Whoopsie! A student pilot ground loops a Bf 109

matrixone · April 10, 2011, 10:22:35 AM

The Bf 109 was well known for being difficult to handle during take off and landing and a large number of them were damaged or destroyed by pilots in the training schools.

My model is a 1/48 scale Hasegawa Bf 109G-2 and I did not like the markings that came with the kit so I chose to put it in the markings of a training unit, I was inspired by the photographs in the Eagle Editions booklet titled ''Augsburgs Last Eagles'' that showed some older Bf 109s used by a training unit based near Lechfeld that were captured at the end of the war by U.S. troops.
My model is a what-if, there was no ''white 42'' known to be used by that training unit, I wanted my model to look like it was damaged by a student pilot and was not repaired because the war was almost over and was abandoned by the retreating Germans.

This is the first i/48 scale Hasegawa Bf 109 I have built and won't be my last! Its a very nice kit, however the decals SUCK...replace them.

I tried to use some of them and had some silvering problems, most of the decals used on this model came from my spares box.

Matrixone

Gondor · April 10, 2011, 11:40:50 AM

That first picture is absolutely fantastic Matrixone

I think you have nailed it with the look of that pic.

Gondor

matrixone · April 10, 2011, 12:02:34 PM

Thanks very much Gondor!

I also like that first pic the best.
The pics with the figures in them are not as good because of the soft detail of the Tamiya figures, Tamiya needs to make more figure sets with improved details molded into them, they can produce great detail in their aircraft kits and I don't see why the figures would not be as good. I have started a Tamiya Me 262 kit and am amazed at the sharp detail the parts have!

Matrixone

GTX · April 10, 2011, 01:14:29 PM

- love the detail you go to.

Taiidantomcat · April 10, 2011, 01:25:09 PM

That is crazy realistic! How did you bend the prop blades?

su27rules · April 10, 2011, 01:30:59 PM

Nice and so crazy realistic!! nice idea!!

tc2324 · April 10, 2011, 01:31:29 PM

Excellent finish and diorama on this one.

Gondor · April 10, 2011, 02:31:37 PM

I think the only improvements to the pictures that Matrixone has taken would be to show the mess the turf would be in from the aircraft ground looping and the subsequent skidding to a halt

Gondor

NARSES2 · April 10, 2011, 11:57:50 PM

Absolutely stunning

dumaniac · April 11, 2011, 02:07:28 AM

great pics - I love it

matrixone · April 11, 2011, 09:48:26 AM

Thanks Guys!

I bent the prop blades by warming them up and bending them around the handle of a small metal file. You don't want to get the plastic warm or it will distort, if the plastic is too cold it might crack instead of bend.

Matrixone

Ian the Kiwi Herder · April 11, 2011, 11:29:58 AM

I have enjoyed your stuff for a number of years, and I WONT beleive that this is your first Hase 109.... just cannot accept that

- Looks superb as ever, sir.

Ian

matrixone · April 11, 2011, 12:33:02 PM

Thank you Ian!

I don't have very many 1/48 scale Hasegawa 109 kits and have put off building them until now, I don't want to be in a hurry to build the rest of my stash because these kits are so expensive now I could not easily replace them.

Matrixone

frank2056 · April 11, 2011, 03:09:07 PM

I love the oil leaks on the air scoop. The figure painting is fantastic, too. Did you airbrush the base colors and added details and highlights with a brush or where they all hand brushed?

Weaver · April 11, 2011, 04:39:32 PM

Outstanding piece of work.

Coincidentally, look what I just found:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtNwX5oU5uE&NR=1&feature=fvwp