Subject: Re: Matchbox 1/32 Me-109 E-3
From: "Steve Bamford ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Rick Reinbott" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 23:32:26 -0700

Hi Rick,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks for sending it in.   

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com
 
Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Rick Reinbott 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 12:16 PM
  Subject: Matchbox 1/32 Me-109 E-3

  Steve,

  If it's decided to post this on ARC, could you please use my personal e-mail address for someone wanting back to write to me, rather than the one I'm sending this article out on (which is my work e-mail address)?  My personal e-mail address is [email-masked]

  Thanks,

  Rick Reinbott

  Gallery Template #03

  "1/32 Matchbox Messerschmitt Bf-109 E-3" 

  by "Rick Reinbott"
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

       

  This is my first submission to ARC, with the subject being my Matchbox 1/32 Me-109 E-3 built essentially out of the box.  I would definitely include this kit in the category of "oldie but goodie," as it builds into a very nice replica of an early 109.  There are a few fit problems, which include the oil cooler cover (had to carve a lot of plastic out of the inside to get it to fit flush over the oil cooler), engine mounting tab into the slot in the firewall, and getting the cowl MG 17 machine guns to fit into the supporting "brackets".  The brackets are also molded such that, when the machine guns are attached to them and then attached to the engine assembly, the guns somewhat point down toward the top front of the engine and slightly to port.  Be careful here.  Also, I found that the two pieces making up the lower cowl cover were not wide enough at the top to be glued together.  To remedy this, I taped the two halves flush on each side of the fuselage and measured the space between them.  I then cut a corresponding width and length of plastic card, applied Crazy Glue to the edge of each cover half, and gently placed and fitted the piece of plastic card in the space between the halves.  Once the glue dried, I removed the tape and the resulting "one piece" cover from the model.  I then kept applying layers of filler over the strip and kept sanding until the correct curvature to the top of the cover was reached. 

  I scratchbuilt a few items, which included the aerial wire, shoulder harness, canopy wire, and drilling out the gun barrels.  The aerial and canopy wires were made from stretched sprue, with the aerial insulators made from Elmer's Glue painted white.  The hooks for the canopy wire were made from copper wire.  The shoulder harness is made from drafting tape with Eduard buckles.  Other areas of the model that could use some scratchbuilding include the wheel wells (totally open on the kit) and brake lines on the landing struts.  Also, the instrument panel dials are represented as pins that come through the instrument panel.  Since I finished the model (about 3 years ago), Cutting Edge has released a cockpit set (CEC32088) for the Hasegawa kit that I would think could be worked to fit this kit as well.  Other than the instrument dials and the gunsight, the kit-supplied cockpit isn't bad at all.   

  For painting the model, I used Model Master Enamels.  The camouflage scheme is the standard RLM 70 Black Green and 71 Dark Green over RLM 65 Light Blue.  I achieved the "hard yet soft" edge to the colors by using a paper mask attached to the surface using double-backed drafting tape.  This way the paper was lifted off the surface just enough so that when the paint was sprayed on, the result was a soft edge.  The pattern on the fuselage sides (RLM 71 over 65) was achieved by using a coarse, short-bristled brush dipped into the paint and then dabbing it onto the sides.  Don't use an expensive brush to do this, as the brush I used was totally destroyed when I was finished.  A picture in the Squadron In Action book says that the paint was sponged on, rather than sprayed on.             

        Click on images below to see larger images
       
         Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 02.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 02.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg 

       

  The panel lines, engine, guns, tires, and underside were all given a wash using Polly S Midnight Black.  Drybrushing was done by using the respective base colors mixed with a little bit of white.  Fuel stains were done by using Gunze Sangyo Oil mixed with a little brown thinned with water.  As old as the kit decals were, they weren't too bad and I decided to use them, although the wavy line on the rear fuselage side is a little large compared to photographs.  

  The model depicts a machine of JG 2 'Richthofen' based at Le Havre, France, in the summer of 1940.  I really enjoyed building this model, and, although it's been out of production for awhile, you may be able to find one in the older models section of your favorite hobby shop.  Plus, I know some modelers who have the kit in their stash, so ask around; someone may be willing to sell you one for the right price!  

  Happy Modeling!

  Rick

  IPMS St. Louis                                                                                                                                                                                           

  References:

  Messerschmitt Bf 109 in action Part 1, Squadron/Signal Publications Aircraft No. 44 (1980)

  Aerodata International Fighters of World War II, Squadron/Signal Publications (1980)

  Photos and text © 2004 by "Rick Reinbott"