With this information in hand, I decided to find a suitable color to paint the inside of the Tamiya kit. This is what I decided to use. Unfortunately I believe this color has been discontinued by Model Master too... In case you can find some, it's called "Earth Brown"
On with the build:
I installed the "part not for use"
and the engine supports. These are different from what you would find on a Bf-109. Same function, they just look entirely different.
I added them because I thought it would make the upper engine cowling a little easier to install. Otherwise I would have left them off. You can see the edge of the part along the inside of the fuselage here.
Tamiya has taken a different approach and has two different parts for the canopy. The difference depends on how you want to pose the canopy. Either open or closed.
They also have two different parts for the fuselage. These are the ones used for the open canopy. If you look close, you will see the part number has been added to the part as well as the actual part sprue, in case you get things mixed up. This is B37
and it goes here:
This is how it looks from the other side. It gives you a little more material and raises the canopy a tad.
This is the other side of the fuselage.
Next up I decided to build the area that is behind the pilot's seat. It is very well detailed.
and friction fit alone was enough to keep it in place. The fit is awesome a word that is often over used, but appropriate here.
The part does NOT get glued to the pilot seat. I was just showing you how it fits...
Now having all of these interior parts completed, it was time to break out the air brush, and see just how close this Earth brown will look once sprayed.
Here's a close up of the small bits.
and the fuselage sides. There's a thin flat part that is glued in place that acts as a side wall to the radiator opening. The parts are numbered B-31 and B-32. One goes in place on each side of the fuselage. Again the fit is impeccable...
If you plan on using the venturi tube, don't forget to drill out this hole. I almost forgot but luckily I caught it before it was too late. Please keep in mind not all Hien's had this part.
Going back to the instructions, there were two other parts listed as "Not for use". This was part # D5 and D6.
Now my curiosity was getting the best of me. I had to figure out where they went. So this involved gluing the DB parts together. I still will not use the engine in this kit, but I do have plans for it ...
This will look perfect for what I have in mind...
The "parts not for use" actually fit here.
and blank off the mounting lugs where the engine attaches to the mounts, like so.
Now I couldn't resist but to spray the whole thing black !
Once the black was sprayed on the remaining small parts for the cockpit, I sprayed some highly thinned black paint on the cockpit. I wanted to bring out some details and add a little color variations to the floor where dirt grease and oil would accumulate.
Now it's starting to look more like the original color, at least to my eye...
As usual,
Comments are encouraged.
