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thomasweir · Posted: Sun 26 Jul 2009 18:18 pm Post subject:

looking great

Ratch · Posted: Wed 29 Jul 2009 15:50 pm Post subject:

I put the finishing touches to this one last night

To recap:-
The interior was dealt with in a variety of ways, airbrushing and hand painting in each of the three colours to add depth and subtle variation. Unfortunately the pilot is from the same casting as that for the Bf 109E-3, and as such wears the early war life preserver. I think he’s unsuitable for a fighter pilot of this era, so have remodelled his life preserver into a leather jacket, more suitable for mid 1943.
I was quite pleased with my progress right up to fitting the cockpit/engine assembly into the fuselage, when I anticipated problems. I was advised of a problem if part 36 was not omitted! So the parts were disassembled and reassembled correctly. Joining the fuselage was fraught with problems. The port half of the fuselage warps outwards and required holding and clamping to correct the bend. It was necessary to remove the gun-sight while the fuselage was joined. I anticipate more fit problems with the lower wing to the fuselage.
Seat belts were made from Tamiya tape, super-glued to the seat. The wings and fuselage required manipulating by hand to ensure a reasonable joint at the wing root. My first attempt involved holding each wing in turn in the correct position while waiting for the cement to set. The second attempt was copied from Owen’s build on the ATF, where he used masking tape to hold the wings in position. The third method saw the parts clamped while glued. Despite my best efforts a nasty step and various gaps resulted, particularly on the port side of the wing root. Much filling and sanding followed. Eventually my perseverance paid off and an acceptable joint was achieved.
The next ill-fitting problem featured the nose-ring. With all these fit and shape problems, I decided that the solution could involve some distraction or sleight of hand. I decided to pose all the maintenance panels open, revealing the engine and gun bays, adding framework to the inside of the panels with Plastikard. I also tackled the paintwork in a novel manner, brush-painting a base for the under-surface then airbrushing over this using an Iwata HP-C Plus. I then set about the upper camouflage patterns. I started with the Grauviolett, which is the lighter tone. Clean demarcation lines were masked with Tamiya masking tape, cut with a sharp scalpel blade. The Xtracolor enamels were thinned with white spirit and applied with a Badger Crescendo airbrush.
The canopy framing was masked up and brush painted. I had hoped to use the blown canopy, but my reference clearly showed the earlier version. The canopy was brush painted and the Gelb identification markings were airbrushed. Removal of the masking tape revealed some over-spray that will require remedial action. The canopy was fixed with PVA wood glue. Paintwork was retouched as necessary before the model was prepared for the application of the transfers with a brushed coat of Klear.
I used the transfers supplied with the kit and 400mm swastikas from Techmod decal sheet 24005. These were applied with Microset and Microsol decal setting solutions. The main undercarriage, bomb and stirrup step were added and then the whole model was then brushed with Satin Cote, sealing the decals and giving the airframe a semi-gloss sheen. The propeller and spinner were assembled and the engine cowl panels fixed in the open position. Struts (made from plastic rod) were cemented to the side panels and cowling ring. Plastikard strips were cut and added to the top panels, acting like hinges. The windscreen was fixed with PVA and the canopy is not fixed at all. An aerial wire was added using Aeroclub Rigging Thread, connected to the canopy with ClearFix, and to the fin with cyanoacrylate. My final touch was to add exhaust stains using Faber-Castell pastels, smudged with a cotton bud.
And this is what I ended up with

I had hoped to take some outdoor shots, but as today has been a typical English summer (where you get a tan standing in the English rain) that has been postponed

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and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

Brews · Posted: Wed 29 Jul 2009 18:36 pm Post subject:

Not bad, Ratch. I do suggest you paint the aerial a bronze colour, though. Another, very minor point, is that the underside of the canopy is visible in your photos, but it doesn't show the central rail. This could be easily represented with a piece of stretched sprue or Contrail rod .. say, 1.5mm diameter.
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“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” Winston Churchill

Ratch · Posted: Wed 29 Jul 2009 19:11 pm Post subject:

The rail is in there Bruce

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Wed 29 Jul 2009 19:33 pm Post subject:

A very credible finish on what was obviously a complete mare of a build.....I salute you sir!

All the best
Sgt.S
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TimJ · Posted: Wed 29 Jul 2009 19:35 pm Post subject:

Great build.

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So many kits, so little time

ColinM · Posted: Wed 29 Jul 2009 19:56 pm Post subject:

The 190 is not one of my favourites but that is an excellent result, really looks lived in!

Colin

Badwolf · Posted: Wed 29 Jul 2009 21:01 pm Post subject:

Nice build of a challenging kit, well done! Clapping

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"It's life Jim, but not as we know it!" - Dr McCoy
Airfix Club 564448

Ratch · Posted: Wed 29 Jul 2009 21:22 pm Post subject:

Cheers guys Cheers!

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

thomasweir · Posted: Wed 29 Jul 2009 21:22 pm Post subject:

A great build Ratch

mosquito ace · White Star Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 95 Location: oxford

great build ratch

feanor · Posted: Fri 31 Jul 2009 14:54 pm Post subject:

Ayup Boss...

A lovely build of a swine of a kit... Are you bringing it to Farnborough?

Only one thing. have you got a long Paintbrush to touch those yellow Seat Belts up please

LOL...
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Dangerbod · Posted: Fri 31 Jul 2009 16:52 pm Post subject:

That's a beauty Ratch! I love 190s and you've done a cracking job on that, despite all the problems with dodgy fit.

hewman100 · Posted: Sat 01 Aug 2009 10:11 am Post subject:

Smashing job Ratch!
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Bubbly!

Ratch · Posted: Sat 01 Aug 2009 17:55 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the kind remarks Cheers!

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983