Messerschmitt Bf109F-4 trop
5/3/2004 - 17/6/2004
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**Introduction |
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New release of the Eagle Strike decales "A Star in Afrika" inspires me to try my best Messerschmitt. |
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Marseille's Fs He flew on 4 F-4trops. The first A/C(#1) was W.Nr.8693 whose rudder was primer red. The #2 was 10059. The #3 was 10137 with the 70 scores decration and bars. The #4 was 8673 whose demacation line of fuselage camouflage was lower.Reinforcement plates on the rear fuselage were applied only the #1 and #4. And also the #1 and #4 equiped special seat neither E nor G type. (Please look at the photographs of Marseille's F.) The #4 equiped G type paddle blades. Every A/C equiped G type large oil-cooler cowl and large engine air-intake and no small air-intake bulge on the starboard engine cowl. The Eagle Strike 48144 makes some mistake as follows. There was no score marking on the starboard rudder of all A/C. The wing tips of the W.Nr.8693 were not white. As for the W.Nr.10137, yellow was painted only lower 2/3 portion of the lower nose panel, the style of 14 was somewhat different and the side walls of the tires were not white (these characteristics are same as W.Nr.10059). As for the W.Nr.8673, the size of "14" was not too much large and the position of the Afrika marking on the starbord cowl was different (it should be moved 4 or 5 mm backward). Kit review Hasegawa FThe spinner is too much round. The nose droops. The fuselage and the tail wing height is low. The cross section shape of the rear fuselage is inaccurate. The plane shape of the wing tip is too sharp. The thickness of the wing is thin. Hasegawa G/K It's nearly Hasegawa F. But the fuselage design is different. The nose droop and cross section shape are revised. The fuselage height is still more lowered. The nose length is shortened so the total length is 2 or 3 mm short as compared with exact 1:48 scales. Airfix F The side view is almost perfect. And the spinner is perfect. But the cross section shape of the rear fuselage is inaccurate (it is same shape as Hasegawa F). The canopy is one of a weak points so it should be exchanged for the Hasegawa F's canopy. Of course, every detail parts should be so. |
 From the top to the bottom, Airfix F, Hasegawa F, Hasegawa K. Please be careful the distortion caused by the camera work. |
 The upper is Hasegawa K + Airfix spinner. This combination is not bad. The lower is Hasegawa F. |
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Construction concept I considered which kit should be chosen for the base. Panel lines and detail parts of Hasegawa is better, but outline proportion should be corrected. Airfix kit is good outline but it requires all of dull edges to be sharp. Then I desided to use the Hasegawa F's fuselage, wing and the Airfix spinner (This decision isn't the best way, I'll describe after), and to correct outline. |
** Construction |
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Before construction, I refered to Hasegawa G and Tamiya E. |
 Hasegawa G from the box. |
 Tamiya E from the box. The height of the center fuselage is correct. |
| Then I started construction. First of all, I cut the Hasegawa F's fuselage into some pieces. |
 I cut Hasegawa F's fuselage like this photograph using etching saw and knife. |
 Plastic plates ware put into cutting lines. Finally, the height of the rear fuselage was rose up 0.5mm. |
 The left one is Tamiya E, the right one is Hasegawa F. Tamiya is correct. |
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The lower portion of the fuselage The lower fuselage of Bf109 is hollow line. The Hasegawa G/K expresses accurately. So the best way is to use Hasegawa G's rear fuselage and Hasegawa F's nose. |
 The port side only was sanded. Please conpare with each panel lines. |
 Notice the corrected hollow line. This photograph shows after correction. |
 The fuselage near the cockpit was sanded too. |
 Then the fillet was sanded up to the fuselage. |
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The cockpit |
 Side walls are Aires's resin parts. The instrument panel and the floor are kit parts. |
 The rudder pedals are etching. Each instrument is decal. |
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The nose The droopy nose was lifted 1 mm. So the rear edge of the nose cowl part was sanded carefully. And the cross section shape was also revised.I think beauty of the Messer is in harmony of straight lines and curved lines. |
 Plastic plate was glued on the top edge of the lower cowl. |
 The nose line is a key point of Bf109. So I adjusted carefully comparing with photographs. |
 The cross section of the engine cowl was corrected. Nose sides were shaped up. |
 Small wedges were inserted at lower corners. |
 Please notice the slender nose. |
 The width of the under cowl was stretched. |
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The main wings Dihedral should be increased. Upper parts were sanded and the lower part was bended at the wing roots. |
 0.5mm plastic plates were inserted along the adhesive lines. The wing tips were exchanged for Airfix kit. The steps at the slats were filled with 0.3mm plastic plates. |
 The side walls were rised and filled with putty. |
 Wings were combined with a plastic plate. The cockpit was sealed by masking tape to protect dirt. |
 The side walls of the wheel wells were covered with cloths. |
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The tail wings |
 The angle of the leading edge was increased. The rudder was cut out from Airfix kit. The small bulge was added. |
 The edge of the rudder was carefully sanded. |
 This is the making of the ribs. First, I drew rib lines by pencil. |
 Next, I used a fine brush and Mr.Surfacer #1000. |
 Finally, I sanded carefully by #1000 sand paper. Please notice the expression of rib tape drawn by surfacer. |
 The tail plane are from Hasegawa. The elevators were spreaded at the roots. The tip of the elevator was sanded thinly. |
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Details |
 The shape of Airfix's spinner is perfect. The holes for propeller blades were corrected to horseshoe shape. |
 Marseille's F-4 equipped VDM9-12010A. Every kit parts are not accurate. From left to right ; Airfix, Hasegawa G, Hasegawa G(corrected), Hasegawa F. |
 The slits of the radiator flaps were for F tipe only. |
 The slats are supported brass sticks. The lights were made from clear sprue. Early F-2 equipped different type lights. |
 I engraved the hinge like this. The gun holes were re-opened after covered by plastic plates. |
 The positions of sand filter supports were replaced like this photograph. |
 The exhaust pipes are from Moskit. |
 The side shape of the oil-cooler was corrected. |
 The main gear legs were shortened 1mm at the roots. It seems there was no tread pattern on the main tires of "Yellow 14". The brake lines were made of two size of sprue lines. |
 The struts of the aileron mass balances were changed to brass sticks. It was easy to handle when I left plastic portions. |
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The cockpit |
 The seat of W.Nr.10137 and 10059 were the same type as G. The seat belts are photoetch parts from Aires. |
 The REVI gun sight is from Aires. The top of the bulletproof plate for Marseille's F should be deleted. |
 To widen the canopy, this part was put into a cup of hot water. The starboard triangle window of F-4 was exchanged for metal panel. |
 There is the small air-intake on the first canopy for F-trop only. The red line was engraved inside of the canopy. |
** Painting |
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Historical investigation Fisrt, I refer to the #3 A/C (W.Nr.10137). The spinner of #2 was white oversprayed on 1/3white and 2/3black, so I think #3 was the same. The demacation line for 79sand and 78blue was the same as another A/C, because it was made at the factory.The lower nose cowl was 2/3 yellow and there was caution data with white background on port side. The rudder was sand only. The upper and lower wing tips were white. No white side wall on the tires. The left side corner of "4" of the #3 and #2 were an acute angle. On the other hand, the #1 and #4 were a right angle. The scores 81 and 101 were confirmed.The insides of landing gears and wheel bays of F-trop were 78blue or 02grey. Judging from the photograph, they were considered 78blue. The wheels were black. The propeller blades were 70blackgreen. The 1/2 end of the backs were bare metal. The red dotted lines of walk way were confirmed by the original photograph |
 This is the W.Nr.10137. |
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The #2 was almost same as the #3. The demacation line on tail was irregular. It rose up near the tail wing. The style of "14" was slightly different from #3 (thickness, interval). There was no caution data on the lower cowl. The scores 68 was confirmed. As for the #1, the upper and lower wing tips were not white. The main tires were not white. The scores 48, 50 and 52 were confirmed. As for the #4, the upper and lower wing tip were white. "14" trimmed with black borderline. The whole of the lower nose cowl was yellow or 78 blue. (I couldn't judge from the photograph.) The scores 136, 150 and 158 were confirmed. The tail tire was white, but the main tire was not confirmed. Painting and marking Judging from the original color photograph, I mixed Mr.color paints. 79sand was RLM79 50% + dark yellow 20 % + white 30%. 78blue was RLM78 100%. Yellow was basically RLM04 and added a small quantity of red and white. Scale black for markings was black 70% + white 30%.The order was as follows; surfacer -> white -> black -> yellow -> 78blue -> 79sand. |
 White for markings was sprayed. |
 I cut out masking tape on decals. |
 Is this the winter camouflage ? |
 The size of 14 is 13mm X 18mm. The national insignia was masked again with 8 pieces of tape. |
 This masking sheet is for pro-use from Mr.Ike. |
 The HOBBY DECAL's dry decal is excellent quality. |
 I've finished basic painting. |
 The red lines and caution data are the Hobby Decal. Please notice the letter of "WE". |
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Weathering The point of this weathering is "chalking". The basic color were mixed brightly. And then I brushed fresh 78 and 79color along panel lines. This is an expression of fresh color exposures.The accurate triangular marking of oil tank on the nose portside is not included in Eagle Strike 48144. So I selected from AMD sheet for 109E. The caution data for tire size and dotted line around the tab of the aileron and elevator are not confirmed on "Yellow 14". |
 Light washing has done.Pastels were used for this exhaust stain. |
 Chips are Medium Sea Gray. |
 Fresh 79sand was drybrushed on the edges. After that, dark pastels are rubbed slightly on the edges and ribs. |
 The same method was used. |
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An additional work |
 I forgeted an engraving for small outlet. |
 I carefully engraved using etching saw. |
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**Completion |
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Completion after 62 years I am self-confident that up-to-date historical investigation has been done. Of course, that was impossible without supports of many people."Yellow 14" is the long long homework since I was a boy. 17th June, the completion day of my model was the memorial day which Marseille recorded the 101th score 62 years ago. Looking at the beautiful aircraft on my desk, I think about the Sahara of that day. |
**References |
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As for the accuracy, I think Mr. Abe's drawings and historical investigation in Scale Aviation vol.9 (reference #11) are the best. |
| 1 | The famous aircraft of the world | BUNRINDO |
| 2 | KOKU-Fun Illustrated "BF109, FW190" | BUNRINDO |
| 3 | KOKU-Fun Illustrated "German military aircrafts" | BUNRINDO |
| 4 | Model Art extra number "BF109B-E" | Model Art |
| 5 | Model Art extra number "BF109F" | Model Art |
| 6 | Model Art extra number "BF109G-K" | Model Art |
| 7 | Model Art extra number "Painting & Marking of German Military Aircrafts (Day Fighter)" | Model Art |
| 8 | Model Art extra number "Exparten" | Model Art |
| 9 | Aerodetail "BF109E" | DAINIPPON-KAIGA |
| 10 | Aerodetail "BF109G" | DAINIPPON-KAIGA |
| 11 | Scale Aviation Vol.9 | DAINIPPON-KAIGA |
| 12 | Military Air Craft Jan. 1995 "Bf109" | DELTA-SHUPPAN |
| 13 | Military Air Craft "German fighter" | DELTA-SHUPPAN |
| 14 | Photograph Collection of German Aircrafts vol.1 - 6 | DELTA-SHUPPAN |
| 15 | WW2 Aces of the Luftwaffe | SENSHA-MAGAZINE |
| 16 | German Military Aircrafts | Air World |
| 17 | German Military Aircrafts II | Air World |
| 18 | Aces of the Luftwaffe | Green Arrow Shuppan |
| 19 | Hobby Japan extra number "German Military Aircrafts" | Hobby Japan |
| 20 | BF109 in action part-1 | Squadron/Signal Publication |
| 21 | BF109 in action part-2 | Squadron/Signal Publication |
| 22 | Broken Eagles 2 Bf109G/K part-1 | Fighter Pictorials |
| 23 | Broken Eagles 3 Bf109G/K part-2 | Fighter Pictorials |
| 24 | Close-Up 6 Gustav part-1 | Monogram |
| 25 | Close-Up 9 Bf109F | Monogram |
| 26 | The official monogram painting guide to german aircraft 1935-1945 | Monogram |
| 27 | WWII WAR EAGLES Global Air War in ORIGINAL COLOR | Widewing Publications |
| 28 | FIGHTER COMMAND American Fighters in Original WWII Color | Motorbooks International |
| 29 | KOKU-Fun Air Combat No.1 & 17 | BUNRINDO |
| 30 | WARBIRD Legends | MBI Publishing Company |
| 31 | Spirits in the sky | Smithmark Publishers Inc. |
| 32 | WINGS OF ITALY | Giorgio Apostolo Editore |