1/72 BF-109 (new user, new modeller)

[Eclipseone]

Hello!

I've been cruising this site on and off for a little bit, and finally after some reading, tutorials, more reading - I got the courage to go and purchase a model. I would like you folks to know that I wasn't trying to get an exact replica of a once active aircraft. I kind of mixed and matched the decals and the paint scheme. I made this model for my friends desk, and was asked to make it "safe-for-work" thus, why there is no swastika on the tail.

Some things about this model :

It seemed to be very simple to build, I found painting the instrument panel and canopy lines decently difficult, and I also realized I forgot the divider in the cockpit once I glued it down.

Here's the model, please comment and criticize as you see fit. I'm in love with this hobby after just this model, and I've picked myself up a Tamiya 1/48 F-16CJ which I'm excited to build BUT I would love some tips if you have some.

On another forum it was suggested to tone down the panel lines, which I agree I went a little crazy, but I was going for a battle worn look.

I'm wondering how you folks do your panel lines?
Preshade... then after everything is done, an oil wash?

I am also sorry for the awful photos, I'm not yet equipped to take correct photos.









On the desk!

 

[ridgers22]

Amazing detail pal. Id be very proud if that was mine

 

[smokeriderdon]

Excellent job. I have no issue at all with your panel lines. If this is your first model, color me WAY impressed.

 

[Eclipseone]

Thanks for the kind comments! I've been doing some miniature modelling and was really itching to try a scale plane out. I love aircraft as I'm an aviator; but never got into the hobby until now! I've got a corsair I'm going to practice more on as I wait for my PE parts to come for my F-16. I also just picked up some MicroSol and microset , excited to try them.

Any recommendations for clear coats and flat Coats? I used Testors spray cans on this and had to spray multiple layers of dull to get this weird spotting that was happening. I've got some liquitex and vallejo on my desk but I've not yet tried either trough my airbrush. Tips greatly appreciated.

Justin

 

[letsgobrowns82]

Looks great, the BF-109 is an awesome looking plane. I dont find offense with your panel lines. Weathering is such a subjective thing though. I personally preshade and then pinwash with pastels over future. I've tried oils but just havent had much luck with them. That and I use a lot of the AK interactive washes and weathering products, they are fantastic. For clear coats it depends, if I am clear coating just to put on decals and then flat coat I will use future, if I am clear coating as a final coat and I want a shiny model I use testors clear enamel thinned and airbrushed. Oh and as far as the MicroSol and MicroSet, that stuff is awesome. It will make your decals melt into the detail of the plastic even if there is raised detail like rivets or sunken panel lines. That stuff is awesome. So anyways great job on your kit and keep them coming!

 

[Glorfindel]

Excellent work on that BF-109. Just love the shading on the panel lines. That just makes this bird pop. Nice job.

 

[arohk]

Man thats a great looking bird and for the first one you got some serious talent my friend.

 

[Eclipseone]

Thanks a lot guys!

What do you mean pin wash? And what flat coat alternatives are you guys using through your airbrushes?

 

[hook1169]

Very impressive!

 

[rookie]

What they said.

Pretty darn good for your first project, the preshaded and panel lines look perfect in my opinion, well done !

 

[Glorfindel]

Thanks a lot guys!

What do you mean pin wash? And what flat coat alternatives are you guys using through your airbrushes?

Eclipseone a pin wash is used to bring the panel lines out. Usually a media opposite of what you used on the base coat ( or at least one that can flow easily through the panel lines with causing surface tension) Here are a few videos that cover washes.
How To: Panel Line and Detail Pin Washes
Weathering aircraft 1 of 2.flv
Weathering aircraft 1 of 2.flv
Now with any of these techniques you can use a pin wash which in short is just using a very fine tip brush and painting the wash straight into the panel lines instead of "washing" over the entire model. Any wash that leaches out of the panel lines can be wipes away with a Q-tip until the panel line looks crisp and sharp. There's more to it according to the wash your using but start with the videos and give yourself an idea of what's out there.

As for clear coats there are normally two, sometimes three, that you would use during the project. First would be the "gloss" coat which would make the surface shiny. This is applied after your base coat and any other colors are applied. The idea is to lock in and protect your base coat and using gloss helps with laying down decals. Easier done on a shiny and glossy surface rather then a flat, rough one. Flat finish surfaces cause surface tension (see what I did there, I used the term surface tension again) and can cause decals to break. Once the decals are down you can either "gloss coat" again to protect them or go on to other weathering techniques (panel wash/pin wash) I gloss coat over the decals so any wash media doesn't mess with my decals. Once all that fun stuff is finished, and at the very end, I'll spray a dull/flat/satin finish over everything except the clear parts(canopy/windows/windshields) to lock in and protect all the weathering. This is a very short description of what your asking. There's more to it but this is the bulk. Do some YouTube searches and you'll find a host of techniques that cover everything. Hope this helps.
Oh' by the way I hand brush Future (Klear in the UK) over the base coat before I decal. I then hand brush more of the Future over the decals once their dry to lock them in. For finishing I spray either Model Masters Clear Flat Acryl or Tamiya Clear Flat.

 

[andrei383]

wow thats a fantastic result! and welcome to SMA!

 

[Eclipseone]

Wow thanks for the great replies!

Glor - do you spray that tamiya with an airbrush or a can ?

 

[cobraleader]

"Impressive, most impressive"

nice work, keep it up and keep building those models

 

[billb]

I'll add another 'damn nice effort!'
Couple of points specifically because you've asked for feedback:
I think the concern with the panelines is that the shading around them is inconsistent and maybe a bit wide. For instance on the left profile photo the second vertical line from the back is very wide and doesn;t go the whole way up/down. Because of this it grabs the eye as it looks a bit 'odd'. Try to get the shading a bit narrower and consistent. (but lets be honest a 1/72 109 is seriously small so your airbrush control is very good!) If you've painted them and they aren;t quite right to your eye just spray over them lightly with the base colour. It's amazing the sort of effects you can get from toning things that way. it also blends everything together a bit so you still get the effect but not as stark.

Personally for a pin wash I like oil paint thinned right down with odourless turpentine until it's basically just dirty thinner. Flow it carefully into the panelines, leave it a while (hour or so works for me but can be longer or shorter) and then gently wipe off the excess, in the direction of the airflow, with a q-tip, paper towel, whatever. If the oil isn;t coming off properly moisten the tip with a SMALL amount of thinners. Just damp, not wet at all. Yo can also do oil leaks etc. this way by actually consciously making a streak.

You mention it was fiddly painting the canopy. How did you do it? Generally I mask the canopy with Tamiya tape then cut away the bit that needs painting with a very sharp blade (new scalpel blade), paint the edge that attaches to the fuselage and then attach it to the airframe and spray it as part of the normal painting process. (spary a layer of the interior colour before the exterior so it looks right from the inside). When the whole aircraft is finished remove the masking tape.

You asked Glorfindel about Tamiya flat - fwiw I use it too and spray it straight from the can. I also use their grey and white primers straight from the can. It's great stuff! Just make sure you spray thin coats. If you think you've gone too thick, let it dry before you try to do anything drastic. you'll be surprised at how well it sucks into all the panel lines!

btw, what I really like about your build is that it looks like you've done a great job on the seam lines. I can;t see any marks, seams etc showing where you've glued parts together. Lovely work!

 

[Eclipseone]

Thanks!

I just had painted the canopy because it was so small. I've done some looking and well, I'm around planes all day; do you think the hard line panel lines look a bit unnatural? Specifically with the oil wash ?