Disruptive colour done, I can start on the transfers in the coming week

 

Well as mentioned elsewhere I finally got back to the bench this morning and got some paint touch ups done on this and made a start on getting the transfers on. So it's starting to come together 

AZ's transfers are probably the quickest to release from the backing film I've ever used. You virtually just have to show them the water and they are ready to play. Seriously turn your back and you'll be on a fishing trip. Seriously though providing you are aware of this and the fact that they are thin they behave very well. Allow just the right amount of time to manoeuvre them into place before settling down.

I know I've waxed lyrical over this kit and AZ's other Me 109's, but there is an independent review build in October's SAM. Bruce Leyland-Jones builds their K-4 and is of the same high opinion as me 

I've been out and about a bit this week, including getting some payback for all those years of National Insurance Stamps, but have got a little more done on this and she is almost there.

Came across yet another of AZ's "how did we miss that" moments whilst putting the transfers on for my chosen option. The red chevrons that surround the nose need 6 segments to complete them, AZ provide 4    Not a problem for me as I have 2 more boxings of this kit so just robbed one of those, but it does make you wonder.

There's always the slightly annoying error on either the  transfer sheet or in the instructions. They really could do with an outsider to "proof" the whole package if they want to move up the league table of producers. As the editor of the UK groups Newsletter I know for a fact you can get to close to the task in hand and see what you think is there, rather then what is actually there.

Why don't you offer to carry out "proof builds" for them?

 

Quote from: zenrat on October 20, 2022, 02:57:48 AMWhy don't you offer to carry out "proof builds" for them?

 

That's one of the reasons I was hoping they'd be at Telford 

No, seriously my eyes and other issues would mean I couldn't do that nowadays, a few years ago possibly, but not now.    However it was an issue I wanted to raise with them. I'd had a really interesting chat with them last time they were at Telford ,2018 was it ? and found the head man very receptive as well as being a decent bloke 

I have the same sort of problem Chris with my Italeri A7 E.
One paint scheme needs 2 black stars and bars..kit comes with one...do I have another ?..no..bloody annoying and it's a great looking paint scheme too.

Up on her legs now, so progress is being made 

So having finally finished a model here we have AZ Models Me 109 K-14 finished straight out of the box as an aircraft flown by Major Herman Graf of JG-50 in late 1945. The build is typical of AZ's 109's in that it goes together very well, albeit there are a couple of quirks with the instructions, but they are all pretty obvious so don't cause any issues providing you test fit before applying glue. The only real issue is with the transfer sheet and this version in particular. Whilst AZ's transfers tend to behave very well, and indeed would win the gold medal for releasing from the backing paper, there aren't enough red chevrons on the sheet for the nose ! Maybe the F's & G's have noses with smaller diameters ? I was ok as I have another two of this boxing in the stash and was thus able to "borrow" some from one of those. Typical AZ really and it's a shame because their recent kits are very nice, just spoiled by some small but annoying issues. I was hoping that they'd be at Telford, but they weren't , as I wanted to talk to them about it, in the past they've been very receptive, but like a lot of our European friends they weren't, we won't go into why, so maybe I need to get to the Czech show next year ?

Anyway as said she's built straight out of the box using my usual mix of paints with Hataka's Late War Luftwaffe box for the main colours, apart from the "RLM 99" which is one of those "mystery" colours, indeed did it even exist ? In the end I settled for an RAF colour, namely Camotint from Hataka's RAF Photo Reconnaissance colours boxing. Personally I think it looks quite good, but then I would.

One final point and another regular feature of AZ/KP kits is that it took me almost as long to clip the spare parts, including a couple of fuselage halves, from the sprues for storage as it did to build the kit.

Me 109 K-14 flown by Major Herman Graf of JG-50 in late 1945

 

Interesting colours.

Looks very good, Chris! 

Nice to see this finished Chris 

Gondor

Nice!

David aka 63cpe

Good job,Chris. 

Really nice, Chris. It does really feel odd with that fourbladed prop though. Odd but infinitely cool.