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

Started by Erik Gjørup · 25 ≡ · ↻ 2 months ago · 1/48, ausland, Bf109, Bf109E-3a, Bulgaria, Emil, Me109E-3a, Messerschmitt, quarterscale, Tamiya

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Erik Gjørup said 11 months, 3 weeks 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:
1. dryfitted
1. opened

2. thinned

3. opened
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!
John vd Biggelaar said 11 months, 3 weeks 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.
Spiros Pendedekas said 11 months, 3 weeks ago:

Excellent job so far, my friend @airbum!
Erik Gjørup said 9 months, 2 weeks 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!
1. it's a drill
and so they were drilled out.

Off-camera, I did paint and assemble the cockpit, and after assembly I installed some seatbelts.
1. what a mess..
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!
John vd Biggelaar said 9 months, 2 weeks ago:

Some good progress made, Erik @airbum
Spiros Pendedekas said 9 months, 2 weeks ago:

Excellent progress, my friend @airbum!
George R Blair Jr said 9 months, 2 weeks 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.
Erik Gjørup said 8 months, 3 weeks 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.
1. thin!
1. Need to fill in this too

2. strip 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.
1. Another wing without filler. The edge is way to thick.
1. Just need to be about a sheet of aluminium thick here
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…
Spiros Pendedekas said 8 months, 3 weeks ago:

Nice filling method, my friend @airbum!
John vd Biggelaar said 8 months, 3 weeks ago:

Looks much better this way, Erik @airbum
Erik Gjørup said 6 months, 2 weeks 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
1. dustcover

2. putty

3. evergreen strip

4. filled with LqS and re-drilled in smaller size to be more to scale
getting there?

next up – well, time will tell
John vd Biggelaar said 6 months, 2 weeks ago:

Nice correction work done to get rid off those marks, Erik @airbum
A practical dust cover as well.
Spiros Pendedekas said 6 months, 2 weeks ago:

Steadily getting there and looking super, my friend @airbum!
Erik Gjørup said 5 months, 2 weeks 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.
1. snap
I also sanded the tail.

The filler got sanded as well.
1. smooooth
smoother!

and finally, the stabilizer and elevators installed
1. straight and level!

2. repair OK
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.
Spiros Pendedekas said 5 months, 2 weeks ago:

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

Viewing 1 - 15 of 25 posts

Work in Progress – Aircraft

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

Bulgarian 109, W.Nr. 5224

A drill and seatbelts

Sheet filler.

Legs and filler

Sand and feathers