Allan-Gerhard Barkhorn's Sabre-Heller 1/72

[Allan]

Hi fellows,
Thank you for your kind comments about my Dornier.
Here's what I'm building now--a Sabre as flown by the Luftwaffe ace, Gerhard Barkhorn, in Luftwaffe colors during the war, not postwar. Cockpit just about finished and fuselage halves ready to be mated. A rose and Mellow Candle on the music box makes modelling a pleasure.
Allan in Canberra

[sequoiaranger]

"DURING" the war? Did he switch sides, or is he flying for "us" against the Russkies?

In the spirit of the build, Here is "Heinz Baer"s He-280 jet mount!

[GTX]

Allan,

Looking forward to it.  Gerhard Barkhorn was one of the aces who seems to not be widely referred to (despite being second only to Erich Hartmann with 301 kills) so it will be good to see what you create.  Will the markings be for JG 52, JG 6) or JV44 or are you mainly going to use his personal markings (i.e. his wife's name, "CHRISTL" - see below)



Regards,

Greg

[PACOPEPE]

I though for some time in a similar idea, recalling the influence that the Me 262 had in the development of the F-86 Sabre. I chose a pilot of the luftwaffe that really flow the F-86 Sabre; Erich Hartmann. The kit was a mixture between the Me 262 and the F-86, and i called it, Me 286.

Regards
Fran

[Allan]

Great models, both of them--I love Whiffing like that. Actually I have a signed Hoffman postcard of Bar in my collection and Hartmann's pencil autograph as well.
And yes it'll have Christl on the fuselage, with the JG 52 shield and his commander chevrons with the small "5" on it.
I'm a Barkhorn fan and have chosen his name for my hotmail address--barkhorn@hotmail.com
Allan in Canberra

[Allan]

Here's what it looks like so far, with the cockpit lined up neatly in the fuselage. The instrument panel was very tricky and proved very hard to postion properly while at the same time providing enough room for the control column. I had to wedge the control collumn between the seat and panel. I'll have to fill a small gap with some white glue once the fuselage halves have been glued together. The point of my modelling knife indicates the gap. This is an old kit so it isn't well-engineered. They're very trying at times.
Allan in Canberra

[Brian da Basher]

You've done some very fine work on that 'pit Allan! I'm really looking forward to watching this one come together.

Brian da basher

[Allan]

Thanks Brian
I mustn't forget to insert sufficient weight in the nose before things get buttoned up.
Once the fuselage halves are together there doesn't appear to be anywhere else I can place something to ensure it isn't a tail-sitter.
I've used a hammer to flatten one or two of the fishing weights I used with my Dornier and will white-glue them in position in a day or two. More photos then.
Allan in Canberra

[Brian da Basher]

If you need more weight up front after the fuselage is together, you could always flatten out one of those weights and glue it as close to the leading edge of the wings.

I really like your seatbelts Allan. How did you make them?

Brian da Basher

[Allan]

Hi Brian,
The seatbelts are strips of Tamiya tape I first painted with Tamiya deep green acrylic. The sprayed with Testor's dull coat, my fav.
Allan in Canberra

[Allan]

Here's the nose with white glue holding in place some pieces of sinker flattened in the garage with a hammer.
Hope it's enough. You see that blue color?? It's not really there on the actual model!!!
Allan in Canberra

[Allan]

Hi all,
I've closed the fuselage, added some more weight, given it a sand and attached the wings, placing glue only on the undersides (see photos) and none on the hard-to-sand wing to fuselage join, which I'll try to fill with some thinned-down white glue once the cement has dried. For cement, I first painted on some Tenax and followed that with some of the Revell stuff using the thin metallic tube-like applicator.
Allan in Canberra

[Allan]

Lots of progress today. Extracolor acrylic on the cockpit and it dried very quickly, enabling me to attach the thingamabob behind the pilot's seat. Sanding hopefully finished, but will test my efforts with some silver paint later on. Next, some white glue on the wing to fuselage joint.
Allan in Canberra

[Allan]

Half a teaspoon of white glue mixed with two drops of soft Canberra rainwater.
When it sets I'll buff away the excess with a damp, but not wet, rag and add more if required.
This is a good technique to preserve the detail between wing and fuselage, but you have to be certain that the wing has been firmly cemented to the fuselage at other appropriate joins.
Allan in Canberra

[cthulhu77]

Looking sweet Allan !  That is a bear of a kit, and you are certainly doing it justice.