Last March, I set myself a challenge
of taking an older kit, something quite basic, and seeing what I could do with
it. I ended up choosing the Matchbox 1/32 Messerschmitt 109E as I’d recently
done a photographic walkaround of the example in the RAF Museum at Hendon,
Equipped with an Eduard PE set for the cockpit and a newly acquired Rosie the
Riveter tool, I set to work. Nine months later, this was the result…
Click on
images below to see larger images
I modified, exchanged, replaced or
scratchbuilt just about every part of this kit in one way or another. The
list of mods as I remember them is:
Canopy framing scratchbuilt from plastic rod, and windscreen hinge added;
Grab handles added to windscreen;
Canopy stay spring added from light bulb filament;
Canopy sliding portion knobs added;
Cockpit built from PE and a lot from scratch;
Wheel wells totally scratchbuilt;
Brake lines and data placards added to undercarriage;
All cowling vents opened and edges thinned;
Stabiliser trim mechanism scratchbuilt;
Propeller boss drilled out;
Spinner backplate lightening holes added;
Spinner backplate lightening holes added;
Aerial insulator and antenna wires added;
Lights faired over and replaced;
Existing panel lines subdued, other scribed in;
Riveted entirely;
Rudder horns and cables added;
Wheel covers scratchbuilt;
Flaps dropped and wing root lightening hole added;
Radiator stays replaced;
Pitot tube drilled out;
Tailwheel well enclosed inside;
Cannon muzzles scratchbuilt;
Exhausts replaced with resin from Quickboost;
Exhaust shroud leading edge scratchbuilt.
I’d decided to do a Battle of Britain era
109E to go with my 1/32 Spitfire II, so I used the Eagle Cal decals for
Hans ‘Assi’ Hahn’s aircraft on an unmottled airframe. Colours used
were Vallejo for a change, as I usually use Tamiya exclusively,
Johnson’s was used as a the clear coat, weathering was done with the
airbrush, panel lines with a pastel wash, and tyres dustied up with dry
pastels. A matt coat sealed everything in, and the photos were taken
outdoors on a scenic grass mat.
Hope you think the 96 hours work I logged on this one were worth it!
Dean
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