1/48 Condor Legion Bf-109E-3. Imperial German Air Service/Luftwaffe Group Build.
This is the tried and true Tamiya kit from 1996. I spotted it on a vendor's table at the Butch O'Hare IPMS show in Illinois last month. For $15, I couldn't pass it by. I figured it would be a worthy kit to finally use some of my Aeromaster Spanish Civil War decals on. I wasn't disappointed. It built very smoothly with zero issues. The only thing it really lacks to my eye is a hose for the oxygen bottle in the cockpit. Not having any suitable material to make one from, we'll pretend that mine is being serviced, LOL.
The only things I added/changed were opening up the slot in the seat for the shoulder belts (Eduard), added brake lines, and EZ Line antennas.
I used a lot of different paints on this one. Xtracolor, Floquil, Modelmaster, and Humbrol enamels. Tamiya acrylic white, and Tamiya lacquer yellow on the nose. I mixed and matched decals from Aeromaster for the main markings and used Microscale railroad items for the “Vati” inscription below the cockpit. I gave it a light pin wash in certain areas and no other weathering as these planes arrived late in the game in Spain. And besides, it's just too cool of a scheme to dirty up too much. A satin clear coat wrapped it up.
Thanks for looking and happy modeling!
That's a sharp-looking build! I like it.
Thanks, Greg!
Nice clean build of what I think is a very enjoyable kit. Sometimes simple and easy is just a good booster for your modeling mojo. Your Condor Legion bird looks really great.
Thanks, Walt! I’m a fan of simple these days and they don’t get much simpler then 109s.
Absolute perfect 109, John @j-healy
You definitely did this kit justice.
Thanks, John!
'X' marks the spot on this build John, a great looking Spanish Emil and a fabulous find of a deal.
Thanks, George. Yes, vendor’s stacks are treasure troves.
Nice work @j-healy.
Thanks, Tom!
That looks fantastic.
For future reference, if you take some very fine solder (0.003) and wrap it tightly around an airbrush needle, you'll have a convincing 1/48 O2 hose.
Thanks James! Excellent idea and committed to memory.
very good-looking build! Fantastic painting! I don't know that E-3 version was in Spanish Civil War!
Thanks! A mix of 43 or possibly 44 E-1 and E-3 models made it to Spain in 1939.
@j-healy, John, that's a great 109! ? Man, it's just so nice. Well done indeed! ?
Thanks! It’s such a cool scheme. Screams ‘30s Art Deco.
Looks great, John. Along with the idea listed from James I will use a wound guitar string for hoses.
Thanks, Gary! That’s another great idea.
Amazing job, John! The Tamiya kit is good, your skills produced a masterpiece out of it!
Thanks, Spiros! It was a fun project.
Great looking early Emil John@j-healy! Those Spanish Civil War mouse decals totally make it. Gotta love these Tamiya 109 kits. There hasn't been any sort of IPMS or other model show in our part of Norcal since the pandemic started two years ago. So it's kind of dry around here hunting for older kits in person. Drat.
Thanks Eric! We missed 2020 in the Midwest and the South, but most are back up now. I really love the vendor stacks. Don’t buy a lot anymore, but always find something that I want at a decent price. Let’s hope next year is better all around.
When are you going to start that Condor era He-51 and keep the theme going?
Already did. Painting is underway.
2 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Amazing work John, great looking 109!
Thanks, Bob!
That's a GREAT looking model from the Spanish Civil War. Two Thumbs Way Up!