Author Topic: Bf-109E Night Fighter (Read 20912 times)

Ernie · « **on:** March 12, 2014, 08:01:40 AM »

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.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/009.jpg

Bf-109E Night Fighter

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/010-1.jpg

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.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/007.jpg

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.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/013-1.jpg

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.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/017.jpg

Bf-109E Night Fighter

The completed cockpit ready to go into the fuselage.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/008-1.jpg

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.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/003-1.jpg

Bf-109E Night Fighter

The cowl guns were drilled out.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/004-1.jpg

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

No.1 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2014, 08:05:52 AM »

Details are so good and night fighter will be interesting to see

Ernie · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2014, 08:12:57 AM »

Thank you No.1

I think the night fighter is a unique version and will be something different.
Ernie

Second Air Force · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2014, 04:15:20 PM »

Looking really nice! This version is a temptation and I am enjoying your build.

Ernie · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2014, 07:28:12 PM »

Thank you Scott

It is a bit different for sure, though I am surprised you have not covered it yet in your builds of -109's

One thing though if you are interested in doing one, get the Owl conversion, it is only about $13.00 - $15.00 from a couple of US sellers on ebay. It seems the direction finder is more accurate / better detailed than the Hasegawa one offered in their special boxing of this version, and the decals included look nicer than the Hasegawa ones as well as being thinner and better color accuracy, at least in my opinion. I learned the hard way, got the Hasegawa kit, and then turned around and ordered the Owl decals. If I were to do it again, I would just get the Owl conversion set from the start and put it on the kit of my choice.
Ernie

Second Air Force · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2014, 05:56:22 AM »

Ah, that is good to know. I've purchased the Owl Bf 110 with Spanner resin parts and it is really very nice indeed. I will eventually get around to some more night-fighting 109s!

Ernie · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2014, 05:34:35 PM »

My canopy masks arrived, so hopefully this weekend I will be able to start the painting process

Ernie

Akinator98 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2014, 03:57:21 PM »

Looking really nice!

modellius · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2014, 11:10:14 AM »

very nice !

Tweety · « **Reply #9 on:** April 08, 2014, 07:28:36 PM »

How do you do that magic ?

Ernie · « **Reply #10 on:** June 14, 2014, 09:30:09 PM »

Finished at last

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/066.jpg

Bf-109E Night Fighter

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/068.jpg

Bf-109E Night Fighter

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/072.jpg

Bf-109E Night Fighter

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/067.jpg

Bf-109E Night Fighter

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/captianplastic/070.jpg

Bf-109E Night Fighter

Once again a simple project that should not have taken this long, but no matter, I got it done

Ernie

No.1 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 14, 2014, 09:40:49 PM »

Excellent work!!!

Ernie · « **Reply #12 on:** June 14, 2014, 10:37:29 PM »

Thank you No.1, appreciate the compliment

Ernie

Second Air Force · « **Reply #13 on:** June 14, 2014, 10:39:02 PM »

Excellent results on this one! I really like the look of an all-black 109.

Ernie · « **Reply #14 on:** June 14, 2014, 11:27:17 PM »

Thank you Scott

The black does look good, now I just need to do one in camo

Ernie

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