Testfitting and installing guards

While the sides have already taken a lot of time, more is needed

I got on with testfitting the wing-fuselage assembly, and as expected a lot of work still needs to be done.

Some filing and cutting made the lower wing fit a lot better

When I assembled the fuselage I installed a resin tailwheel, and I expect it needs a guard

A more rigid guard. Will it be worth the effort? Let me have your comments on that

Erik, @airbum
It has been a while since I have stopped in to see what progress has been made. I can honestly say this build is shaping up rather nicely. I have also suffered attacks from the carpet monster, who ate a complete 1/48 scale Tamiya F4F Wildcat propeller once... in hindsight it was probably my German Shepard instead of the carpet monster, since she sometimes helps me in the hobby room. Now that she's much older she occasionally lays down beside me while I'm working... None the less, the prop is still missing...all these years later.

I like what you did with the replacement wheel hub. You're spot on correct about it not being too noticeable. I thought of one small and relatively easy way to improve it. The center hub in the original part has a small round part that is open in the middle. You might be able to replicate this by using some hollow round stock tubing that is of the same (or very close to) it for size. Simply cut off a short section of the round tube, and glue it on the center. This will give the impression it also has a small hollow center like the original did. Once it's painted, it will become even less noticeable.

One other way you might be able to do this is to simply slice the center hub off the original part you found and using CA glue, attach it to the new wheel hub. Just be careful not to launch it into space as you cut the center part off.

Like you I thought the "odd" numbers were subject to pressurization, like the G-5 is the pressurized version of the G-6. I never noticed these early wing roots on these F-1 or F-2 versions until you mentioned it. It's entirely possible they simply adapted / upgraded older Emil fuselages that were still on the assembly line into the newer "Freiderich" standards.

I also like how you have mad protective guards for the tail wheel. That looks to be a great idea.

Thanks for the updates.

@lgardner Louis, I will take the suggestions into consideration - right now I thing it may be the center and maybe some new spokes - time will tell. The "Emil"s had struts on the tail, and the "Friedrich"s had an entirely different cockpit, so I do think it may have been new built fuselages. There was one V that did recive the DB601 and had a E fuselage with an F nose. That is the subject of yet another thorough study when I get to do some armchairaviation.

@gblair - thank you for the kind words and supportive comments.

Vinyl masks and surprising solution!

I have added some vinyl masks to the windscreen, and re-visit the challenge to guard the tailwheel

Now, the vinyl masks do not work all that well for me; they are a bit difficult to place and seems to leave some glue behind – more on that when the masks are removed.

I decided to use a first layer of acrylic, as it is easy to remove on the clear parts if the paint gets under the masks.

They were filled with white gum.

Oh yes – I promised a solution to the tailwheel-knock-off issue;

Surprisingly the solution was really simple. A cocktailstick!

what will be up next? (no pun intended) – stay tuned

Indeed Pedro - simple is better a lot of times!

The maingear legs used to come in later, but in recent builds I have placed them rather early. They are quite sturdy, and give you a place to grab while handling the plane, plus you do not damage the paint so easily. As for the tailwheel it needs to go in before closing the fuselage, unless it is one of the low non-retractable type, they can be left off till the very end - but that also gives you a place to put a cocktailstick to keep the tail off the ground - will try that next!

@holzhamer

Painting, masking, painting

The two top-colors has been added

In the last post I speculated that the masking might come off after RLM65. However I masked for RLM65 and painted it with enamel color

Stay tuned for the reveal – at least I am rather excited to see it with masks off!

Wetsanding, no matter how lightly and meticulously applied, might reveal some underside layer, so you will need some touchups, @airbum. A round of thick gloss might decrease or maybe eliminate the orange peel, but nobody can reassure you. I have always found it difficult to minimize surface imperfections by just spraying a heavy coat above. After drying, usually, but not always, the imperfection is re-revealed.

Have you considered applying future? That's what I would do - I find it adequately self levelling. If you do, take care because it might drip, forming ugly droplets. If this happens, I "disperse" them on the model surface with a #2 or #3 brush.

Your bird looks terrific and I love all the research and effort so far.

All the best!