A Tale of Two Emils- a (Not-So) Daily Blog Build.

[Jeeves]

OK-- so even though this is mostly about a comparison build of the newer Airfix and older Tamiya 109E4's, I am planning on putting this on a base with the Luftwaffe at Rest figure set and the Tamiya flak gun that I finished here:

Now onto the comparing...the Airfix kit has been revamped and looks pretty good overall...a few things are out-shined by the older Tamiya kit-- but as you will see, they are pretty similar. The attachment points for the Tamiya sprues are smaller and easier to clean up...and as you'll see in the pics...the Airfix sprues are a light grey in color while the Tamiya sprues are dark grey...first off-- the wing assembly...the only real difference is Airfix gives you the option of two different cannon ports (left side)...since the kit actually covers through the -7 Emils as well...might be good or bad...I'll let you know when I see what gaps are present when I attach the port

The prop assembly is pretty similar-- but the edge goes to Tamiya (left) for the detail on the hub...

Now onto the cockpit area...the Airfix side panels have more ejection marks...but the detail is nice...I added the yellow wiring to both Emils...

The Airfix kit also has the trim wheels attach as separate pieces to the seat...very delicate...

The Tamiya kit is very similar...except one trim wheel is molded onto the sidewall already...more tricky to paint-- but less likely to damage when removing...

The real difference so far-- the engine area. Tamiya on the left shows virtually nothing there-- giving you no option to show it off. the Airfix features a rather nice engine with loads to detail...I added a decal for the serial number from some spare decals...

So-- which instrument panel is more detailed...even Dolpho can't tell!!

Normally I break out my punches and slap in some dial faces...but the molding on both of these was nice enough to just highlight with a Prismacolor pencil...once it is inside, it will be difficult to see all my work

That's it for this installment...stay tuned!

 

[Iron Mike]

 

[jknaus]

Looking good. If you want to add more colour to the cockpit, the lines on the oxygen bottle are a mid blue colour. Really neat doing 2 at once and seeing the differances between them
James

 

[Jeeves]

Thanks guys!

James...I had painted them black and then closed up the fuselage...I'll see if I can't reach in there with a tiny brush and fix them...

One question in the meantime...did the flaps ever remain down while the plane was on the ground or did they automatically come up once the pressure released like the Mustangs did?

 

[Sharkmouth]

One question in the meantime...did the flaps ever remain down while the plane was on the ground or did they automatically come up once the pressure released like the Mustangs did?

Read here:
http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/techref/systems/cooling/f_flaps.htm

Here we go over the slats:
http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/techref/systems/control/slats/slats.htm

Regards,

 

[Jeeves]

Thanks Saúl!

Hmm...the first link really centers on the Franz and Gustavs...wonder if the Emils followed the same reasoning...that last shot of the Franz is interesting...I'll have to see what is actually included in the kits for these parts....

Thanks again!

 

[Jeeves]

Told you this wasn't going to be exactly daily

Have most everything together...will soon paint the light blue underneath...and then the top coat will have to wait until my first paycheck comes in the middle of Sept...will have to start working on the base until then methinks...

Here is the two fuselages put together so far-- Airfix first...

The sprue attachment points are very thin...so the leading edge slats and flaps were a little too easy to nick...will have to work on fixing them...

The Tamiya--

While the Tamiya just seems a bit crisper, one cannot deny that Airfix really improved things with this re;ease. The details are a bit softer-- but that doesn't really take away from them-- it looks great-- and the extras really open up more possibilities than the Tamiya kit.

Dolpho is not a fan of the seams yet to be cleaned up...

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Jeeves]

First off-- picked up something for atop the engine...

Some more painting progress...all the amazingly difficult to paint yellow areas...still could probably use another coat, but damn does the yellow make a mess of the airbrush! First is the Airfix kit...

Tamiya:

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Jeeves]

Is that Smartfood you're eating? :-D

 

[Iron Mike]

Creativity enhancer. Looking good, Mike!

 

[Jeeves]

Well-- as usual...once I get to the paint stage I get sort of stalled The two LHS's here aren't great about keeping their paints up to date and in stock...so I had to improvise on one color of the camo...here it is for both:

The CMD is a bit cold as we are into fall here so I had to finally turn on the space heater....hopefully this paint will cure quick so I can get the second color on...

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Jeeves]

Painting nearly done...

Now to do the splotches on the sides...pray I don't mess up!!

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Jeeves]

Thanks guys! Sorry for the delayed reply :-\

Well...the splotches came out alright...had to touch up here and there...then added Future...and am now in my favorite stage which is decals. I am however having to go slowly as there are a lot of stencils like those numbers that go all along the bottom of the side of the fuselage...x2 since I'm doing two 109s...pics to follow once I'm done...

 

[moon puppy]

:nopics

 

[jknaus]

James

 

[Plastik Smurff]