Brush painting a 1/48 Bf109E-4 (Helmut Wick)

[Guest]

What a great tutorial this is and a lovely finished model too.

Since I've read this thread and thanks to Stona's information regarding such an interesting slice of history and Ron's talent in constructing this kit I've gone out today and purchased my next project (after the Spitfire is finished).

I'm still a novice when it comes to scale modelling but love the look of this Me 109 and I'll give it a go. If it goes wrong? There's always Purisol and the tropical version.. lol.

To be honest the most confusing issue I have at the moment is recognizing the RLM numbering system! German efficency, just call it green, light blue and dark grey.:noidea:

I'm going to be airbrushing the kit, but when it comes to the stipple someone has given me a tip of using a piece of sponge. lightly loaded with the paint and lightly dabbing. I also read somewhere that a good stipple finish may be attained by using a stiff brush and dabbing the paint onto the surface. I'm going to have a go this weekend on some scrap plastic and see what happens.

[spanner570]

Thanks for the nice comments Colin. This was my first go at stippling too!

I read you are thinking of using a piece of sponge for the stipple. I've just had a look at my model of Wick's 109 and the stipple in 1/48 is barely 1mm!! So I don't think a piece of sponge is anywhere near small enough to have a crack at it.

I used an old 000 size brush and even then I gave the end a crew cut! Luckily this worked.....Don't overload the brush, just put barely enough paint on. As you have said , try it on a bit of scrap first. To get your eye in, start on the tail section first. That way if you make a mistake it's easily painted over for a fresh start ( not that you will, of course! lol)

By far the worst part is when you hold the model and have the brush poised and ready to go....Like I did, just wait until your hand stops shaking and everything will be fine!!

I have taken the liberty of posting a better picture of the stipple and his 'kingfisher' emblem, to give you a clearer idea of the scale.

Steve (stona) is yer man for the colours. I'm sure he will be along soon...

I hope the above will be of some use to you.

Good luck,

Ron

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[stona]

To be honest the most confusing issue I have at the moment is recognizing the RLM numbering system! German efficency, just call it green, light blue and dark grey.:noidea:

Is someone confused by the RLM colour system? Surely not! Join a very,very long line Colin.

Many people are confused by the system. The system was a numeric system. I'll just stick to the familiar coloured aircraft laquers for now or we'll all go mad. The RLM (that's simply the Reich Air Ministry) gave a number code to all these coloured laquers,the familiar RLM 02,RLM 66 etc. They NEVER gave a descriptive name,even in german.

Various aircraft manufacturers or even manufacturing plants did apply descriptive names but these of course were not always the same.What Messerschmitt called "grau violet" (grey/violet) another manufacturer might call "mittel grau" (mid grey) so it's always best to stick to the RLM number,in this case RLM 75.

Sometimes the same name was applied to two different colours,even by the same company. For example Dornier called both RLM 81 and RLM 82 "dunkelgrun" (dark green).

The colours were matched to sample chips and these have been reproduced by various modern authors,Ken Merrick's weighty "Luftwaffe camouflage and Markings 1933-1945" has a very good set in the back. Luckily many paint manufacturers have also matched the RLM colour with variable success.

Always remember that we are painting models,we don't have to match a 1940s paint chip,and no man from the ministry is going to reject our finished job. I once painted a Bf109 in what I considered a good match for "full scale" RLM 74 and RLM 75 and it looked awful,I could hardly tell the two greys apart!

Great stipple Ron,I'd forgotten just what a good job you'd made of it.

Cheers

Steve

[adt70hk]

Ron

Thanks for pointing me in the direction of this. A great build and great effect.

I'll reply to the PM when I have a bit more time.

ATB

Andrew