2x Bf 109 F-4 (1/48)

[Guest]

:dizzy: I just spend ONE HOUR masking this first part with Tamiya 6mm tape ...

I mask the whole canopy and then cut out the framing with a sharp knife. This is much easier and quicker than trying to cut masking tape to the right size for each of the different panes of glass.

[Si Benson]

Hi Steven,
lovely work on the two planes:thumb2:

[AlanG]

Steven. For gluing clear parts i tend to use Micro Kristal Klear

[colin m]

Great work Steven. Masking canopies, yes I feel your pain. Then again, I have masked a B36, probably something I will never do again.

[AlanG]

Great work Steven. Masking canopies, yes I feel your pain. Then again, I have masked a B36, probably something I will never do again.

I've got a He111 build coming up. My eyes are twitching at the thought of it.

[colin m]

I've got a He111 build coming up

I built a 1:32 He111 - and the mask set I used was marvellous !

[Steven000]

Thanks all :thumb2:

Al: Yeah I read some good things about Micro Kristal Klear, also used for filling small windows etc, will put that on my shopping-list.
Jakko: I tried something like that but the clear parts didn't have 'deep' lines on them so it was a pain to follow them with the knife :thinking:.
Si: Thanks, I hope they look nice in the end :thumb2:
Colin: I feel your pain... :dizzy:

This evening I was able to mask the engine and interior of the open cockpit,
then I sprayed a dark grey on the canopies (for the interior color) and ended with a grey primer (vallejo)...


Maybe I can add some color tomorrow! I hope all that masking will turn out ok in the end :thinking:...
Thanks and kind regards,
Steven

[Guest]

Jakko: I tried something like that but the clear parts didn't have 'deep' lines on them so it was a pain to follow them with the knife :thinking:.

Holding the canopy up to the light will probably let you see where to cut. Of course, it’s a bit more difficult holding the part above your head while cutting the masking tape

[flyjoe180]

Your Messerschmitts are looking really good Steven.

[stillp]

Holding the canopy up to the light will probably let you see where to cut. Of course, it’s a bit more difficult holding the part above your head while cutting the masking tape :smiling3:

Another tip I've heard is to use the torch on a smartphone laid on the bench with the canopy over it.
Pete

[Steven000]

Thanks Jakko, Joe & Peter,

A small update :
The spinner had this sad looking nose canon, which has an oval shape and no barrel-hole


So I searched my plastic-scrap box and found these tubes with a matching diameter (left) ...
Next I drilled a hole in the spinner (right) ...


Then the tube was cut and fitted with superglue, both spinners were modified.


I melted a sprue again and made a brake-line for each undercarriage strut.


In the first one I tried to simulate the curly shape at the bottom,
but this was hard to get right and as the wheel will cover it anyway I made the other ones simply straight...



The day before I cleaned the nozzle of my airbrush (H&S, Hansa 381), all was nice and shinny again but then all hell broke loose and I got bubbles in my cup when spraying...
As far as I understand this is caused by an air-leak inside the paint feed, so the only thing it could be was this very tiny rubber seal.


I never replaced this seal so it seems it has wear out...
I'm quite stubborn so I actually tried to fix it by making a new seal from thick paper, after many attempts I made a sausage from a piece of Teflon tape which in the end seemed to work for about 90%, some very fine bubbles kept coming but it was possible to airbrush again until a new seal arrives...



I also took these figures from another ICM kit, Revell has reproduced them too.


I was able to spray on some primer on these parts, the figure on the right seems to be smaller than 1/48 :thinking:


And a first coat of sand yellow was sprayed on top of the Trop-version...
Next week I hope to add the blue and white areas.



I just ordered a new seal for my airbrush so hopefully this will be an easy fix (fingers crossed) ...
Kind regards,
Steven

[Guest]

the figure on the right seems to be smaller than 1/48

How tall is he? Hold a ruler next to him should show quickly enough whether he’s undersize or not.

[Steven000]

How tall is he? Hold a ruler next to him should show quickly enough whether he’s undersize or not.

Yes it's how I noticed it, I always take 1m80 divided by the scale (48) and he was about 3-4mm smaller, don't remeber the exact height, already on the train for work ; D

[Mini Me]

Do a forced perspective and use him in the background should work well in a Dio.
cheers, Rick H.

[Jim R]

Hi Steven
Just had a catch up from the beginning. Really sorted, neat work. The engine is much improved with your stretched sprue piping. Love what you have done with the sand filter.. Masking is a chore but has to be done. Glad you got the AB working.
Jim