SPA Modeler

Thanks so much for the nice comments! It's easier to build a good looking model when the kits these days are so high in quality. The next kit that I'm going to share was my first attempt at the larger 1/32 scale since re-entering the hobby. I built this in 2015. It is the Revell Bf109G-10 Erla and I lined up a whole slew of aftermarket upgrades including:

1. Alley Cat Models 109G-10 Erla Correction Set
2. Alley Cat Models 109G-10 Small Wing Bulges
3. RB Productions Luftwaffe Harnesses
4. Quickboost Revi 16B Gun Sights
5. Decals from EagleCal

During the course of construction, I found some issues with many of the resin parts from Alley Cat and ended up not using the upper wing pieces, the gun cowling and the spinner, which was a disappointment since they are big, high visibility components. Being a relative newbie when it came to resin, perhaps I could've wrestled the components into shape with more experience, I don't know.

Anyways, the rest of the build went together with no major problems.

Next up is a more recent build. I've always liked the chunky lines of the Kawanishi Shiden fighter, especially the older, mid-wing version. I built the 1/48 Hasegawa N1K1-Ja Shiden kit late last year. The only aftermarket pieces used on this build was an older Eduard PE fret that was designed for the Tamiya kit. I used the PE seat, harnesses and the instrument panel from this set to replace the kit parts.













I've been slowly adding to my bag of weathering tricks and this build reflects a few of these new (for me) techniques. In addition to my common practice of marble pre-shading for the camo, I've added painting chipping using different color pencils. Salt chip fading was used to create some uneven wear and tear on the upper surfaces.

Beautiful!!

I love especially much the great weathering in the G-10, great!
What paints did you use?

- Kari

Those are some excellent builds!

Thanks guys!

KSaarni wrote:Beautiful!!

I love especially much the great weathering in the G-10, great!
What paints did you use?

- Kari

Thank you Kari! I used Tamiya acrylic paints for the RLM 74/75/76 camoflage finish. The natural metal on the bottom of the wings is comprised of a few different shades of Alclad.

Here are some in-progress pictures of the G-10 for those that are interested. An example of the fit issues that I had with the Alley Cat Small Wing Bulge parts.



I also experienced some issues with the Alley Cat prop replacement. I thought the shape of the prop blades were more accurate than the kit parts but they were surprisingly thick and needed to be shaved down.




The Alley Cat prop spinner had some positives going for it: (a) the backplate panel line was in the right position, (b) no awkward glue joint near the prop openings, (c) designed to accept the prop blades AFTER painting BUT one glaring error made me ditch it: the hole in the backplate was not centered. In the end, I riveted the kit spinner and used the Alley Cat prop blades on it.




The kit instrument panel was used. However, the kit instrument panel decal had light grey instrument faces, which I found no basis for, so I punched instrument dials from spare decals. The Revi 16 gunsight is from QuickBoost.


The RB Productions seat harnesses were a great upgrade to the cockpit. Very similar to the HGW harnesses and must be built up from individual lengths of paper strips much like the real belts. I should have performed a little weathering on these as they look a bit too pristine.

Good Lord man!!!!!!!!!!! This is totally off the charts!!!! Hats off to you for such splendid builds.

Fantastic work!

hmmmm looks so good