Me109 E-3a "4", Bulgaria, Tamiya, 1/48

Started by Erik Gjørup · 25 · 2 weeks ago · 1/48, ausland, Bf109, Bf109E-3a, Bulgaria, Emil, Me109E-3a, Messerschmitt, quarterscale, Tamiya
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    Erik Gjørup said 10 months, 1 week ago:

    Bulgarian 109, W.Nr. 5224

    The base for this is the Exotic Decals’ “Bulgarian Arrows #2”

    They have 3 sets of Bulgarian “Emil” markings, and rest assured the other two sets will be used in later builds.

    Most of the build follows the usual method, and a lot of the preparations have already been addressed in my 109 werke topic, so here we go as of today:





    As you can see, vents opened up, the MG changed for swiss ones and seat from SBS model used. Only new addition here is the stick – all the early export E-3a versions were delivered with this, so I need to get hold of a few of them.

    next up will probably be the fuselage closed, or perhaps some work on the wings? Tune in later to check!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 10 months, 1 week ago:

    Very nice work on this Emil, Erik @airbum
    I was surprised to see this one is having a closed spinner, not that often seen on an Emil.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 10 months, 1 week ago:

    Excellent job so far, my friend @airbum!

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    Erik Gjørup said 8 months ago:

    A drill and seatbelts

    progress has been made off-camera

    Most of the assembly of these Tamiya 109’s have been shown a zillion times, so no need for the basics?

    Anyway, the wings were assembled, and I realized that the upper wing had not been prepped for the Oerlikons!


    and so they were drilled out.

    Off-camera, I did paint and assemble the cockpit, and after assembly I installed some seatbelts.


    The majority were from a Eduard PE from a Friedrich, the rear-straps were modified from a SBS interior PE fret. Quite a mess, but it will have to do.

    next up most likely undercarriage and primer? tune in again to check!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 8 months ago:

    Some good progress made, Erik @airbum

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 8 months ago:

    Excellent progress, my friend @airbum!

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    George R Blair Jr said 8 months ago:

    Looks great, Erik (@airbum). We have seen a lot of 109 builds, but it is always fun to watch you problem-solve and scratch-build, so keep them coming.

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    Erik Gjørup said 7 months, 1 week ago:

    Thanks @fiveten, @johnb and @gblair – willco!

    Sheet filler.

    Before primer I need to finish the filler

    Having added a strip of evergreen, it is clear after some testfitting that it needs to be larger. As it is already glued in place it will have to be a thin strip to be added.



    Now, that is more like it. Still need to blank out the cutout though!

    The slats were testfitted after the filler had been sanded.



    Kind of happy with the result – could be better but works as is.

    next up I will most likely add legs (as I usually do) and THEN it is primer etc…

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 7 months, 1 week ago:

    Nice filling method, my friend @airbum!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 7 months, 1 week ago:

    Looks much better this way, Erik @airbum

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    Erik Gjørup said 5 months ago:

    @fiveten and @johnb, this time some more filler and legs too…

    Legs and filler

    Got the legs installed

    and added some putty to a few sinkmarks in the wing


    getting there?

    next up – well, time will tell

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    John vd Biggelaar said 5 months ago:

    Nice correction work done to get rid off those marks, Erik @airbum
    A practical dust cover as well.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 5 months ago:

    Steadily getting there and looking super, my friend @airbum!

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    Erik Gjørup said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    @johnb and @fiveten, this time some sanding and tailfeathers…

    Sand and feathers

    broke the strut

    While tidying the struts one of them snapped – a first for me as far as I recall.


    I also sanded the tail.

    The filler got sanded as well.


    smoother!

    and finally, the stabilizer and elevators installed


    Repair to struts turned out OK.

    next up – well, lack of time makes me wonder what happens next (and when). Tune in and check later.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    Great progress, my friend @airbum! The strut looks as if it was never broken!