BD-5 Luftwaffe

[TheChronicOne]

Gonna be a BD-5 of the Luftwaffe. I wish I had more to say but uhh... I guess the write up is as simple as the project should be.

My choice in markings was sort of forced on me due to how small this thing is. Seems the only decals I have that would fit on these were German....  just so happens that I had them handy from the kit (1/144 F-4F) was I already working on. VERY convenient.  Anyhow... the more I think about it, the more I like the idea actually so this is good!



Plans are to paint it with a half camo half light grey type thing. Camo on the tops with a scalloped transition to grey sides. Should be easy.... thing is so small, just hand paint it and it's hard to mess up lines when they aren't straight to begin with. 

What function does it serve? Who knows... this is going to be the prop version so perhaps it's suitable as some sort of forward observer or some such.

[Snowtrooper]

Back when the idea was hot, "light battlefield aircraft" were also considered for anti-helicopter role. Which is a Very Bad Idea for Bede since it will die horribly if a gunship even looks at it and is unlikely to be able to carry much in the way of firepower. Theoretically, some Stinger tubes might be feasible, especially with an uprated engine; machine guns won't do much against attack choppers and autocannons weigh as much as the entire plane.

Light strike was another popular envisioned role, again the Bede is thoroughly unsuitable for such a job and even generally the concept seems odd, because ground attack usually warrants some degree of armouring to withstand hits or speed to avoid said hits. In counter-insurgency a light plane will do just fine, and can actually be more cost effective than a big heavy strike fighter, but in a contested airspace smack in the middle of two mechanized armies complete with pintle-mounted MG's on every vehicle and plenty of self-propelled AA platforms? How about no.

Battlefield observation, artillery spotter, or forward air controller would seem more plausible, at least observation aircraft have managed to survive even without heavy armour - mainly because they loiter some distance away and do not need to set up bomb run or guide a missile in, and ground pounders might even think they should not expose their position by firing at something that may not have detected them yet and is specifically enticing them to do that.

That said, light battlefield aircraft were envisioned specifically to the Central European front, so a Luftwaffe Bede in such a role makes perfect sense.

[Old Wombat]

I'd look at cobbling together a fairly simple nose & wing-tip IR recce package (remembering that the BD-5 has no ground clearance to speak of) & paint her up for nocturnal low-level battlefield reconnaissance missions.

[TheChronicOne]

Thanks for the information and input!!!

I love the suggestions too, but I'm going to be lucky to even finish the thing let alone mod it!    Just so happens the same week of the GB is one I already have jam packed with paying work that is going to not only take my time but sap my energy. I'm actually genuinely worried that I won't be able to make the deadline.   

[The Rat]

I put a downpayment on the factory-built version of that, but problems getting the engine certified screwed the whole project.

[TheChronicOne]

That's a bummer.... how amazing would it be to tool around in one of these!!!! HAS to be one of the best flying experiences known to mankind.  The size and cockpit... it's close to just having the ability to fly as a human being. Truly "strapping on" on aeroplane!

Before I get carried away, an update on mine...    I was worried I wouldn't be able to even work on this let alone finish but I've found some time and things are going well. All the construction is done aside from gluing on the canopy and gear. I've sort of made a mess of things with Tamiya putty in gaps, however, but I hope to be able to fix it all in no more than two hours of slow-ish work. I thought about leaving the seams but I just can't...  problem is, this is so small it'll be a bit difficult sanding it all down. Should work out alright, though!

[kerick]

Don't get rushed! Take a little extra time and it will come out better. Speaking for myself, I'd rather have a well done model and miss the deadline than make the deadline and have something come out poorly. Just my $0.02.

[Old Wombat]

Don't get rushed! Take a little extra time and it will come out better. Speaking for myself, I'd rather have a well done model and miss the deadline than make the deadline and have something come out poorly. Just my $0.02.

+1

[TheChronicOne]

Received! OK, you guys win, I'll do this thing right. No seams or splotchy putty jobs. 

It doesn't look so bad this morning. A couple areas are indeed pretty tight but I have sanding sticks and my Swiss file set along with multitudes of different sand paper.

Hard to see, but here's the bottom. It'll be much smoother than the steps and gaps that were there before.




Then some fun with sizes. Compared with a 1/72 Trojan and a Sea Fury. Makes the Bede seem as if it belongs in 1/144 scale. Makes me want to whif up a U-2 as an aircraft carrier with little Bede parasites attached to the wings. 





Then I threw in a 1/144 Phantom.

[Tophe]

elegant + tiny = cute!
wow!

[PR19_Kit]

Makes me want to whif up a U-2 as an aircraft carrier with little Bede parasites attached to the wings. 

And why not? 

[TheChronicOne]

Alright! Update! I lost a lot of time to a tooth ache, BUT I've sanded most things to a good finish. The wing root seams looked off to me though so I slathered them up with putty last night (I don't think I did a very good job, it was pretty messy  ) and will let it dry today.

I'm doubtful about making the deadline but I'll be back at it tomorrow. I have to mow my lawn.... work before play and all that. Good thing is, though, is at least I'm HOME instead of out mowing others' lawns so I can take breaks, come inside and cool off, and work on this lil feller 15-20 minutes at a time, then "let it dry" while I go back outside and mow or whatever.      Pretty slick idea and it might just work.

So, tune in tomorrow and we'll see how it goes! I still have a lot of work left. -- I need to sand down all that putty, prime again, paint, clear, decal, clear again, then do the fiddly stuff.

---Good parts are:   the gear look super easy to attach. I don't even recall SEEING any gear doors or anything so it's just putting on the two gear I guess.     Canopy should be simple. It has one single straight line that needs painted on then I just PVA it in place. The thing overall is so small, too, that it helps greatly to speed things up so I'm actually pretty excited to try to get it done. 

[NARSES2]

Commiserations re the toothache, can be one of the worst pains out there

[TheChronicOne]

This is the worse one, hands down, I've ever had. Pure misery. I did nothing yesterday but sit, eat pills, and wish to feel better. It's a tiny bit better today, thankfully, so I'm heading in the right direction but it's still overwhelming. If I could get into an emergency dentist today I would but I don't think that's possible on Saturday morning and I have to work. I've contemplated trying to tie a string to it and do the door knob trick but the tooth is already a bit broken and I might not get a good grip with the string and I could make it worse so I'm just stuck until Monday.

Not looking good for the little Bede right now.  I'm trying to get someone over to mow my lawn so I can spend time on it but if this stupid tooth ache problem doesn't feel better I won't be getting anything done anyway.

BUT, I ain't giving up. I'm going to give it a try and see how it goes.

[NARSES2]

Commiserations again. Hope you can get it sorted on Monday