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Perhaps you have heard of this event. It was hush, hush in WWII, but it is famous now. A friend found on Facebook liked my work and asked if I would be willing to build him a Diorama! This is my first Commission challenge, and a dandy one indeed!
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This is what my friend Silvano Bruglioni is after. There is more to it than two aircraft and some figures, but as we proceed with this post, that will become evident.
We begin with the Bf-109-G of Franz Stigler. A flyer with 26 victories including a bomber this day. Silvano chose a Tamiya kit (a first for me) and I consider it an excellent choice. As you will see there are many fine details and the fit and finish is first rate. I probably have twice the number of photos than are shown here, but the build process is something that I have tended to belabor in the past.
The cockpit and internals are sufficiently detailed right out of the box.
Including seat belt decals.
Its the engine that interests me and the stages of construction. The options for final display are many since there are so many of the parts that can be removed. As you will see magnets are included in order that gluing of assemblies can be minimized allowing for the available display options.
This last photo shows some DIY - wire! The engine is built up in layers and can be removed if one wishes to display with the cowl closed. But since this model will be on the ground - wheels down and mechanics will be working, our engine with be on display!
Recall I mentioned magnets. They will attract the washers glued in place for keeping the propeller and bottom engine cowl is place!
The kit includes wonderful canopy masking. You have to use your xacto to remove them from the backing, so care is needed, but the result is very good.
I favor making a thinned flat black wash for the fine panel lines. Just some testors enamel with thinner added and let capillary action take over. extra wash where not wanted is easily scraped away with the xacto. I wash over the lines and rivets. The underside has a lot of line detail so I wash over everything and then when I give it a light spray of the cover coat of aircraft gray everything shows nicely.
Specific decals for this particular aircraft were obtained but the first patch was poorly manufactured and disintegrated removing from the paper backing (we got new ones - no charge), but the first batch was partially salvaged by coating the decals with Testors window glue. When set, the glue became the film for picking up the decal off the backing paper.
See what I mean by interchangeable parts.
Besides the Franz Stigler 109, specific markings, the Tamiya kit has a seemingly endless array of markings. Example here on the wheels and tires.
Here is a WIP photo with the engine, upper and lower cowls and propeller in place. There will be more later when I am done assembling and painting the crew.
