Barracuda Roy’s Lockdown 2020 | Heller | No. 80229

[Stikpusher]

It does indeed sound like a “Frankenstein” aircraft, with the various sub assemblies used. It was something of a common practice by most air forces in WWII at one point or another to use parts salvaged off of derelict aircraft and install them on another damaged aircraft that could give the repaired aircraft a patchwork appearance. And it does sound like the profile artist researched that particular airframe well enough to recognize the different sub assemblies utilized.

[speedgraflex]

The photo above represents what I have finished this week, adding to the work I have done to the cockpit and instrument panel. I will begin masking the wing crosses once I have made scale drawings and establish proper placement. The underwing part’s center section which represents the fuselage will be painted after I add the small piece of stretched sprue to close the gap between this part and the fuselage halves.

[speedgraflex]

The photo above is the drop tank and hanger assembly which I will not be using for the project. Since this piece is going to be added to my spare parts bin, I decided to test a dark gray out as a possible fill for the interior crosses. To fully make this test appropriate to the situation, I first primed the piece in Tamiya White, which was my stand-in for the Gunze Off-White I am using for each cross, then I followed by adding the gray.

An interesting side note: the usage of RAF colors as stand ins or “pinch hitters” for RLM ones comes from a venerable British modeler on the Airfix Forum who rather cheekily suggested trying this.

[jkim]

Frankenstein

I based my comments on the profile notes, which state the engine section is from a later production block, the wings are from an earlier production block and the rear fuselage with fixed tailwheel comes from an older 109 entirely (according to the profile notes, the other pieces of the aircraft were examined and documented to make this determination). My writing was most likely unclear or at least subject to interpretation and for that I offer my apologies. The profile may or may not be correct, I grant that up front, but I started with what I could find to articulate the aircraft in color and that was what I found.

To state the obvious, my primary relationship is with the three existing photos posted on this thread. The profile and my work are subject to the challenge of criticism, which I respect, and the photos are subject to interpretation by myself and others, which I also respect. As a caveat moving forward, I acknowledge that my work will never be a perfect representation but it will be as well researched and thoughtful as my time and abilities permit.

Happy Palm Sunday!

There is never anything definitive when it comes to late war Luftwaffe subjects so no apologies necessary. My comments are based on the references that I have available, which may or may not be definitive or complete. Outside of the short tail wheel, the appearance of 334265 is very similar to 334183, which is documented in the JaPo 109K book (page 38), and described as "the particular camouflage pattern did not depend upon a plan's sub-version, i.e. K-4, but on its manufacturer, the Mtt. Regensburg plant." This would be superceded by information pertaining to 334265, which you have.

Looks like you are progressing on your painting! Just a note... the wings, as a subassembly, did not include the fuselage bottom. So the color of the wing center section would most likelycorrespond to the rest of the fuselage, not the wings.

[jkim]

Another version of one of the 334265 photos...

[speedgraflex]

Thanks so much, John. I need to check in on your progress for the past few days. I know you are moving along at a good pace on your insignias, after finessing a lovely blue tone overall. Meanwhile I am trying to decide how dark to take the interior of the crosses on the fuselage. My sample is in RAF Ocean Gray, which is bluer than the other dark grays I have on hand, but I think will be close to the factory base color which was then oversprayed with green. Choosing a color is a little tricky here, definitely speculative, as well as hampered by what I have on hand.

[jkim]

The interior of the fuselage crosses is the darker of the fuselage colors, Most likely Dark Green RLM 83. It was not oversprayed in the field but applied at the factory. Regardless of whether 334265 was comprised of replacement parts, the color scheme was established at the factory, not in the field.

[speedgraflex]

Thank you so much, John. I had no idea, and I appreciate your explanation!

[Stuart]

Cracking good painting Bruce - Those markings look spot on!

[speedgraflex]

Thanks so much for your comments, Stuart. I am finding the underwing crosses quite a bit harder for me to lay out using tape. I think this is because the simpler the object is, the higher the measuring tolerances are; you can always fudge a more complicated shape to a certain extent, or it is easier to hide any flaws within a lot of visual activity. And every time I look at the base of the fuselage I ask myself, “Should the ammo chutes be open?” Lol, mate, I have been inside far too long. All the best.