SPA Modeler

Thanks, Bruce. Never heard of those brands before. Will have a look.

I enjoy your sketches as well Bruce, for the methodology of wrapping your head around a certain element of a project, as well as the fact they are immensely cool and impressive to me since I can't draw a straight line with a ruler.

Wow... there's a party going on here that I was not aware of! Lots of cool Messerschmitt projects! Lovely work on the pit, Bruce!

Not quite in the modeling mode YET but I'll comment on this one since I am building a K-4 too. I'm not an expert so take my comments as simply observations and not definitive, ok? I don't think the FM kit is an accurate representation of a K-4. I've noticed a few things that indicate this. The most obvious are the bulges on the upper wing. As far as I know, all K-4s had larger bulges to accommodate thicker tires. The smaller wing bulges that the FM kit portrays corresponds to earlier 109s. The drawings from the 109 Lair website below show the two bulge styles...

Bf109K-4


Bf109G-10


I initially was going to conclude that the FM kit was based on a Bf109G-10 but the fuselage seems to show certain K-4 specific features such as the fuel fill ports on the fuselage spine and the hatch on the port side of the fuselage in the correct locations. That confuses me since the wheel bulge deal is much more noticeable than the placement of the fuel fill ports and hatches.

The other inaccuracy that I've noticed is the shape of the stowage hatch behind the pilot's head. The kit shows this as a five-sided polygon but it is actually trapezoidal (four-sided). The 1/32 Hasegawa K-4 kit makes the same mistake, which I will be correcting.



I may have some information regarding White 1 of 9./JG77 so let me check my resources and report back.

John! Hullo! Here is what FM did to make their 109 upper wing more like a K-4 series:



You can see that placement is a guess—drill here! Not a bad guess, though! They did describe the precise measurement.



This seems close, but your diagram indicates these covers a touch more clearly—
and position is everything so I am going to try to adjust placement based on the diagram.
I think the FM covers may be too flat but at least FM has something here specific to the series itself.
I think maybe the FM design team which I think was a small unit, maybe 2 designers, in attempt to
maximize what they could efficiently create... and they definitely tweaked the spec at Hasegawa
where the molds were done.



Correct me if I’m wrong here but is this the octagonal section you mean?
It’s one portion of the Eduard K-4 etch I need to keep to drape the shoulder belts properly.
I will be studying your work to see how you did this with your seatbelts.
I am really learning from your work in progress, basically I learn my limitations within scale
and techniques in particular. I think the cockpit looks too dirty. Overkill.
I need to thank you for the technical illustrations and your advice and knowledge.
I did try to pick a kit that was designed to be as accurate as possible -
and did also include a Fine Molds detailing set which is too expensive.
This was the reason I employed the cheaper older Eduard set from one of my favorite online guys - Rebel Alpha.
He keeps a good stock of aftermarket going and he is in San Diego so the shipping is stupid fast.

I feel I must also thank you for advising me to paint the color coat without building up a layer of enamel primer.
This transformed my whole approach and I firmly believe that if I followed more of your advice I would be further along
(kit selection, finish what you start). This must be stated.
You really changed my mindset about painting.
This used to be more of deliberate step now it’s more of a splash to proceed onward.
I cannot thank you enough.

I think the pit looks great but I do like a dirty aircraft. Maybe some dry brushing will offset the dirtiness for you?

pzl66 wrote:I think the pit looks great but I do like a dirty aircraft. Maybe some dry brushing will offset the dirtiness for you?

Fortunately every adjust layer is water soluble—
I mainly use a graphite formula that is designed to be mixed with water and creates a great oily sheen.
I think you would like this very much. It does wonders to add a touch of stressed surfaces inside the cockpit.
Thank you so much for your advice! You use UV Flat Clear as a final finish, right?
I like finishing in stages. I was thinking about your clear coats—so smooth, that’s some superb control.
I tend to get a little build up at the extreme edge of each pass with the air brush—
and I have to remind myself to follow through without hitching at the edge lines.
I don’t know if that makes much sense.

That right there is purdy!

I use Testors dullcote since it is what I have had the best success with and I like the silk smooth finish. But that just me, your pit looks awesome!