Eduard 1/48 Bf 110C risen from the shelf of procrastination.

[kahunaminor]

Welcome,

I started this build when it was first released in 2007/08 and then shelved it for whatever reason. It has languished on my shelf of procrastination since then and when I finished the Defiant, I vowed to do one of the kits that lay languishing. I decided to do this one, as it was amongst the oldest kits there and I felt in a good place to be able to tackle it:

 

 

Pulling the kit out, I took stock. I had almost completed the construction as the cockpit was finished and installed, the wings were on and the Quickboost engine had been installed into the starboard nacelle:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The RLM 02 I had used for the cockpit back then was the Vallejo Air grey/green and it really looked too dark then and still does now but it was staying. I had decided to close the forward gun bay and the nose had been cemented into shape and roughly sanded. The engine nacelles had been attached and the well known gap addressed with filler (I think it was Vallejo acrylic filler) as well as the gaps on the underside wing joins. All in all it looked a bit rough and ready and probably reflected where I was, mindset wise, in 2007. The canopy had been taped over, the gaps taped and the kit put onto the shelf:

 

 

 

 

I set about tidying up the seams, removing the steps created by hasty gluing and alignment on the wings and getting rid of all the basic errors. I finished off the MLG bays with the remaining kit pieces, Eduard PE and some styrene. I then completed the lower gear assemblies, fitted the brake lines and shot Aeromaster RLM 02 on all the interior surfaces except the cockpit. It is much lighter than the Vallejo Air and a better representation IMHO:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The engine nacelles were cleaned up and the lower inlet pieces fitted. The majority of the piece sits on panel lines except the curved section at front which is smooth. So out with the sanding sticks and Mr Surfacer. The exposed engine had a little more detail added with some more piping to go:

 

 

 

 

The position lights on each wingtip were removed and the location defined. I will add some CMK position lights later on. The kit wheels are incorrect for a C model, so the Aerocast AM wheels had been partially painted and marked P and S. They have now been masked and the brass details added, awaiting a coat of black:

 

 

 

 

 

The MG15 was assembled from kit parts, PE, resin and a lot of luck. Naturally after this photo the rear gun sight was flung to the far corners of the earth and a replacement has been sourced. Which allowed me to reverse the front ring side with the rear post as it should be:

 

 

The DF antenna is made of two loops but produced as a single part. Judicious use of an RB ultra fine saw and a lot of luck resulted in an equal split down the middle to crate the two rings:

 

 

 

The rear stabilisers have been added and the whole frame given a general tidy up to bring it to a point where I am almost happy to move on. There is some re-scribing to be done and rivets to be replaced before I commit to paint:

 

 

 

I am still to settle on a scheme but I am leaning to the night fighter scheme (L1+DH) from the kit or one of Falck's early birds from the AM Techmod decals. The canopy sections have been dunked in Pledge (Future) and are drying and the PE details for the closed section of the canopy are being assembled.

Thanks for checking in.

[RalphSarc]

Wow you're making great progress on your Bf-Procrastination, lol!!!

I finally bought my first 1/48 Eduard kit last week.

[JeroenPeters]

Nice re-animation of a great build!

Now finish that sucker!

[kahunaminor]

Welcome back,

Well there has been a lot going on but not much to show for it. The past couple of weeks has seen me continue to tidy up seams and prepare for painting. I also dipped and masked all the canopies both inside and out:

 

 

 

The PE parts that go underneath the central canopy have been painted and attached. I did this as I intend to attach the central and forward canopy pieces prior to painting, masking the voids with tape. Once the exterior marks come off they will be very noticeable:

 

 

 

 

I also had a go at filling the void behind the landing light. I inserted the end of a cut off plastic stem from a cotton bud. It gave a nice circular look and then painted the end chrome silver. The cover was then cemented into place. Not entirely happy with the look but at least there is now something behind the glass:

 

 

At least I have settled upon a scheme:

 

 

And with the central and forward canopies on, you can just make out the leather crash pad on the gun sight:

 

 

 

Thanks for looking.

[BevanBrooks]

Thats looking the bizzo! Full steam ahead.

[kahunaminor]

Hello again,

 

I have been working on a lot of little items, wheels, MG, props and spinners:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoy these detail work type of items.

 

Regards,

[kahunaminor]

What I was actually doing was avoiding the final filling, sanding, riveting and scribing. Once I had done the peripheries there was nothing but to dive in head first! Having completed those tasks it was time to mask up and lay the first underside coat of Aeromaster RLM65:

 

 

 

And with paint on:

 

 

 

 

 

I had a central seam reappear on me so I had to do some remedial work with Tamiya Extra Thin and some clamps on the fuselage sides which fixed the seam. I also missed a seam on the port nacelle. I have a few more touch ups to do such as the rear of the nacelles so I took the opportunity to let it dry before I will retouch the paint shortly:

 

 

Regards,

[kahunaminor]

The undersides were masked in preparation for the first camouflage colour, Aeromaster RLM 70:

 

 

I roughly drew the camouflage pattern on the upper surfaces with pencil and marked the areas to be painted with an 'X'. Once this has dried, I will more carefully mask for the Humbrol RLM71:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is not the scheme I am doing but I use the pattern and mark the areas that will need retouching with RLM 70:

 

 

Regards,

[kahunaminor]

Bitterly cold so not much work, despite copious amounts of "loft insulation". I have touched up the RLM 70 areas and awaiting the paint to cure before masking. Out of interest, I did conduct a little colour experiment for RLM colours 70 and 71. I used Aeromaster, Modelmaster, and Humbrol enamels. The difference speaks for itself. L to R: H71; AM70; MM70; MM71; AM70; MM70:

 

 

The Aires exhausts got a coat of Gunze Burnt Iron 76:

 

 

 

[BevanBrooks]

On the home straight now Kent great progress.

Cheers Bevan

[kahunaminor]

Thanks Bevan, I appreciate your comments.

 

To paraphrase one of the long remembered quotes from the iconic TV show "The Brady Bunch", "Masking! Masking! Masking!" Ready for some RLM 71:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for checking in,

[RalphSarc]

Really nice progress!

[kahunaminor]

Thanks Ralph,

 

A pleasant 23C today matey!

 

Houston, we have camouflage! Not sure why but the RLM 71 dried darker in some areas. Possibly due to the fact I touched up the rear area with a different batch? Who knows, who cares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The MLG had pins inserted and holes drilled to add a better strength and alignment. Happy with the end result. Still have a wash to go but I will gloss coat the entire build and then add the washes. Heretic, aren't I?:

 

 

 

 

 

The engine still needs some work but after the gloss coat and decals:

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking.

[RalphSarc]

Looks like some really great progress! Your engine detail looks great!

[kahunaminor]

Looks like some really great progress! Your engine detail looks great!

Thanks Ralph,

I have made further progress but I am having some Photobucket issues at the moment. Hopefully resolved shortly and I can post some photos!

 

Regardss

[rkranias]

great recovery from the SOP.  putty work and paint superb.

[kahunaminor]

Welcome back,

 

I had a few issues with Photobucket which have now been resolved. Progress has been consistent with the decaling now complete, the engine detailed and smaller assemblies prepared for final construction. The Techmod decals proved difficult in that they are not inclined to move once placed and are very prone to shattering. I did some research and apparently they need a good pool of water or Microset beneath them and even then they can be unforgiving. I managed to use most of them but some were beyond redemption and the kit decals were used:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More to follow.

 

Regards,

[kahunaminor]

The QB engine is nice but lacks some plumbing. I have added the most obvious bits out of lead wire and plastic rod:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am pretty happy with the engine as it stands at the moment.

 

Regards,

[kahunaminor]

The QB exhausts got a coat of Burned Iron and then a couple of thin coats of AK Interactive Exhaust Wash:

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

[kahunaminor]

Welcome back,

 

The wheels are on! You can see the distinctive outward stance of the MLG.

 

 

 

I used AK Interactive Landing Gear and Grease and Bearings enamel washes for the first time instead of my usual oil washes. The data plates are from the Aurscale LW cockpit placards decal set:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

[kahunaminor]

Just a quick update. The Flory wash has been applied. I then set about adding the DF and "clothes line" antennas:

 

 

 

 

Regards,

[kahunaminor]

Hello again,

 

I shot a couple of thin coats of AK Interactive Ultra Matte Varnish as a topcoat. If you want a dead flat finish, this is the stuff for you. Unfortunately, a number of the decals have silvered. I will chalk this down to a user problem but it means I will probably not use Techmod decals again. The masks came off the canopies and I have a couple of touch ups but I am very happy with the general result. The addition of the mass balances, pitot and a scratch built ladder have finished off the underside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up is weathering and final assembly.

Regards,

[kahunaminor]

No matter how many times I tried to convince myself, "silvered decals do not worry me", it was never going to end well. I cut some pre loved Tamiya tape masks for the serials. It appears the silvering is mainly confined to the RLM 71 as the darker RLM 70 is not as noticeable. Maybe something to do with Humbrol paint? Who knows! Not too bad, if I say so myself. The port insignia had also silvered so it had to go. Surprisingly it came away with a new piece of tape (after two coats of matte varnish) and I masked the balkankreutz:

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's all for now. I will update you all on the success (or otherwise) shortly.

 

Regards,

[BevanBrooks]

Kent, do you use a clear coat before decals? Solid progress.

 

Cheers Bevan

[kahunaminor]

Kent, do you use a clear coat before decals? Solid progress.

Cheers Bevan

Yes matey,

 

I gloss coated with Pledge before hand. Micro Set and Sol but still they silvered. Mainly the small ones.

 

Regards,