Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3
Kommentit
1 29 April 2015, 18:36

For that you need a little bit of patience, I am not the fastest builder out there.
30 April 2015, 17:25

With this hobby, taking your time is usually a good idea 🙂 I'm probably starting on a Bf 109E-3 soon, always fun to watch others building the same as myself, or some kits that i want in my stash, its good for both learning and inspiration 😄
30 April 2015, 23:18

@Camilla: Will your E-3 be Eduard kit too? If so, I can offer a hint or two but I must say it's been a joy to build so far - especially compared to my last project.
@John: It took me quite a while to bend the hip belts to an acceptable shape and I still am not quite satisfied with them. Luckily, that deep down in the cockpit in a complete aircraft I they're not going to show up too prominently. The double PE instrument panel looks very nice indeed, I should have posted a photo from opposite angle for you to see. Will do that in near future.
1 May 2015, 07:46

Yes, I'm gonna build the E-3 weekend edition from Eduard. So far i've read that it should be quite the enjoyable build, but I'd love to hear some hints on how it's been so far for you! 🙂
1 May 2015, 12:42

Here is the instrument panel. It has two PE sheets, the bottom sheet which has the dials and overlay on top of that which has holes to show the dials through. It's nice idea from Eduard and gives sort of 3D look, though it's quite small even in 1:48 scale and it took me several tries to get good picture of it.
1 May 2015, 15:34

Oh, tell me about it! I'm currently working on a F6F from Eduard in 1/72 scale and its my first time trying photo etch, it came out pretty good i think, considering the scale and that its my first time, but taking a good picture of it isnt easy at all! 😛
1 May 2015, 22:22

The double PE has set the 3D effect beautifully.🙂
on the 'Joy stick', is that a seam line i see, or part of the 'cabling'. ? (Just wondering.) 🙂
1 May 2015, 22:30

@Kerry - yes, it is a seam in plastic which I did not bother to remove as it won't be visible when cockpit is in place and viewed from above. Additionally, this is one of my closest close-up photos I've ever taken and my camera's abilities keep surprising me, that control stick is way bigger than in real life and such details stand up excessively well.
2 May 2015, 05:32

Thanks for the info Jonkka, and I was not finding fault mate, but from that angle, it looked like it could be one or the other, and I just had to ask.
Cheers mate and what you are achieving is just great. keep it up. 🙂
2 May 2015, 08:14

Nice kit... I had some fun with the engine exhausts last year... Tricky part in my opinion....
2 May 2015, 17:22

Did you leave cowlings open or do it in closed way that I am doing? I just glued exhaust stacks on the engine and given the very tight fit with the fuselage hole for exhausts, I am expecting a very tricky time when it's time to fit engine into fuselage.
2 May 2015, 18:52

I closed the cowlings... The exhausts fitting was very tight even when gluing them like shown in the instructions...
3 May 2015, 16:50

The instructions confused me a bit because it's not very clear which steps apply to closed cowlings and which to open version and which to both. In the end I decided to glue exhausts to engine before fitting it into fuselage and as I wrote earlier, I expect troublesome time when fitting engine in.
3 May 2015, 18:33

I got around to paint all yellow parts. I did this now so that I have area around exhausts ready after I fit engine. That way there is no need protect exhausts when painting nose.
12 May 2015, 18:32

Jonkka, I do believe you will work out your fit issues by doing all the 'dry fit's' before deciding which way to go.
We all have done exactly the same at one time, and everyone will agree (They better LOL), 'dry fit' is the key to the final look.
🙂
12 May 2015, 21:31

Engine has been successfully fitted in and main cowling is in place. End result is a success despite some tricky moments along the way. Funniest part was when cockpit fell off as I was trying to get engine in. This, of course, was because I had to bend the fuselage apart to get the exhausts into their slots and that cracked cockpit's gluing. It was no problem to get it back in, I just don't like to do things twice.
16 May 2015, 13:44

Getting ready for first stint of painting - wing, tail and undercarriage have been glued and are drying.
17 May 2015, 09:35

And now decals are in place. After those are dry, it's time for varnish, weathering and this project is complete.
26 May 2015, 16:32

Okay - it is complete at last. Here's pile of pictures for your enjoyment. Meanwhile, I'll work on the next project... 😄
1 June 2015, 14:25

Perfect Result, wonderful paintjob 🙂
I got the same thing in my bench.
Hope to get it half as nice as your perfect one
1 June 2015, 17:21

I am sure you will, just be patient with it. I feared painting that camo as I thought it would be complex task and difficult to get right but in the end, it was relatively simple and straightforward affair.
1 June 2015, 18:10

@Choppa: Thanks to you, I did change the order of pictures. Before, I hadn't even thought that it would be possible. Every day one learns something new.
1 June 2015, 19:35

One of the better builds I have seen here on Scalemates Jonkka. Excellent results all round. 🙂👍
1 June 2015, 20:38

This turned out beautifully! Well done Jonkka 😄 I'm starting on this one myself soon, if I can get it half as good as yours, I'll be extremely satisfied!
2 June 2015, 02:03

These Eduard Emils are splendid, arent they? And you did a splendid Job!
2 June 2015, 13:03