Hi everybody
Since last spring I had this model in progress but I stopped before applying markings because of the decals to be applied on the rudder... I must print them and I don't know how to do...
This model is based on the
Heller kit in 1/72 which is given as being very inaccurate : yes and... no. Some told me it was a non-sense but apart from the inaccurate fuselage section just behind the cabin which too squared (and too much difficult to be corrected...) the remaining of the kit is not so inaccurarate than told... And it's a relative easy work to improve the kit.
I used the French SNCA-Nord documentation of the Nord N-1000 "Pingouin" (Pinguin). We see there are some important differences between the common-admitted dimensions of the Bf 108 and those of the "Pingouin" which is the French-built version of the
Bf 108 D.
1) One detail which is always forgotten : the ventral streamlining of the fuel by-pass on the Bf 108 D which is present on all Nord N-1000. Improvement of the shape of the air intake of the engine and the oil-filter of perfectly cylindrical shape.
2) On this view, we see the tapering of the of the first frame limiting the fuselage permetting the opening of the half-canopies. Without this tapering it's impossible to open or shut the canopies. Lengthening of the engine cowlings by 1 mm. I've added the handgrips and the curtains against the sun light.
3) The curtains and their rods :
4) Some improvements and addition : counterweight of the rudder, white light at the end of the rudder and relocation of the pivoting axle of the elevons and lengthening of the fin chord.
5) Seats in the "Pigouin" were made of stuff and not leather as it is so often said... I added pilot harnesses and the third "control column" which actuated the u/c.
(6) The exact shape of the upper surface of the fuselage :
7) One flight light :
It's a non-sense to engrave the struture lines on the fuselage because actually the different sections overlapped the preceding one.
Markings will be for a plane of ELA 52 in French Indo-China in 1950. Color will be either entirely "metal" or entirely
French "sea blue".
Cheers,
Jicehem
