Bf 110B

[Second Air Force]

I made up my mind to start on this kit after years and years of thinking about it. I picked up two Fujimi Bf 110 kits many years ago and built one for our LLL group build. The other kit, with a very comprehensive resin cockpit set, went onto the shelf. Always in my mind was to construct it as an early machine with Jumo engines. Digging in the spares box I found a 1/72 engine from an S-3 Viking that didn't survive the years. Looking at the engine halves, I found that the cowlings were perfect for the rounded radiator intakes used on the Jumo power units. The top of the cowling on the left has been reshaped (the Jumo cowl was not as humped up) and the new lower section spliced in. The lower part of the cowling forward of the radiator is from a Jumo powered Bf 109 kit.
 
The wingtips are rounded on the early machines and I found a pair of Otaki Corsair outer panels to provide these.

[No.1]

 

[modellius]

Seems promising my friend !

[Second Air Force]

Thanks, it's a fun conversion (so far).

No photos, but I've fabricated the intake scoops and oil coolers for both engines and started on the second engine cowl. After that I must begin removing the radiator baths from both wings--a job I haven't quite engineered yet!

[draken35]

[Second Air Force]

I spent a few pleasant hours yesterday working on the wings and engines once again. As the photo shows, I simply cut out the radiator housing from each lower wing and filled the hole with sheet styrene and a bit of filler. At the start I was not sure how this would be done, but in the end it was really quite easy to get everything lined up just right and smooth. Once the radiator baths were eliminated I assembled each wing and installed their new Corsair wingtips. Then it was just a matter of installing the carburetor inlet scoops on top of each nacelle and adding the oil coolers under the wing. The oil coolers are modified from the coolers left over from my many Hobbycraft/Academy Bf 109B kits. Then I primered everything and set both wings aside so I can start on the easy part, the fuselage.

[draken35]

[No.1]

Like the original

[modellius]

Splendid work !

[Second Air Force]

Thank you!

Here are a few photos of further progress, starting with the cockpit. The first owner of the kit also bought a True Details resin cockpit and it was an easy build. Just a little trimming was needed to get a good fit and then a coat of RLM 02. After some detail painting, the cockpit was fitted to the fuselage. Also, before closing the fuselage halves, I widened the rear portion of the fuselage by adding a tapered shim on the upper seam.

After the fuselage was ready I added the wings and tailplane and then sprayed the RLM 65 underneath.

[No.1]

Cockpit look excellent!!

[draken35]

Nice progress!

[modellius]

Excellent details, well done mate !

[Second Air Force]

Thanks!

Time for painting stage.

[draken35]