Bf 109 E-4 (Airfix 1/48)

[Steven000]

Hi guys,

I was going through my stash looking for a next 1/48 project and picked out this Bf109E-4 by Airfix.
So far I didn't have an 'Emil' in my collection, and I was looking for something not to complex to finish during the Corona lockdown.
It might sound shocking but I'm pretty sure this is my first Airfix kit...

Box Art :


Sprue-shots :
Some interesting features : Different spinners, ext fuel tank and 3 types of bombs :thumb2: ...




Multiple canopy clear parts :


Decals for 2 versions :


An A4 color-scheme-sheet :


I do like the idea of including a pilot in the kit, but there's a serious scale-issue with this one so I'm not going to put him in.
A 1m80 person would be 37.5mm (like the ICM figure in the picture) but the face of the Airfix pilot is about 50% smaller :thinking:...


I always start by cutting and cleaning-up the larger parts, I keep the parts in plastic boxes...


At the moment the cockpit is assembled. I will hang one of the bombs under the airplane.


That's all for now,
Thanks for reading & kind regards!
Steven

[Dave Ward]

First Airfix kit? - I suppose you're of an age when other makes of model started to ovetake Airfix!!!!
Dave

[Mini Me]

Good choice Steven, seems an awful lot of parts for such a small bird. Will you be doing the yellow nose version? Rick H.

[Guest]

First Airfix kit? - I suppose you're of an age when other makes of model started to ovetake Airfix!!!!

And not from the UK If I had to guess, I probably saw my first Airfix kit after several years of building models — the shop in my village sold mainly Matchbox kits plus a few by Italeri and Revell, and sometimes even a couple of kits by the odd other brand, which must have included Airfix occasionally.

[Steven000]

First Airfix kit? - I suppose you're of an age when other makes of model started to ovetake Airfix!!!

Yes Dave, like Jakko said, as a kid I only made Revell, italeri and a few matchbox kits, there were no Airfix kits in the store. ; )

Will you be doing the yellow nose version?

Yes the yellow nose indeed Rick :thumb2:

Cheers, Steven

[Guest]

It might sound shocking but I'm pretty sure this is my first Airfix kit...

You’re not alone. I actively avoided them until last year when I did the phantom, which exceeded all expectation.
I hope the same is true for you with this one!

[Steven000]

Hi guys,
Today I finished most of the 'modeling' part...

The Airfix seat has molded belts but no buckles, so I made buckles with electrical wire and glued them in place.


I painted the instrument panel with a small brush...


The fuselage halves...


Then I glued the cockpit in place, this was a nice and tight fit :thumb2: ...



In general this kit has very good fittings, I did a bit of scraping here and there but nothing dramatic :thumb2:.
All the flaps and steering-surfaces are loose parts, so you can give the airplane a bit more character...


I glued the elevator in a down position and the rudder a bit to the left...


Flaps down and the left aileron down (to steer/roll right)...


Flaps down and the right aileron a little bit up (to steer/roll right)...


If you look closely you can see the stick in the cockpit is hanging to the right (to steer/roll right)...


I drilled holes in both guns for the wing...


Then all the loose parts were put on sticks for ease of painting...


That's all for now,
Thanks for reading, stay safe & kind regards!
Steven

[scottie3158]

Steven,
Lovely work mate. The stick leaning to the right is a great touch.

[Mini Me]

Tricky stuff Steven, looks great.
Rick H.

[yak face]

Lovely neat work Steven , the belts look great , it’s coming on really well , cheers tony

[Allen Dewire]

Evening Steven,

I'm not wing thingy person myself, but I have to say that the instrument thing dashboard looks fantastic. That must have costed you a few nerves to paint. It looks so good Sir!!! That is a strange thing with the pilot figure being so small, but maybe you should make a sign for the fuselage saying, "Gartenzwerg ins Cockpit" and then you could use him in the build...….

Super progress and nice work too!!!!!

Bleib Gesund
Allen

[Vaughan]

A great start Steven some nice detail cockpits looking good

[Steven000]

Thanks Paul, Rick, Tony, Allen & Vaughan :thumb2:

Allen :smiling6: ...




I just finished the canopy masking with Tamiya tape. oop:
Not all the lines on the canopy had raised detail, so you need to eyeball it here and there...


The fitting on the fuselage was very good, I used Micro Kristal Klear to glue the parts in place...



That's all for now, kind regards!
Steven

[Guest]

Lovely work Steven.

[flyjoe180]

Great work Steven, this is looking great so far.