Getting started with the paint job. Since the engine will be fixed on open I decided that it is better to stop further detailing since the whole engine block will be wrapped in paper and tape to allow a trouble free fuselage painting. So I am fully focused on the paint job. For the first time I decided to try a preshading that goes beyond the panel lines. The black squiggle is my attempt at this technique, which I've seen around with both awesome and awful results, obviously in my perspective. I'm hoping for a moderate uneven blue underside, nothing to harsh.
Another part that has a rather unorthodox construction is the pitot tube. Unlike most 109s out there it comes in a one piece block with a fraction of the wing under surface. I assume it was designed so to prevent misplacings or a less careful cutting from the sprue tree, but to be honest I'd rather have the plain pitot tube all by itself and attach it in the final steps of the build. As you can see it needs some putty to be leveled with the remaking wing surface. 2 hands of Mr Putty 500 and a wipe should do the trick (the photo shows only the first putty application, raw). Also added a rear view photo of the 109 that shows the perfect, no fuss, alignment of the flaps, radiator flaps and ailerons... Tamiya at its finest. More update with the paint progress this weekend. Thanks
4 attached images. Click to enlarge.
