Time for a small update. After getting the wings on, most of this week has been spent filling sanding and masking. Masking all the clear parts took the best part of 2 evenings. On Fri I got the clear parts painted the interior colours, RLM 66 for the cockpit and 02 for the rest. Then today I got the yellow wing tips and wheel bays covered. Just after I took these, it got its blue undersides painted. But only after I remembered to mask the yellow band, I nearly made that mistake again.
After painting I usually leave 2 days before masking. Masking off the blue shouldn’t be to bad. But masking the first green before doing the second is going to be another major masking operation. The biggest thing I have had to mask for this scheme so far is a Ju 87.
But all being well, all the painting should be done by the end of the week.
Joe, when it comes out of the paint shop tomorrow, I will get a pic of it with my B-17, the only one I have that’s not on a base. I did put the two together last week, just didn’t take any pics. The 11Z is slightly bigger in the wing span than the B-17. I think it seems bigger than it is because its two aircraft put together. Though it big enough, it wouldn’t go inside my spray booth. That’s the first time I have had this problem since using it and one of the reasons I put off buying a booth for years. But I managed to find a way round it.
As requested by Mustang, heres a couple of pics of the 111Z with a B-17. The 17 is the only built aircraft I have that’s not yet on a base, but I think it makes a good comparison.
I think the Z seems bigger than it really is. It should be remembered that the He 111 wasn’t in itself that big, not when compared to the 4 engine heavies. As you can see, the Z is only slightly bigger in wingspan than a B-17.
Having built a B-17 and a couple of B-24’s, the size isn’t really a problem. But the odd design does make it awkward to handle and to get to certain areas. There was a couple of times when I was holding one wing I thought the whole thing might fall apart. I had hoped to paint it in sections, as I did with the B-24, but the way the wings attach doesn’t really suit that, I am not keen on gluing, filling and sanding after its painted.
These were taking just after I masked off the blue undersides. I have now added the mast and pitot and just need to check there nothing else to fit and make sure all the seams are filled and sanded properly, then it will get its coat of Dark Green.
I wasn’t planning on posting my next update until I had completed the paint job. I was hoping this would be today, with pics following tomorrow.
However, the masking took slightly long than expected. In fact its taken the best part of the day in small sessions, well as long as my nerves could handle.
You reckon. I would have pulled my hair out if I had any. I am just off to get the celuclay in the base, I really need to get that done so it can dry, then I will be bringing the 111 out of the shed, hopefully it dry.
Bish, that’s some real nice work! …and that’s probably more tape than I use in a year (including duct tape, which when you live in Canada is really saying something! [;)] ).
I sympathize. Been there, done that, with the Italeri kit. And then I also did spirals on all the spinners. What was I (dr)(th)inking? Not revisiting a 111Z any time soon.
reasoned, well, I have got an 88mm gun after this, and doing that in a nice monotone Pz Grey.
Mike, were would the world be without duct tape.
John, when I did the Italeri one I did overall white, I didn’t bother doing the camo underneath. I think I miss out the spirals as well. I know, cope out. No spirals on this one either, which is a relief.
7474, its getting there. Hopefully I can come up with a realistic look for oil/fuel spills.
So here’s the results of all that masking.
I have also been working on some of the smaller bit, like painting the wheels and getting the two engines together. And doing the gun mounts for the top position. I have used some brass wire for the frame that supports the gunners seat.
I can now get on to my favourite bit, decaling. But most of this week I will be concentrating on the ground equipment and vehicles.
