SPA Modeler

It was January of 2012 when I started deciding to clean my life of alcohol abuse up and I needed something to do. Something to fill my time with that I could feel good about and have something to show for it. It was then that I decided to go head first back into a hobby that I really hadn't been active in except for one attempt at a Bf109G-10 build in 2006, in a couple of decades. That one met a bad end during a terrible argument over my alcohol problem in 2009. This time I wanted to learn as much about this hobby as I could and so I had this monster in my stash and decided to build a 109 that was bigger, better and probably the most crazy build that I'd tackled ever. I was determined to see this one through. Along the way through this build and the next build (which was an Eduard Fw 190A-8/R2) and with a lot of help from friends and family I was not able to complete two builds that I felt pretty good about but I was able to fully recover from the grasp of alcoholism.

I finished this rascal up around September 2012 and thought I would post some pictures of the finished build here. It all started as a 1/24 Trumpter Bf109 K-4 and with a couple of mods (as many as I could think of or find) I modeled it as a G-14 A/S. It has the Verlinden update set for the cockpit and cowl gun area, AM wheels, and Eagle Strike decals and Master models cowl MG131 gun barrels. It was my first all out attempt at building something this detailed and my first attempt at all at weathering.





Some construction shots:





I just had to install the wing mounted cannons. They were screaming for attention though. I ended up cutting the pod access panels/ doors open, buying some 1/35 scale 40 mm shells, cutting them to proper length and scratch built the belt links with aluminum tape. Then weathered the shells and links:



All in all it took 9-1/2 months to get this puppy done. I learned a lot from building this model and from the folks that I built it with in the early days at FSM. Thanks for looking, Joe

Sensation of first impression: wow, 1/24! After that, I started reading and thinking which is what all good works of art make me do.

First and foremost: this is an amazing feat of modeling. I feel like if I stepped into a room of builds I would see this and John’s Black One and Thomas’s Ju-88 and Torben’s Anton and Carlos’s Armor Build which I cannot recall its name because armor is uncharted territory, but all builds in this hypothetical room represent the fierce talents of some very important people. Discipline, Drive and Talent.

Second, what you wrote just about knocked me flat because for those of us who have struggled with an addiction know down deep how hard it is to come to terms with—here be dragons. Real ones. Thank you for your courage and daily fight, and thank you for being an outstanding human being, no joke, you really are. There are a lot of good folk around but few of them are truly outstanding.

Third, the fact that you designed opening and closing engine and ammunition compartments is a true joy. I struggle with wanting to show the guts of these machines at almost every turn and when I see this done right as in your case, I just want to build everything by Zoukei Mura because it is possible to peel the skin from those kits and see more... and feel more, too.

Finally, yea I wrote this as more of an essay, but I was struggling to find the words at first, finally in closing add more photos of the finished model. I could do with at least a half dozen more shots of such a work of art.

Be well. All the best.

Joe,

HOLY SHIT, MAN! What an incredible build!!

This wow’d me on a lot of levels. The amount of work that went into it is Herculean and that goes double due to the fact that you were literally transforming your entire life at the time the build took place. This could not have been easy, in any way, shape, or form. You had to overcome a lot while you made this happen, and you did a stellar job.

I applaud you.

That's awesome! Must be an impressive sight at 1/24 scale! I love the late model 109's... more so than the earlier ones (sorry Kenny!).

Wonderful build Joe!

Wonder if a G-14 could be easily converted to a G-6 ...

- Kari

1/24 scale?! That must be YUGE!!! Very nice work. And that is awesome that this hobby helped you overcome a vice that gave you problems.

Awesome build.

Even better reason for it. A big congrats for being able to kick the booze. I know the other side because my father had a problem almost to the end.

Thanks guys. I'm going to be taking some new shots of this build with some better camera skills at hand and posting them.

John: I'm a big fan of the F's forward myself. I'll build an E and below but I just like the smoother lines of the later ones.

Kari: Trumpeter actually has a 1/24 scale G-6 kit available so you don't have to worry about converting.



Kenny: 'Preciate all the good comments fella. This wasn't all that helped out with my sobriety but it was a good distraction from my addiction.

Carlos: Really it's not all that big given the fact that 109's were teeny little aircraft but it is bigger than any other build that I have in my collection. I still have a 1/24 scale Fw190 D-9 in the stash to get to. Thanks BTW.

Bruce: Thank you as well good buddy. I'm finding that if I want to build a kit opened up that it's best to start with a kit that has that option. I've done the add on's with closed up kits (like my Tamiya D-9 and my Arado 234) and those are toughy's to get through....................but doable. As far as the other goes.........it'll be 5 years this June and I'm still just taking it day at a time.

Not that big? Ok... bigger than a 1/32 109, which is about the same size as a 1/48 B-25 & B-26. With those 1/24 kits in your collection all you need now are the new Airfix 1/24 Mosquito & Typhoon... the Tiffy is incredible to see in the box... makes me wish I built in that scale and the room for that beauty...

1/24 scale! Holy cow!!! Beautiful work, brother!!