This is my current project, a Bf-109E night fighter using the Tamyia 1/48 scale kit, Owl decals, and the direction finder bubble from the Hasegawa kit of this aircraft. The kit I got in a trade and came with an Eduard etch set, so I used that as well to dress up the cockpit.
Bf-109E Night Fighter
Bf-109E Night Fighter
The cockpit side walls with the Eduard details added. I made the wires as an experiment to try a technique I had heard about. They are made from epoxy putty rolled out into a thin "worm" and then put into place while still workable. It can be moved around with a damp brush and when the epoxy putty hardens it sticks in place. I think it worked well and am happy with the results for the first try at it. I added some chips and weathering to the side walls as well. The pre-painted Eduard etch did not match the RLM-02 I was using, so much of it was added before the interior was painted. I carefully masked over the data plate on the oxygen generator so as not to paint over it.
Bf-109E Night Fighter
The instrument panel, this was all made up from the Eduard parts. I added a drop of Micro Scale Krystal Kleer to the ends of the levers to give them more of a three dimensional knob than just the flat etch.
Bf-109E Night Fighter
The seat had the multi-part belts added, I also had to drill and cut the opening in the seat back for the shoulder belts to fit through. I added some weathering pigments to the floor to simulate dust and dirt carried in on the pilots shoes.
Bf-109E Night Fighter
The completed cockpit ready to go into the fuselage.
Bf-109E Night Fighter
The rudder needed some modifications; a tab was added to compensate for the direction finder bubble on the fuselage bottom and extra tail lights added. For the tail lights I cut a slot and glued in a piece .020 Evergreen rod and blended it in with Tamyia surface. The tab was cut from a piece of styrene using a template supplied with the decals.
Bf-109E Night Fighter
The cowl guns were drilled out.
Bf-109E Night Fighter
And mostly together. I have since added the horizontal stabilizers and front and rear wind screens. I am waiting for a set of Eduard canopy masks that should arrive later today so I can mask the canopy. I probably will not get to that until the weekend though. Then it will be ready for paint
Ernie
