use. 10/10

The HGW seatbelts are a pain in the ass. that said, nothing comes close to how good they look in place. 1/32 scale PE belts are just not acceptable after you have seen these. They need way better instructions. Find a good photo of the actual belt. It will help a lot.

[DocRob]

The HGW belts are easiest assembled with the PE-buckles still on the fret. It´s easier to fiddle the paper parts through then. 

Cheers Rob

[Fran]

Like already said, 1ManArmy are fantastic mask! If you use carefull in the remove, you can re-use them.

 

As for the HGW seatbelts, for me, despite the hard work they represent, they are the best in town! 

[denders]

Painting cockpit pieces while the neighbors are setting off fireworks.

[denders]

Okay, all the decals are on the Instrument Panel (~25). There is one exception, the decal that should be on the red handle. That decal just didn't want to be there after the brush with Micro Sol claimed it. Next are all the little decals in the rest of the cockpit (~18). It's a really zoomed in phone photo.

[BlrwestSiR]

That's a lot of tiny decals. The results say it's worth the effort though. 

[Martinnfb]

Beauty! 

[Count0]

On 12/23/2025 at 3:52 PM, Fran said:

As for the HGW seatbelts, for me, despite the hard work they represent, they are the best in town! 

They are. But they could be better. Better instructions for a start would go a long way, but with good photo's they are absolutely buildable.

They do need to step up though and print them on both sides. Makes positioning a pain trying to hide the raw side, or match it's color.

[denders]

Okay, all the cockpit decals except one are in place. After I took this photo, I airbrushed a coat of clear flat. Next will be clear gloss in the instrument dials.

The seat was painted MRP Light Wood, oil paint added, Tamiya clear orange, chipping fluid, MRP Aqueous RLM 66, and chipped. First time.

[BlrwestSiR]

That looks great Dave. 

To think that just a few years ago, that level of detail would have required an AM cockpit set. 

Carl

[DocRob]

Your cockpit looks fantastic. Are you sure, the seat pan was made of wood? I´m no 109 expert, but would think aluminum.

Cheers Rob 

[Spitfire]

Looks absolutely fabulous, most impressive.

Cheers

Dennis

[denders]

2 hours ago, DocRob said:

Your cockpit looks fantastic. Are you sure, the seat pan was made of wood? I´m no 109 expert, but would think aluminum.

Cheers Rob 

Thanks, Rob. Actually, it is a late war aircraft, and both the seat and cockpit floor would have been made of wood to save on the aluminum.

I made a slip-up; I've glued the seat in position already. So it may become a bit of a chore adding the seat belts once I've assembled them.

[denders]

Well, the recommendation to put the belt through the PE part before cutting it from the fret is a good idea. Until you realize you put it through the wrong way after you cut the PE from the fret.  The first belt piece assembled. It even survived gluing it to the bench top matt. On to the next one. Then some weathering.

[JohnB]

On 12/15/2025 at 2:35 PM, denders said:

These came today. I'll have to spend some time and choose which aircraft.

Decisions decisions!!!

[nmayhew]

Looking good

I wouldn’t sweat the ‘no RLM77 from MRP’ btw - they do about a million different greys so there will be at least a few that fit bill

[denders]

49 minutes ago, nmayhew said:

Looking good

I wouldn’t sweat the ‘no RLM77 from MRP’ btw - they do about a million different greys so there will be at least a few that fit bill

Yeah, I had a look through MRP's grays and picked MRP402. I'll see how it looks when I get it.