Can you number this plane?

[Leigh]

Oh you guys are full of bright ideas, "lengthen the nose, bigger tail fins, fairings, trunnions "

I don't even know what a trunnion is, I thought it was a fish, are we suggesting floatplane here?

Any way after two weeks of not being able to get to the bench I'm back tackling this monster, tried various ways of putting the wing through the boom and it's all way too much work for me, with questionable results, probably still won't get the ground clearance needed! So we've decided to put the booms on top of the wing. File a channel in the wing



and it fits pretty well. This does mean I had to buy another BF-109 but the $8 was worth it for the learning experience. And of course it is gonna change the look of the whole thing but it kinda fits in with the story that this thing was a desperate effort by cobbling available airframes together. And it'll look no odder than a zwilling or a mistel. So with a three day weekend and having a vague clue of what I'm doing now I hope to have some semblance of an airframe by Tuesday.

[Tophe]

Have much courage and go on...  (greatness is never easy, you know...)

[Leigh]

Well the booms are on and lets say it was a bit of a challenge. Didn't do as much as planned this weekend but that's OK 'cos I was doing better stuff with the girls, Beach, ice cream shop etc.
Decided to try and keep the 109's oil coolers or radiators or whatever they are and that was a bit of a challenge but kinda adds interest. Fins are gone to be replaced with the bigger horizontal tailplanes off the 262 'cos i won't be using them.

[Leigh]

Now to the fuselage. Slice into three pieces



Then take the end piece and slide it into the hole in left in the fuselage and that should give some solid styren to sand and shape. The end result is probably gonna be alot shorter

[Leigh]

I'm actually starting to like the way it looks in it's new configuration. For some reason it kinda reminds me of another plane that was big and green had cargo pods and a big yellow number two on it
That may well be the inspiration for the tail design.

[Mike Wren]

that's coming along nicely, Leigh. I have to admit that I didn't have a clue what you were talking about doing with it when you started...    

[Tophe]

For some reason it kinda reminds me of another plane that was big and green had cargo pods and a big yellow number two on it may well be the inspiration for the tail design.

I am ashamed to say: I don't know which famous one you are referring too

About the model, it looks great at this step, with imagination adding the final steps   (more easy than practical achievement, I understand... )

Though, the lateral canopies are difficult to read: like tapes and not yet canopies nor putty. Do you plan faired canopies, flat, or no canopy, all "metal"? In the latter option, the poor central pilot would have a bad lateral view I fear - but I agree it is right that an evil Nazi plane does not see the good ones approaching to shoot it down .

[Leigh]

I am ashamed to say: I don't know which famous one you are referring too


Though, the lateral canopies are difficult to read: like tapes and not yet canopies nor putty. Do you plan faired canopies, flat, or no canopy, all "metal"? In the latter option, the poor central pilot would have a bad lateral view I fear - but I agree it is right that an evil Nazi plane does not see the good ones approaching to shoot it down .

The "lateral canopies" are actually drop tanks or bombs or summat that had basically the same radius as the 109 fuselage, glued in and sanded flush, there's just gonna be the one central cockpit. As to the pilot's view I don't think it would be that much worse than that of a Lightning, Whirlwind, BF-110 or any twin engined plane would it?

So finally back to the bench after what seems like a month off. Battled with the MPM photo etch wheel wells, seemed very nice cept once they're in they're too thick and the wing won't fit together. Couldn't figure out a fix and I was too frustrated to try so i just put the wings together and sqeezed very hard basically crushing them. Doesnt lok too bad. Cockpit is done and to go in later. Had to build a front wheel well as there is none and therefore no place to attach the front wheel. MPM jst tell you to glue in a piece of sheet styrene but I decided to do a nice well to match the semi crushed photo etched main wells.
The central pod is shaped and I like it, reminds me of a '50s or '60s race/sports car maybe a Porsche?




And here we see the mock up with the "famous plane" I was referring to. Thunderbird Two, dunno but it looks to me like mine is it's little brother. Maybe we'll go with a similar T-tail.

OOOOOH BAAAAZZZZZZZZZ ?

[Tophe]

Thanks for all the explanations and new pictures...
Aesthetics of the truncated Me 262 are great!   And with a T-tail, there would be a free space behind to send something (flowers for designer? bullets for purchaser?).
Much congratulations! This was a very difficult plastic project you tried to achieve, and you are obviously on the road to success  

[nev]

This thing is looking awesome Leigh, keep it up!    

[Leigh]

Well it's been forever it seems since I've been able to get to the bench. Worked on it alot at the weekend till I reached "F*** it" point. Couldn't take anymore of trying to get perfect seams, wing/nacelle roots etc then realised I probably spend way too much time trying to get a perfect finish on planes I am going to put a dull camo coat and heavy weathering on anyway.
So the airframe's done the booms and tails are a bit out of alignment but oh well, this really has been the most difficult project yet. Got two coats of paint on and was really apprehensive about a mottle job, never done one before and my airbrush skills are very limited. But I got to try out my brand new Badger 200-20 and WOW! What a great detail airbrush bit of practice and getting the hang of it. Best was there was very little overspray, so freehand is not too difficult, not much use for large flat areas but awesome for pin thin faded lines. Now I know how people manage to spray exhaust stains, love it. No more masking the whole plane for one teeny tiny area. One more colour to go then we're on the home stretch.

[Tophe]

till I reached "F*** it" point.

I have looked at your painted picture and reached the "LOVE IT" point...    

[nev]

Wow Leigh, with this and your AT-28, you really are approaching a JHM level of modelling

*bows down at the masters feet*

[Leigh]

Right got the last of the paint on. Must admit I'm rushing this a bit and with a bit more practice should be able to do summat really awesome with that sweet little airbrush. The pics don't really do it justice but I'm a bit dissapointed with the mottle, I was hoping there would be more contrast between the BraunViolet and the Dunkelgrun it just came out a dark brownish green blur, hard to see two colours on there. Misterkit acrylics which I love for their spray, drying, and finish qualities no idea how accurate their colours are though. Gonna invest in some Xtracrylics and see the difference. And I've got plenty more Luft '46 stuff to use it on.
Question for all you Luftwaffe boffos was the late war mottles to any spec or was it just a random thing done in the field. I've seen so many different examples and  some pics where it literally looks like someone tagged the plane with a spray can.

So this is yer lot till I post it as an entry on Saturday. I think when I put some crosses and props on it it's really gonna come alive.

[Allan]

Leigh,

That plane is just sooooooo good.

Can't wait to see some more pics and commentary.

Allan in Canberra