Dave W's Airfix 1/48 'Muncheberg' BF109E-7

[Dave W]

Is this supposed to be his E-7, werknummer 4148? It is possible that RLM 02 was sprayed on the sides either under or as part of the mottle. Thinly appied RLM 02 was a fairly common method of toning down the rather blue RLM 65.
Here's a few images of the aircraft in question. I think the mottle was far more diffuse than implied in the instructions. These images were taken using orthochromatic film, hence the very dark looking yellow. This can effect other colours too, but nonetheless you can see the patterns and how they were applied.


[ATTACH]154514[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]154515[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]154516[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]154517[/ATTACH]


Cheers


Steve

Airfix don't give a werk no. decal or any info with this one.So who knows.And it's almost impossible to tell the colours from old photo's (for me anyway).In your photo second from bottom,the fuselage paint is much darker under the cockpit than around the number 12. Was RLM02 used, or a locally mixed colour?.I guess we will never know. Unless you have access to any accurate info?.Im tempted to do a 'standard' RLM02 and RLM71 mottle.

[Dave W]

Is this supposed to be his E-7, werknummer 4148? It is possible that RLM 02 was sprayed on the sides either under or as part of the mottle. Thinly appied RLM 02 was a fairly common method of toning down the rather blue RLM 65.
Here's a few images of the aircraft in question. I think the mottle was far more diffuse than implied in the instructions. These images were taken using orthochromatic film, hence the very dark looking yellow. This can effect other colours too, but nonetheless you can see the patterns and how they were applied.


[ATTACH]154514[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]154515[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]154516[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]154517[/ATTACH]


Cheers


Steve

Steve.Airfix painting instructions give the prop and part of the spinner as Matt black.Ive always though Luftwaffe props were usually painted RLM71.Thats how I've painted mine. Would the spinner be RLM71 (and white) as well?.

[stona]

The propeller blades would be RLM 70. Spinner at this time would also be RLM 70 and white. It is most unlikely that the spinner would be black at this time on an E-7, and even less likely that the propeller blades would be anything but the prescribed colour. You can't just slap paint on propellers for fear of causing imbalance and the instructions for the manufacturers were very specific, even specifying the number of coats of lacquer allowed.


The area at the base of each blade, just before it enters the hub, is unpainted metal. It extended 30mm from the hub and was to allow marks for blade adjustment to remain visible. This area wasn't always there (reasons below) but it is clearly visible on your subject.


Here's a translation of the rules for applying camouflage to metal propeller blades and spinners for your (and everybody's) reference.


"Properties of the metal surface


The surfaces of new propeller blades may not be polished. The original paint work on repaired air screws or hoods must be completely removed on both sides.


It will be removed with aviation stripper 7210.00. The stripper is brushed twice onto the old coating for this purpose. The coating is removed with wood wool after it has become completely soft.


The surface of parts from which paint has been removed or which are supplied bare must be thoroughly degreased and cleaned with aviation cleaning agent Z. Priming must start immediately after cleaning to prevent soiling and dust settling on the cleaned parts.





Applying Camouflage paint.


The blades of propellers (suction and pressure sides) and the surface of the spinners must be treated as follows when applying camouflage paint.


a. Aviation lacquer No. 7142


Spray thin.


Thinning ratio 1:1 with aviation thinner 7200.00


Drying time; at least 2 hours.


b. Aviation lacquer No. 7146.71 [this is an undercoat of RLM 71]


Spray


Thinning ratio 1:1 with aviation thinners 7200.00


Drying time: 3 hours.


c. Aviation lacquer No. 7146.70 [this is the top coat of RLM 70]


Spray


Thinning ratio 1;1 with aviation thinners 7200.00


When spraying previously unbalanced propeller blades, care must be taken that a strip 30mm wide above the edge of the spinner is not sprayed so that the mark for blade adjustment remains visible. This area must be protected with masking tape before spraying. The painted propeller blades and spinners must be rebalanced after a drying time of 3 hours, minor balancing errors being eliminated by further spraying with lacquer. Propeller blades and spinners are ready for operation after a further 12 hours. Propeller blades and spinners may not be greased."


As you can see, after cleaning and priming the blades and spinners received an undercoat of RLM 71 (dark green) and then a top coat of RLM 70 (black green). Later in the war, if I'm interpreting another instruction correctly, the undercoat was deleted.


Cheers


Steve

[Dave W]

The propeller blades would be RLM 70. Spinner at this time would also be RLM 70 and white. It is most unlikely that the spinner would be black at this time on an E-7, and even less likely that the propeller blades would be anything but the prescribed colour. You can't just slap paint on propellers for fear of causing imbalance and the instructions for the manufacturers were very specific, even specifying the number of coats of lacquer allowed.
The area at the base of each blade, just before it enters the hub, is unpainted metal. It extended 30mm from the hub and was to allow marks for blade adjustment to remain visible. This area wasn't always there (reasons below) but it is clearly visible on your subject.


Here's a translation of the rules for applying camouflage to metal propeller blades and spinners for your (and everybody's) reference.


"Properties of the metal surface


The surfaces of new propeller blades may not be polished. The original paint work on repaired air screws or hoods must be completely removed on both sides.


It will be removed with aviation stripper 7210.00. The stripper is brushed twice onto the old coating for this purpose. The coating is removed with wood wool after it has become completely soft.


The surface of parts from which paint has been removed or which are supplied bare must be thoroughly degreased and cleaned with aviation cleaning agent Z. Priming must start immediately after cleaning to prevent soiling and dust settling on the cleaned parts.





Applying Camouflage paint.


The blades of propellers (suction and pressure sides) and the surface of the spinners must be treated as follows when applying camouflage paint.


a. Aviation lacquer No. 7142


Spray thin.


Thinning ratio 1:1 with aviation thinner 7200.00


Drying time; at least 2 hours.


b. Aviation lacquer No. 7146.71 [this is an undercoat of RLM 71]


Spray


Thinning ratio 1:1 with aviation thinners 7200.00


Drying time: 3 hours.


c. Aviation lacquer No. 7146.70 [this is the top coat of RLM 70]


Spray


Thinning ratio 1;1 with aviation thinners 7200.00


When spraying previously unbalanced propeller blades, care must be taken that a strip 30mm wide above the edge of the spinner is not sprayed so that the mark for blade adjustment remains visible. This area must be protected with masking tape before spraying. The painted propeller blades and spinners must be rebalanced after a drying time of 3 hours, minor balancing errors being eliminated by further spraying with lacquer. Propeller blades and spinners are ready for operation after a further 12 hours. Propeller blades and spinners may not be greased."


As you can see, after cleaning and priming the blades and spinners received an undercoat of RLM 71 (dark green) and then a top coat of RLM 70 (black green). Later in the war, if I'm interpreting another instruction correctly, the undercoat was deleted.


Cheers


Steve

Thanks for that Steve. I've already painted the propeller hub silver. I will have to repaint the spinner RLM70.

[stona]

I've already painted the propeller hub silver.

Hub and base of the blade were unpainted metal. You can clearly see this on the head on photograph with Muncheberg's crew chief (whose name evades me at the moment) holding a blade with his right hand.


You can also see that the blades and dark colour on the spinner look the same in B+W. They'd look the same in colour too, RLM 70


Cheers


Steve

[Dave W]

Hub and base of the blade were unpainted metal. You can clearly see this on the head on photograph with Muncheberg's crew chief (whose name evades me at the moment) holding a blade with his right hand.
You can also see that the blades and dark colour on the spinner look the same in B+W. They'd look the same in colour too, RLM 70


Cheers


Steve

Ive also noticed in your photos the RLM70 covers about two thirds of the spinner and not half as in the Airfix painting instructions. Thanks again Steve.

[stona]

Ive also noticed in your photos the RLM70 covers about two thirds of the spinner and not half as in the Airfix painting instructions. Thanks again Steve.

Correct. The 1/3 white spinner was an IFF marking (like the later spirals). It was introduced in early 1941 at the point of production and applied retrospectively by some units in the field. It's a fairly simple job to work out 1/3 of the spinner covering a 3 bladed propeller set up


Cheers


Steve

[Dave W]

P

Correct. The 1/3 white spinner was an IFF marking (like the later spirals). It was introduced in early 1941 at the point of production and applied retrospectively by some units in the field. It's a fairly simple job to work out 1/3 of the spinner covering a 3 bladed propeller set up
Cheers


Steve

Ive found another illustration which shows the mottle on the fuselage. I should be able to do that with my airbrush without too much trouble. The text mentions the white bar was over painted with a white theatre band.

[PhilJ]

Looking good, interesting paint reference chatter also guys! Noted.


Phil

[stona]

The text mentions the white bar was over painted with a white theatre band.

It was, but nobody seems sure exactly when


Cheers


Steve

[Dave W]

Ive sprayed the dunkelgrun part of the camo. For this i used Humbrol enamel 242. Ive noticed in steves photos of the real aircraft the forward fairing of the engine air filter is painted yellow. Airfix instructions show it as RLM 65 blue. So that will need correcting when ive done the rest of the paint scheme.


0

[stona]

This is because the entire upper cowl came off in one piece and then the rear cowl also came off in one piece (to replace the ammunition boxes for example). With both off the front part of that air intake was left exposed and easily painted to match the front cowl. 


Here's an Emil with both cowlings removed so you can see what I mean.


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

this is looking excellent Dave.


scott

[Dave W]

Thats the RLM 65 hellblau sprayed on for which i used Xtracolour enamel.I will spray the mottle next.

[flyjoe180]

Looks sharp Dave, very nicely done.