Jump to content

TAMIYA BF-109 G6 1/48


Recommended Posts

Hello all,

 

Painted the leading slats and added the antenna mast. The demarcation between RLM 74/75 and 76 should be soft. I find it very hard to get uniform feathered edge due to so many curves and steps of the camo pattern. Hopefully after weathering the edges won't be too sharp. I did go over with 3000 grit sponge to soften everything. Dai 

 

331958300_600197404912476_5298841124276765509_n.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi all,

 

Gloss coat applied. I will run over with Tamiya 3000 grit sponge and that will knock the shine off but still enough for decaling. You must be careful as you do not want to go through the clear and affect the color coat. That is why I have a good coat of clear and use 3000 grit sponge. If you make too flat, buffing with soft cloth will restore the shine. If you look at 109s, you see the paint has a sheen to it as the wing reflected the person standing on it. Will look for that image and post here. Dai

 

332149946_511425754476148_7193830399868060353_n.jpg

Edited by dai phan
Link to post
Share on other sites

Howdy all,

 

Started the decaling process. The Eagle Cals decals are affected by Solvaset as it destroys the carrier film. To solve the silvering issue, I have to use lots of Micro Sol and that still affects the film but not as severely as the Solvaset. I have to use 2000 grit to sand off any defects on the film. This decals are printed by Microscale and I never had issues with them. Next time I will leave the shine as is rather than make them satin. If you use Eagle Cals, make sure the surface is as smooth and shinny as you do not have the luxury of using Micro Sol or Solvaset.  Dai
 

5507AE9E-A531-4E9B-95CA-F57FFBC8ED4E.jpeg

Edited by dai phan
Link to post
Share on other sites
21 hours ago, RichB63 said:

Dai,

Looks great with the markings applied! And your paintwork is very smooth and precise.

Rich

Thank you but all the edges need to be feathered soft. I find it impossible in my hands with so many twists and turns of the masking tape. Dai 

Link to post
Share on other sites
17 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

Looking real nice. Shame that the EagleCals are not reacting well with the decal solutions. Also not very good that the Eduard color is so far off.

Quite a shame. Solvaset will leave nasty circles on the carrier film and as you try to sand them off you ruined the decals. Micro Sol is not so bad but still leave marks. I had to do lots of mild sanding to get the defects off. Dai 

Link to post
Share on other sites
18 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

Looking real nice. Shame that the EagleCals are not reacting well with the decal solutions. Also not very good that the Eduard color is so far off.

Yes the yellow on the Eduard's has a very strange lime yellow. I ruined the number 8 of the Eagle Cals decals so I have to wait for replacement. Too bad I could not use the Eduard's numbers as they have this horrible lime yellow which is totally not correct. Dai 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi all,

 

When I look at the kit, it appeared that Tamiya planned for future versions from the panels that you have to fill to make accurate G-6 as well as separate vertical tail assembly that may account for future releases? However it has been 6 years from the original release (2017) that no future versions are in sight. I wonder of Tamiya has abandoned the later version releases? On the assembly note, the wing tip lights are molded rather than providing clear lenses. That rules out the use of clear red and green transparent paint. Quite odd here. Also the vertical tail is not symmetrical in the airfoil shape. The left side has a curve while the right is rather flat. The engineering and fit is outstanding but there are few features that out of the expected Tamiya's norm. Dai 

Edited by dai phan
Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok gang,

 

VERY frustrating here. I spent hours and hours burning the midnight oil trying to get the wings crosses laid down as best as I could with Micro Sol. Finally got them done. Now I realized the instruction on the Eduard is wrong on the placement ! The cross should end on the panel line rather than 5 mm away. Now I have to remove the crosses, repaint, re-gloss and re apply the crosses. Come on Eduard, do better and more careful research will you? Dai 

Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, dai phan said:

Hi all,

 

When I look at the kit, it appeared that Tamiya planned for future versions from the panels that you have to fill to make accurate G-6 as well as separate vertical tail assembly that may account for future releases? However it has been 6 years from the original release (2017) that no future versions are in sight. I wonder of Tamiya has abandoned the later version releases? On the assembly note, the wing tip lights are molded rather than providing clear lenses. That rules out the use of clear red and green transparent paint. Quite odd here. Also the vertical tail is not symmetrical in the airfoil shape. The left side has a curve while the right is rather flat. The engineering and fit is outstanding but there are few features that out of the expected Tamiya's norm. Dai 

The shape of the vertical fin is accurate. It was designed as an airfoil to counteract the effect of engine torque while in flight. The fuselage wants to twist to the left at the nose and right at the tail, so a an airfoil that pulls the tail to the left will keep things stable. 

Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, dai phan said:

Ok gang,

 

VERY frustrating here. I spent hours and hours burning the midnight oil trying to get the wings crosses laid down as best as I could with Micro Sol. Finally got them done. Now I realized the instruction on the Eduard is wrong on the placement ! The cross should end on the panel line rather than 5 mm away. Now I have to remove the crosses, repaint, re-gloss and re apply the crosses. Come on Eduard, do better and more careful research will you? Dai 

If you look closely at the image I sent earlier about the Erla wing pattern, you'll see that the cross does not meet the panel line it's positioned slightly outboard. Your decals are close to what I see in references.

Link to post
Share on other sites
12 minutes ago, Cool Hand said:

If you look closely at the image I sent earlier about the Erla wing pattern, you'll see that the cross does not meet the panel line it's positioned slightly outboard. Your decals are close to what I see in references.

You are right. The cross does not end at the panel line but slightly away from it. I think mine is placed a bit too far so I am going to correct it. Here is the actual photo. I think majority of builds on the Net is wrong in the cross placement. Dai 

 

133-13.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites
19 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

The shape of the vertical fin is accurate. It was designed as an airfoil to counteract the effect of engine torque while in flight. The fuselage wants to twist to the left at the nose and right at the tail, so a an airfoil that pulls the tail to the left will keep things stable. 

Thank you! Now I know it is not a mistake. Dai 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Greetings,

 

Did  some additional work last night. I repositioned the wings crosses to more accurate positions. Like Cool Hand says, the crosses do not end on the panel line but slightly outboard. Majority of the builds on the Net do not have the crosses placed correctly. I am rather disappointed in Eagle Cals decals. I have to go through 5 wing crosses before I could find a set to use. The discarded ones are poorly printed with jagged edges. Also many of the stencils are out of register or plain wrong. These are printed by Microscale. It is too bad as Eagle Cals has the most prolific collection of the 109s. If you use Solvaset, apply very thin layer so it dries quickly. If not, you will have nasty circular marks on the film that is impossible to remove. Also painted the wing tips light. Too bad these are molded in. Clear parts would be appropriate here. Dai

 

332757558_1560823361086753_1786672140684849498_n.jpg

th.jpg

133-13.jpg

Edited by dai phan
Link to post
Share on other sites
22 hours ago, dai phan said:

Ok gang,

 

VERY frustrating here. I spent hours and hours burning the midnight oil trying to get the wings crosses laid down as best as I could with Micro Sol. Finally got them done. Now I realized the instruction on the Eduard is wrong on the placement ! The cross should end on the panel line rather than 5 mm away. Now I have to remove the crosses, repaint, re-gloss and re apply the crosses. Come on Eduard, do better and more careful research will you? Dai 

Actually Eduard's illustration is correct. The crosses should be placed slightly away from the panel line like Cool Hand pointed out. Dai 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello all,

 

Clear coat applied and started the weathering process. I find out the oil can be easily rub off after drying so a final coat to seal is needed?  This is first time I use oil and I think it is the best medium for streaking. Dai

 

332858831_122143570618123_7620790089464369908_n.jpg

 

333732882_665884431957441_5596419918602276301_n.jpg

 

332880171_1373433430171437_370728177432861765_n.jpg

 

333231622_120077317519351_8486780037286513382_n.jpg

Edited by dai phan
Link to post
Share on other sites

Howdy friends...

 

The project is done. Will need to tone a bit down more with 3000 grit sponge before heading into the display case. Dai

 

PROS:

1. Very nice model of the 109 G-6 variant.

2. Exceptional engineering and fit. 

3. Interchangable closed or open cowling.

4. Detailed engine (if enter in the contest will need to add some small details).

5. Posable flaps with different settings.

 

CONS:

1. Molded in wing tip lights.

2. Canopy mounting mechanism is crude and unscale. The 2 tabs need to be removed and the canopy is carefully glued in with CA.

3. Comical use of decal seat belts.

4. The fuselage joint does not meet on panel line that required extra work to clean up. 

5. Thick decal.

 

I am surprised to find out there are other companies that put out 109s with exposed engine in 1/48 (ICM, Eduard, Zvezda) so maybe Tamiya wanted to keep up with the crowd? I used the Tamiya's decals for the red wing walk way. Being thick you can keep them in straight line. Also used Eduard's for the emblems as Eagle Cals decals are too small. 

 

331791645_221437626917430_5252519435913424241_n.jpg

 

332036401_3465771380320597_280886804869735555_n.jpg

 

332257220_759398652041087_2326011418620736953_n.jpg

 

331691371_893359421971565_2264436900146497968_n.jpg

 

331890021_3293762497504319_9170307754288102641_n.jpg

 

331699268_1244046066182390_1600400093885852340_n.jpg

 

331711445_1234038517241256_7853407703805046193_n.jpg

 

331326586_223719473348227_8383873104298171907_n.jpg

Edited by dai phan
Link to post
Share on other sites

Howdy all,

 

Instead of using CA to place the canopy, do this. Apply a tiny pin head, VERY tiny thick CA on the corner of the canopy where it touches the back canopy and let it dry. With the canopy has such tight tolerance to the fuselage, this will allow frictional fit of the canopy to the airframe. No cement, no CA to deal with. Dai 

Edited by dai phan
Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello fellow modelers,

 

Now the plane is in the display case. The other 109 is Revell 109 G-10 built 30 years ago. I really do not care much for Revell kits (in their old days) but this one took the icing on the cake. Even now, it is still highly regarded as one of the most accurate G kits available (40 year old kit). Yes, it has recessed panel lines too! And the price tag cannot be beaten (can get on EB for less than 10 bucks). I must say this is the best effort from Revell in the 80's. Dai 

 

334314441_701783948315304_6279335004464292479_n.jpg

Edited by dai phan
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...