Ian M's 1/32 scale Bf 109G-6

[Ian M]

Morning peeps!


Well I got the box opened and finally took the sprue shots so here they are. The moulding is good with some fine detail and just a bit of flash here and there, nothing to panic about. 


Under orders from SWMBO to take a day off and relax (Apparently I have been working too hard). So I might even get to make a start on this today! 

[Ian M]

Well then Two years with out sticking plastic has left its mark! I really need to pay attention and go slow. Anyhow. We got the cockpit done. The detail was OK and went together with out any fuss. Trying to take a photo of it was more like trying to take a photo of a black cat in a coal hole so I gave up on that! its going to be lid down anyway so not a lot to be seen.
This is where we are at right now.





The coal hole, sorry I mean cock-pit.



Got the two halves of the fuselage together, Found out that I had forgotten the top part of the oil cooler... Bugger. Managed to get that in via the motor compartment, after trimming the location tabs off the fuselage! Oh I managed to snap off the propshaft that should be interesting later...
Just about to start fitting the wheel bay walls and coolers...


You can just see on the instructions that for the top cowl there is a choice of two; 44 and 43(i think) It does not say early or late so which one!

[Ian M]

That voluptious-looking object under the fuselage, is it a bomb (unlikely on a fighter) or an auxilliary dumpable fuel tank? If the latter, German-occupied France would not have presented range problems, I think.

It is indeed a fuel tank and they had a text on them to the effect of "This is not a bomb, if found return to the Luftwaffe base" I believe there was a reward offered for them to encourage people to return them. I wonder if it would have been smarter if they wrote the message in French or English, I can imagine that a good few could make the mistake between Kien and Kliene... One meaning not the other little....

[Guest]

Looks like you've got the Monica bug Ian! You're racing through this one


With regard to the cowling options, I think the late version has smoother bulges for the upper MGs. I can't remember which is which so some dry-fitting should make things clear.

[papa 695]

Nice start Ian 

[Ian M]

Looks like you've got the Monica bug Ian! You're racing through this one

LOL I thought I was taking my time. There are actually few parts in what I have done. I recall building a 1/32 where there were more parts in the cock-pit than there are in the whole of this kit.....But then I might just be exaggerating a little. I have been know though to build a 1/48 aircraft in four days start to finish. :/


General question re 109g-6. would the early versions been in Africa/Italy. Most of the profiles I have found are all green and grey. (I fancy a bit of sand for this one (and an easier camouflage :P  )


Thanks Ian, Things are slowly coming back to me.

[stona]

:/


General question re 109g-6. would the early versions been in Africa/Italy. Most of the profiles I have found are all green and grey. (I fancy a bit of sand for this one (and an easier camouflage :P  )


Thanks Ian, Things are slowly coming back to me.

The first G-6s started to reach front line units in February 1943, shortly before the final surrender of Axis forces in North Africa. They were certainly present elsewhere in the MTO, Italy etc. The tropicalised version featured a tropical intake filter and various other minor adaptations, but they were not factory finished in the RLM 79 (sand) scheme, which suggests they were not intended to go to Africa at a time of imminent defeat there. I'm struggling to remember an image of an early G-6, tropical or otherwise, in anything but a 74/75/76 scheme, subject to local alteration of course.


Cheers


Steve

[Ian M]

They were certainly present elsewhere in the MTO, Italy etc.

Thanks Steve. Looks like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get a mottle down then.


It was mentioned in the destructions that the early of the two versions in the kit was painted the same in Italy, Just with the Theatre markings the White Italy campagne So white Under wing tips, White fuselage band and white spinner...? If it helps you Steve the 'werknummer' was 160 717 flown by Hptm. Karl Rammelt of the JG51. You dont happen to be able to confirm the MTO white bits could You Steve? Also a picture of that tropical filter would be nice, maybe I can scratch one up...

[stona]

Here's some images showing the tropical filter on the G-6.


I'll check the markings, but whereas the theatre band is a certainty, the wig tips possible, I very much doubt that the spinner was white.

[Guest]

Very nice start Ian. I like it


PS: wow!! I cannot remember the last time that I see you building a model.......maybe were at seventy's......     

[stona]

As for the markings, opinions seem to vary! Everyone agrees that there was a white theatre band.


The white spinner would in fact be a partially white spinner, just the front part, similar to the other JG 51 aircraft in the pictures above. This is a good bet, but not certain.


White wing tips? Some of II./JG 51's G-6s in Italy did have them, but some did not. It's about a 50/50 call.


Some profiles show a white or yellow rudder with victory markings. I'm not sure where that comes from as, again, it is not visible in images I have seen. I have a book of rudders (I know, I know) and Rammelt's is not in there. It is so prevalent in profiles and decal sheets that I wonder if there is some good evidence for it which I don't have.


I can't see evidence either way for the undercowling to be anything but RLM 76. If it was anything else it would have been RLM 04, but I can't see a demarcation in the photo.


I know this is all a bit vague! I would definitely do the theatre band and white front to the spinner. I would compromise on the wing tips and do the undersides white. I would leave the lower cowling RLM 76 and I really don't know about the rudder. IF I decided to colour it and apply the abschussbalken, I would do it white rather than yellow. Most of this is just educated guess work and others might have different opinions


Cheers


Steve

[Ian M]

IF I decided to colour it and apply the abschussbalken

Apply the what?!? lol


Many thanks Steve. Your knowledge is gold. That which you have described is pretty much in line with what revell wrote in the painting guide so I will go with that...


Got a few bits stuck together this AM and am now waiting for the tailplanes to set up. I have also ordered a sheet of swastika from Hannants. It is a pity that political niceness gets in the way of history. I mean they could put the two part ones on the sheet. What really makes me giggle is that you cant buy a kit with the marking in, but you can buy a whole sheet full of the damn things! Sorry. I will behave.

[Ian M]

PS: wow!! I cannot remember the last time that I see you building a model.......maybe were at seventy's

Cheeky bugger. LOL How's that railway layout going.... :P

[Guest]

Cheeky bugger. LOL How's that railway layout going.... :P

Ouch!!!! "Touche" Ian     

[Ian M]

So to keep Polux happy, I have been slaving away at the bench...... Not. LOL To be honest it was to darn hot to carry on working in the garden so I came in and hid in the man cave! 
Here is an update of the gluing together of "Gubbins"


Primer is on some of the sub-assemblies.


'


The flappy things are on. Almost..





The bottom is an OK fit but will need a smudge of filler at the front, behind the oil doo-dar.


A thing I am not to chuffed about is the top of the wing being in two parts. That canyon of a gap is the smallest I cloud get it, the other side is not much better. Excuse the glue paw prints! A quick scrub with a glass fiber pencil will soon see them off (I hope).



The cowling side covers needed a helping hand to hold them in While the glue dried. It would have been nice if Revell marked in the destruction's that you need to drill holes for the locating tabs of the machine gun bulges!!! The Exhaust stubs will go in after painting. I have checked, they can be put in through the top. 


The flaps and control surfaces are also fitted, I just forgot to take the photo...
 


Tune in tomorrow for another thrilling episode..............