Hobby Craft 1/48th BF-109G-4, Romanian AF
Jan 5, 2021 1:45:58 GMT
Paul B, Boots, and 4 more like this
Post by Ian H. on Jan 5, 2021 1:45:58 GMT
I am going to start off 2021 with a nice, simple build in the form of the Hobby Craft Bf-109G-4 in 1/48th scale. I wanted to do a simpler build as I keep getting wrapped up with larger more complicated projects that kind of take a toll on the mojo. These Hobby Craft 109s are really nice kits and are still around in the form of Academy and Italeri boxings. However, I will add a Squadron vacu-form canopy. I plan to build a -109 from the Romanian AF and I will use the kit decals. I started off with the cockpit and added some wiring and a few bits from the spares box to liven things up a little in the front office. I also got the wings together and added the upper wing bulges in the kit for the larger tires of the G-4 version. I also got the prop built. Next will be some RLM66 for the cockpit.
Regards,
Ian
Regards,
Ian
.
.................here now 
I got to the tailwheel assembly and the instructions call for placing the tailwheel mount on the bottom of the fuselage and then put the tailwheel strut in the mount. However, I didn't think that was correct for a G-4. I pulled out my trusty Me-109 Volume II, from Histoire and Collections, book and sure enough the arrangement in the Hobbycraft instructions was for a G-6 or later. The G-4 had an open tailwheel well like the G-2 series as the G-2 had a retractable tailwheel. However, the G-4 (and few G-3s) kept the open tailwheel well but the strut was locked into place and did not retract. So my next issue was whether or not just to make into a G-6 as I had the other external bumps and bulges to do that. But I wanted to stick with Romanian markings and I didn't have quite what I needed, decalwise, to do a Romanian G-6. I took the riskier of two options and cut open a well for the tailwheel to make it a true G-4. I also scratchbuilt an internal mount for the tailwheel strut and then got the strut in place. So now it is a true G-4 and will go forward with the original plan. I got a coat of primer on and I have just a few spots to deal with and then it will be paint time.
