Scratchbuilt bf-109 -- in progress

texasjohn · 06-26-2007, 05:16 PM

What on earth have I dived off into?? I will probably need assistance from you fine modellers as this adventure progresses. Right now it is going slow..

Heinz · 06-26-2007, 11:03 PM

I think its awesome attepting the scratchbuilt world,
i havent the skills to really think about anything like that at the moment, looking good keep us posted

Wurger · 06-27-2007, 09:40 AM

Nice workshop TexasJohn

.Keep building on.
And feel free to ask about anythings.

Cyrano · 06-27-2007, 06:28 PM

Very nice Texas John! I once build a SE5a with similar methods. Tell me, how are you going to cover the frame? SE5A was supposed to be covered with rice paper, but I thought it was going to look silly, so I left the plane uncovered and scratchbuilt wirings and the cockpit in high detail instead.

texasjohn · 06-28-2007, 12:20 PM

Thanks for your support guys. I'm going to need it!

Anyone know where I can find a plastic 3-blade prop/spinner combo? The base of the spinner is 1 inch diameter. No prop was supplied. Also any ideas on scratchbuilding a cockpit? or can I actually buy a prefab cockpit. The "kit" is from Guillow.

Lucky13 · 06-28-2007, 02:26 PM

Looking great boss! As already said, keep us posted.....

Wurger · 06-28-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasjohn

Thanks for your support guys. I'm going to need it!

Anyone know where I can find a plastic 3-blade prop/spinner combo? The base of the spinner is 1 inch diameter. No prop was supplied. Also any ideas on scratchbuilding a cockpit? or can I actually buy a prefab cockpit. The "kit" is from Guillow.

I think you don't have to make the cockpit very detailed.Drawings you can find in Internet.In my opinion the pilot panel with instruments, the pilot seat with belts and the floor with a stick and pedals of course.If you want you can add some things on both a port side and starboard one.It depends on you only and how detailed cockpit can be.The weght of these you also have to take into consideration.The cockpit conopy you can make of transparent plastic, the bottle used for mineral water is a good material.If you are interested in how to make it I have somewhere an article on it.

As far as 3-blade prop is concerned, the pic - source :

Graupner Model Airplane Propellers - 2 and 3 Blade Props!

texasjohn · 06-28-2007, 04:04 PM

Thank you very much. I have been looking for this forever. Everyone seems to have 2 blade props. On a bf-109 it would be blasphemous!! heh!

outremerknight · 06-29-2007, 08:29 AM

A two balde prop would do a -B, -C or early (Jumo powered) -D. But a three blade one looks better any way! Cockpit internals could be made out of thick paper to keep weight down, if this is going to be a flying model, if not the weight won't matter. It will be the external details which will make the difference, eg the shape of the spinner, wing guns (or not). The cockpit canopy is faily easy to make as it is very angular, no curves to worry about except on the top of the very rearmost part. As you seem very adept I don't think it would be any trouble to you.

Wurger · 06-29-2007, 01:15 PM

Yes,Outremerknight is right there shouldn't be any troubles with these details.It is even possible to make a spinner by yourself.TexasJohn could you upload there a pic of the cockpit area of your model? In the pic posted above it is impossible to estimate what you have to make to improve it.

texasjohn · 06-29-2007, 11:11 PM

Sirs Wurger and outremerknight,

I do have a canopy in plastic-they supplied. It's all about cutting out and painting the same. This is probably going to end up as a static model I think as it moves along. I wil get the cockpit frame pictures out there as soon as I can so you will have a better idea of it.

I have to keep reminding myself- this is not pine! IT IS BALSA!

It is so fragile!!!

outremerknight · 06-30-2007, 09:32 AM

Slow is good. I've been 'building' a similar kit of a P51 for - wait for it- 8 years! Yes, I know that is extreme. I keep having to put it away safe and then forgetting about it. I've just found it again after it being lost for 2 years. Must really get on with it. Good thing the USAAF aren't relying on me.
Anyway, back to you & your 109. Having the plastic canopy is good, saves work. If you are doing it as a static model then you can do the undercart properly rather than just what the flying model needs. I would cover the wings with either heavy weight card or even very thin balsa sheet. I think it would give a more realistic covering than doped tissue or film.

Wurger · 07-01-2007, 02:26 PM

For covering of the wings and even the fuselage you could use sheets of thin birch veneer also.Then you could paste over all model with the thin aluminium foil which should be cut to the panel shapes.

texasjohn · 07-02-2007, 09:42 PM

They did supply me with some paper.

Foil? wow! never thought of that!! It would add a touch of realism to it all. How about airbrushing foil? primer first? or is it even neccesary to prime?

I will also be learning my new airbrush. I can't find my old one from 15 years ago. Whoops, I am telling on my age!!!

In the meantime tonight, I am adding more formers. I keep telling myself looking at the drawings, "think 3D"...

I should get a pic of the cockpit soon so you can see the perspective.

Wurger · 07-03-2007, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasjohn

Foil? wow! never thought of that!! It would add a touch of realism to it all. How about airbrushing foil? primer first? or is it even neccesary to prime?

If you want to have a Bf 109 with the aluminium covering you don't have to paint this

but if you need to do it certainly you can.The primer is recommended especially for the acrylic paintings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasjohn

I should get a pic of the cockpit soon so you can see the perspective.

O.K