WIP HobbyCraft Bf 109A 1/48 (DONE!)

[Von_Alfalfa]

Hi everyone!

Has been a while since my last post, I was not dead just quite busy, but here I am!

And coming back to the forum trying to build this early bird, Bf109A from this HobbyCraft kit Bf109B.

Despite I’m not a expert of this bird, I have in mind to convert this B version into an A version without using aftermarket, just homemade stuff, armed just with a ton of books and info I just got, and of course imagination, I’ll try to do my best, I’m sure some gurus will find some mistakes, so please correct me if I’m doing some.

Acording some books and scale drawings, mostly from the book “SAM Modellers Datafile - Messerschmitt Bf-109 Part1.Prototype to ‘E’ variants” and after examining the kit I realized that this project will need some work, to starts, the kit describe a B version, but the panel lines and cockpit are from a E version instead. I also noted that the fuselage is a bit shorter, but unless you have a ruler nobody would know it… so… shhhh…So let’s start deleting panel lines and scribing the right ones in the wings as the fuselage.

I’ll also have to extend the slats, in this version they were larger than later versions.

The cowling also need some work, besides to rescribe some lines in both sides, the front vents must be filled up. Also I noted that the machine guns are a bit apart from each other so I’ll need to get them closer both acording my numbers… 5mm from each other and enlarge them 1cm.

[Von_Alfalfa]

Next, going into the cockpit I screatchbuild some stuff, as I said I’ll try just using homemade stuff.

And again the kit’s cockpit represented more a E version instead, the most obvious in the A version were the map case, it were localeted (if were any) at the pilot’s left side, so I had to deleted the molded one at the right side and build a new one and place it at the left, also the control stick in this version were quite different, it had a ring shape handle. Besides, the kit’s control stick have a “S” shape, which I dunno where HobbyCraft get it! Anyways, after made my new control stick, I noticed that the seat were quite the same in the A until E versions, and the kit’s seat it’s not that bad, so I’ll keep the kit’s seat, I also drilled some holes in the oxigen case, besides that I added some levelers and cables here and there.

The landing gear it’s not bad too… it only need some covers in the wheel joint made with masking tape.

The propeller in other hand… shows this strange bump behind each propeller, so I’ll have to get rid of those strange warts.

The tail of the fuselage also need some work, I had to make this hole just behind the tailweel.

[Von_Alfalfa]

After airbrushing RLM02 and weathering the interiors, was the time to glue the fuselage halves, but there was a problem… the cockpit walls were a bit thick and didn’t let the fuselage halves to close, so after sanding off a little the fuselage and cockpit walls at least the halves closed quite well. Now closed the fuselage, it was turn to put in place the wings… another problem, there was this huge gap between the fuselage and the wing roots. The solution was to separate the wing roots placing just below the cockpit a couple of pieces of plastic.

Now the wings in their place, it’s turn to the cowling… but first, let me show the machine guns modification. One shows the modification the another one without mod.

Despite it was just 2mm what they got closer from each other and one would think that was not big difference… well, after placing the cowling in it’s place one can tell the difference.

Now, the cowling in it’s place, another surprise. The cowling its a bit shorter in height than the front of fuselage and it show’s this dang step between them. I’m start loving HobbyCraft!

And again, no problemo, a little of plastic sheet from a telephone card to the rescue. Making some strips and gluing them between the cowling and fuselage it fits perfect now!

[Von_Alfalfa]

After placing the cowling in it’s place I noticed that the kit did not included any machineguns, so, I decided to make some by my own.

Using my Dremel, a hypodermic needle and a triangular file, I was able to make some tips of MG17, after all just the tips will be showed.

Happy now able to build my own arsenal I made some extra machine guns for some future use.

Now going to the radiator, the kit only show a flat wall at this place, so placing a fine wire mesh and some metal wire, I have my new Jumo radiator. It would be not exactly a Jumo radiator but it’s looks much better than the flat wall.

McGyver… who’s your daddy?

[vonBrakken]

I am enjoying this build. I’d like to get my hands on one of these earlier variant kits. Very cool! Love the gun muzzles. I never thought of that. Might try it myself and cast a bunch in resin.

[Reasoned]

Very cool WIP Alf [H], the A-D are109 variants you don’t often see.

[Von_Alfalfa]

Thanks a lot guys!

Sorry for the delay answering… my job do not let me to continue building as I wish. And I have little chance to answer at the forum.

Indeed, we don’t see that often the A-D variants. That’s the reason I having fun researching the little info I’ve found about this early birds.

Anyways… continuing a little more with this bird, after detailing a bit the radiatior, I moved to the oil cooler under the wing, taking a couple of little pieces of the same metal mesh I used in the radiatior, I put one in each end of the cooler, and put a “wall” painted flat black just in the middle, to not let light see through the cooler.

Now moving back into the cockpit I added this access panel just behind the head’s pilot.

Now moving to the tail, when doing a test-fit of the stabilizers and the struts, well… I noticed another detail to fix… stabilzers made this odd looking angle up… again I dunno what Hobbycraft was thinking, or perhaps they mixed the blueprints of a Beaufighter tail…

anyways… for this part the solution was easy, just fill the holes for the struts in the stabilzers.

Now, back to the landing gear, the covers of the laning gear were a bit short, so I add a small extension atthe top of each.

A note, I read that some “A” variants, just as the prototypes, used a full half-circle to the lower gear door, without thetypical small angle cut at the rear of the door.

However I also read that as the war continued they cut this small angle for ground clearance just as we see in later models. So I decided let my covers with the angle cut.

Now, time to work with the clear part of the cockpit, the kit came with the clear part molded in one piece, after thinking about if cut it to open it and show the interior of the cockpit, despite being really clear and transparent, it’s a bit thick so I decided let it closed.

In the real aircraft there’s this slide panels in the cockpit. Which are not detailed in the kit.

So against all my belief and against the Gods of the plastic about not to scratch clear parts… I decided to scribe this line … GULP!..

With my hand shaking a bit, finally I made it.

Now, after a shower in Future, time to glue the sabilizers and some more sanding in the fuselage and wing roots. Fot that I’ll contune in my next post.

Thanks for keep watching.

And as Mork from “Mork and Mindy” said…

“Nanu Nanu”

[Reasoned]

Fantastic work VonA, makes me glad I found the CA 109A by hap-in-stance while visiting a LHS in Cedar Rapids IA, you are doing a ton of modifications that are out of my league. [Y]

[VanceCrozier]

wow! [:D] Some of those Hobbycraft kits are a bear to deal with, just building the subject they are meant to represent. (The good news is that they do cover some odd subjects, and are inexpensive!) The time & work you are investing in this one is paying off, can’t wait to see some more of your -A version!

[Hercmech]

Looking good. I really like the gun barrels…awesome

[Von_Alfalfa]

Thanks again guys… yup this HC kits has it’s difficuties but nothing that can’t be solved… besides, that’s the funny part of modeling, isn’t it? Besides they are cheap!

Anywho… and continuing with this bird… after a while sanding and correcting some more panels… a little explanation I learned short before I started this model… while researching for this subjet and acording this amazing book “SAM Modellers Datafile - Messerschmitt Bf-109 Part1.Prototype to ‘E’ variants” which I recomend and I based most of corrections of this kit. It says that the first batch sent to Spain at the begining of it’s civil war, were actualy "A"s and not “B"s as many, including myself”, thought.

In fact, it says, that the first 3 109s sent were numered 6-1, 6-2 and 6-3. Which they were actually protypes V3, V4 and V6, but some picutues shows that V3 wearing the code 6-2 later wore the code 6-1, so there’s some kind of confusion, some other sources states that 6-3 was “A” and not prototype… anyways… The book continue explaining that there’s also some confusion about the number of "A"s produced, some sources says that they were 20 some other 22, from which the majority were sent to Spain to the Legion Kondor between Jan and Feb 1937.

This book also explain that the first batch to enter to Spanish service were coded 6-3 trough 6-18.

Now, here’s come some of debate about colors of this first batch, again acording the book the first batch of those birds wore a overall silver coating, and not this RLM63 gray as I thought!

So armed with my new info… I decided to build mine as a spanish fighter… and here’s comes the funny part… painting! WOHOO!

But before that I’ll show this small but important detail that alsmost forgot to tell, the “A” version had this very caracteristic feature, this small support for the tailweel strut. Which I forgot to take a picture before painting, but here it is.

Despite I said at the very begining of this post that I’ll use just homemade and none aftermarket stuff, well… I have to regret that since I examined the decals of the kit I noticed they are so darn THICK! after testing some decals of the kit that I wouldn’t use, not even using a ton of Solvaset could make them set them at my test surface. So… my friend Homero came to the rescue and spare me some decals from his stash.

If any of you guys have this model… for plastic sake… DO NOT USE the kit’s decals!

And now the complete model, painted with Alclad II, in dark, white and polised aluminum.

Aleirons, elevators and flaps were painted RLM02, as I suppoused were left from factory. And rudder were painted flat white.

It would not be a Classic Airframes… but I really enjoyed building this kit, in fact I’ll build next another one I have in my stash. But this time a D version.

Hope you guys liked. Comments and corrections are welcome.

[Anonymous]

I like this build and want it to be my friend…

[jeaton01]

Oh, well done!

[Awood23]

I may not necessarily like the finish but I have to admire the workmanship that went into it… I wish I could build like that.

[Jon_a_its]

nicely done! [Y]

[p38jl]

Very nice ! [t$t]

[Reasoned]

Beautiful 109 Von A [Y] love the finish, as mentioned earlier I have the CA 109A kit and am going to wait for my skills to improve before tackling. I looked at the Brett Green review and noticed a lot of similarities with yours in finish etc. Again, great build.

[SuppressionFire]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading your guide to back dating & improving a Bf 109!

Hobby Craft is not known for accuracy or quality yet you made a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Some of your wording suggests not from a English speaking country, where do you call home?

Anyhow your thread would make the kind of article FSM readers enjoy. Do consider submitting future work to the magazine for publication & a nice cheque to keep you modeling! I to am a scratch builder at heart and find builds like your very informative while adding techniques to my quiver.

Thanks for posting!

Jason

[hutchdh]

Nice build…I am not too familiar with Hobby Craft, but it sure looks like you have them tamed.

[Von_Alfalfa]

I want to thank to all you guys for your words and comments!

Reasoned- I always wanted build one of those early 109s and wanted one of those CA 109s, but as far I know they are now kind of difficult to find. Leting alone the expensive price, if you find any. So I just thought, a HC will do.

Jason- Thank u dude! Sorry my bad english… and yeah as you realized… english is not my “lingua mater”, however I’m still learning it. I live at North of Mexico in the hottest place of the Earth called Nuevo León. It is so hot that I made my own vacuform parts without the vac machine, I just lay a plastic sheet on the piece I want to copy and the weather and gravity does the rest.

About your FSM comment, of course I’d love to submit my works to the magazine for publications… and if I get a little cheque for that as you said… well… I won’t complain at all about that! WHERE DO I SIGN?? Imagine get paid for doing what you love to do! The dream of all modeler.

Hutch- Id like to tame my annoying sister the same way I handle this kit. I Just started another HC kit, let’s see how it goes this one.

The rest of the guys, again THANKS MUCH! for looking, comments and your words!