This is what I hope to create this winter.

---

Nice!  What Scale?

Doing someone's specific plane, or a general jg54 scheme ?

very nice Yakker..

Ben Lann wrote on Nov 6^th, 2016 at 9:05pm:

Nice!  What Scale?

It's a quarter scale one. That's just slightly under 100 inches. It's an old plane that been in my shed for about 12 years. It's a Meister kit and it  was called a fun scale model. Well I'm going to change a lot of things to improve the look.

Glen wrote on Nov 6^th, 2016 at 10:27pm:

Doing someone's specific plane, or a general jg54 scheme ?

Don't know how far into it I'm going yet. I'm think a G or an F.  For now I'm just up dating some of the old not user friendly things about the plane.

Fingers wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 12:25am:

very nice Yakker..

Sandy, do you remember that plane?

This one of the wing shows that the former residents like balsa. Going to remove the entire bottom skin and inspect the damage.  Might be easer to build a new wing.

---

I do remember it Al. But can't say that I ever saw it in the air...... :-?

I really like it, Al.

Neat to see in the pictures that you've already started adding scale details like the damage to the wing skins from enemy fighters & ground fire. ;)

Nice choice Al, lots of detail
You'll have to watch your 6 with the all the allied fighters in the air. lol

Lucky for him the Me could outrun a Hurricane.... >:(

dano wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 3:33pm:

Nice choice Al, lots of detail You'll have to watch your 6 with the all the allied fighters in the air. lol

Well there's Glen with his FW190 to help out and when Marks around there will be a Zero in the air also Mike has an 190 stodged away somewhere. So I think I'm good! :egyptian

Skin removed

I wish I could get the pictures to load correctly!
Any one know why this is happening?

---

let me try al...there ya go.  I bet you were using an iphone to make these???

---

Oh my!  A 109.  Not an 'imagination' one like mine, its a real 109.

Glen; good catch wrt JG 54, not many would pick up on that.

I'm gonna follow this thread with interest...go for it Al.

Thanks Mike, there are a few of us out there LOL.
Here's something else interesting

---

Come on, Al. We need an update!

Ok here we go.
The wing is a one piece and is too large to handle so I decided to make it a three piece so the center section can stay with the fuse. Going to cut it between the in board /rad vents and out board flaps,

---

Center section after the cuts

---

One side cut off.

---

The install of the wing tubes is next. That's one of the more difficult jobs.

---

First I need to replace the balsa wing rib at W4 with a ply one to help support the inch and a quarter carbon tube. I got lucky, the ribs are nice and straight so I just glue the ply ones the balsa ones.

---

bonus... looking good Al.

The wing ribs look to be quite flat on the bottom; it may have a lot of lift.

Looking good, Al. Smart move on splitting the wing. I joined my wings today to have a look - 100" is a BIG wing. Can't imagine the old days where someone thought a 100" one-piece wing was manageable.

MkIX wrote on Nov 12^th, 2016 at 9:45am:

The wing ribs look to be quite flat on the bottom; it may have a lot of lift.

Yap may be a little too flat for me.

Wing fillets are well under way. Before and after

---

Much better with the fillets in place.

going to glass the wing Al?

The fillets look great!  You make it look easy.

Fingers wrote on Nov 14^th, 2016 at 8:14pm:

going to glass the wing Al?

Yes, I plan to glass the entire plane. Well there will be fabric on the open areas. 

MkIX wrote on Nov 14^th, 2016 at 9:13pm:

The fillets look great!  You make it look easy.

Thanks Mike

Making some  progress on the tail wheel assembly. 

---

This is what it should look like with the wheel up.

---

Lots of work here yet. Parts to be machined, cover to make, pull-pull system and a general clean up of the area.
Believe it or not. it should look something like this when done.

---

I'm always amused when I see the whitewalls on some German tail wheels.   They really weren't that rare; there are a fair number of surviving pictures that show whitewalls.  Cool.

Will the retract mechanism be a servo or an actuator?

MkIX wrote on Nov 21^st, 2016 at 9:23am:

Will the retract mechanism be a servo or an actuator?

Actuator on the retract. The servo in the picture is for steering and the pull/ pull rudder. :)

.
[smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]

Not there yet but starting to look right.

---

when you're done yours you can make me one of these....

---

You mean two  ;)

MkIX wrote on Nov 21^st, 2016 at 9:23am:

I'm always amused when I see the whitewalls on some German tail wheels.   They really weren't that rare; there are a fair number of surviving pictures that show whitewalls.  Cool. Will the retract mechanism be a servo or an actuator?

I noticed that also. Seem like there are more white walls then not?   

I took an old 120 size retract and converted to take an actuator
  :Scratch Building

Any one ever have one of those incryptionware virus on there computer?  Well let me tell you :goodnight :helpMe Took over a week to get that all sorted out.

Anyway managed to get a little done here and there. Had to redo the entire bottom of the aircraft. That square bottom wasn't doing it for me. Not very scale.

---

There seem to be a lot of undoing and redoing on this plane but it's starting to look like a 109.

---

Got the engine on there so I can fill in around it and make it as nice as possible for that DA85.

---

Next there need to be a slot cut to properly fit the exhaust ports the correct distance from the side of the aircraft.

Also exhaust is reworked. Just need the right coat of paint.

---

Starting to look like a Messerschmitt! [smiley=laugh.gif]

---

VERY nice Cool, very nice

Great progress, Al. That's going to look great on a low pass!

Can't wait to see the retracts you make up.

I can see the fw190 is going to need a much bigger engine :D

Al, is this the m e-109 that Jim built? If it is, I remember it at the old ASRCM field for engine run ups.  Have photos somewhere, Sandy probably has a copy as I remember his hat blowing back on his head from the prop wash.

Yes it is, 
al wrote on Dec 16^th, 2016 at 12:38pm:

Al, is this the m e-109 that Jim built? If it is, I remember it at the old ASRCM field for engine run ups.  Have photos somewhere, Sandy probably has a copy as I remember his hat blowing back on his head from the prop wash.

Yes it is,  I got it from Jim's wife after he pass away. Boy that wasn't yesterday.  I still think of Jim now and then, he was a delight to know. Actually Randy built it and Jim got it from him. Or something like that.  It's  been in my shed for a long long time and it's time to put it back in the air. Although I haven't had much time for it lately.

Its looking real good Al.  I'm seriously impressed by the degree to which you were able to reshape the bottom of the fuse.  That could not have been easy!

MkIX wrote on Dec 16^th, 2016 at 7:49pm:

Its looking real good Al.  I'm seriously impressed by the degree to which you were able to reshape the bottom of the fuse.  That could not have been easy!

Thank-you for the kind words Mike. It wasn't too bad to do. Now the in board flaps and the wing tube,  that was HARD. The flaps are on going.

After a three month change of pace I'm finally back at the old thing. Here's some pics.
Retracts are pretty much build and the new plates are installed. Soon time to button it up.

---

Very nice Al. You do good work!
As an aside, met Jim's widow a week or so ago...re-married, living in Woodlawn. She asked about just about everybody, strained me to remember where guys are now...

Good for her, she is a real nice person.

Here are the rad/ inboard flaps.

---

Also here are a few of the out board flaps.

---

Today I will make the struts.

---

Looking good, Al!

Thanks Steve

A few loose ends to tie up before the struts are cut.

Here are a few shots of the flaps so you can get an idea on how this going to look.

---

These little guys will keep the wings from falling off in flight. The knurled end will be glue into the center wing

---

The drawing in the back is a guide for the shape. There seem to be a lot of differences in the gear but this basically it.

---

The stuff looks great in the up position but the down is presenting a new challenge. The drawings show the angle the gear goes on but in order to achieve this I'm going to have to tilt the retracts outward. This is a problem....  My need to cut a different truinion block. :-?

---

Can you make the struts rotate like the Sierra ones do? Tilt the wheel into the wing??

That's not the problem. The gear need to be mounted at such a preposterous angle to get it to look right. It will work but I'm worried that it will weaken everything. Not to mention it may stick out a bit.

---

Al:

Your model looks fantastic; seriously fantastic.

The inner flaps on a 109 have always fascinated me.  Looks like you are making a real effort to correctly replicate them.

The outer flaps...well...I really gotta drop by to see how you built them; they look great.

The struts; oh my, don't they look good.  The 109 undercarriage has been pilloried in many assessments of Prof. Dr. Messershcmitt's design...so  the extended struts always grab my attention. 

And the angle of the gear in the down position....I understand the challenge facing you.  I'll look through what little documentation I have on the 109 to see if I can at least help with the end state.

Angle axle to strut is 99 degrees
For more info contact Ottawa Canadian aviation and space museum. Ask for measurements from their bf109 F-4

---

MkIX wrote on Mar 16^th, 2017 at 8:17pm:

Al: Your model looks fantastic; seriously fantastic. The inner flaps on a 109 have always fascinated me.  Looks like you are making a real effort to correctly replicate them. The outer flaps...well...I really gotta drop by to see how you built them; they look great. The struts; oh my, don't they look good.  The 109 undercarriage has been pilloried in many assessments of Prof. Dr. Messershcmitt's design...so  the extended struts always grab my attention.  And the angle of the gear in the down position....I understand the challenge facing you.  I'll look through what little documentation I have on the 109 to see if I can at least help with the end state.

Thanks for the kind words Mike.  I'll take any info and doc you have. It all helps.

waverider wrote on Mar 17^th, 2017 at 1:00am:

Angle axle to strut is 99 degrees For more info contact Ottawa Canadian aviation and space museum. Ask for measurements from their bf109 F-4

Thanks for that info Brian. That's what the drawing I have shows. I have to cheat the angle in a small amount or the retracts are going to pop out of the wing. Because the struts are a few degrees in, the axels are actually at 102 deg. All and all it doesn't look too bad. There just set in there so the left one is a little off.

Bare in mind, every thing is loose and just set in there.

---

Also The wheels are very wrong. I order a set of vintage wheels from Williams Bro that will do the job nicely.  There a little narrower  and although are not perfect there not bad without breaking the bank.

Al, if it's the narrow set, I think John may have a set at the shop.

Glen wrote on Mar 17^th, 2017 at 2:49pm:

Al, if it's the narrow set, I think John may have a set at the shop.

Thanks Glen. I'll check it out.

Well here's my solution to the gear angle problem. Should be problem free. Machined up this piece of plate and will cut it into strips.

---

Well you get The Idea.

---

The angle still isn't quite right. going to machine a little bit more off the plate.

---

And one with the gear up...

---

You sure are up early posting these pic's. ;)

Nice to see you back
Your 109 is looking gooood.

Glen wrote on Mar 18^th, 2017 at 6:20am:

You sure are up early posting these pic's. ;)

hasn't been to bed yet....... >:(

Ingenious solution to correct the angel of the struts.  Looks much easier than milling a new set of trunnions, and certainly easier to fine tune.

The model will look menacing just sitting there.

Looking good :)

Lots of effort being put forward, Al. Looking good!

My big effort today was painting my 2017 AC-GraCar Spitfire stand - not quite up to what you're doing.  ;)

Glen wrote on Mar 18^th, 2017 at 6:20am:

You sure are up early posting these pic's. ;)

6am, that's not early. lol

dano wrote on Mar 18^th, 2017 at 6:57am:

Nice to see you back Your 109 is looking gooood.

Thank Dan,  Sometimes  change is as good as a rest.

Fingers wrote on Mar 18^th, 2017 at 8:00am:

Glen wrote on Mar 18th, 2017 at 6:20am: You sure are up early posting these pic's. ;) hasn't been to bed yet....... >:(

Yap

Thanks all for the kind words.


Well in order to finish the wheel wells I kind of am in need of a set of blisters. The first attempt was laughable.  Didn't take to long at all for them to start melting! ;D   Ended up making all the parts that I need to vacuum form out of pine.

---

They turned out very nice in deed. Thanks Steve for the use of machine.  Just setting it on the wing changes everything about the look.

More to come

---

Very nice
:popcorn

Here's a pic or two of the new blisters and gun ports.
Didn't have much opportunity to work on it yesterday.

---

Here's a pic that I took while visiting London.  Black 6 is one of the very few original 109's left.  It's restoration was years long, and the guys who put it back together were very fussy.  it was restored to flying condition but is now on display at the RAF Museum in Hendon.  The picture is low res, but it does show the gun troughs rather well.  Thought you might find it helpful.







 

---

Al, if you need more photo's of that plane I'm pretty sure I took a bunch as well

Here's four more pics just to provide details.

Sorry about the image quality.  I borrowed the camera and didn't know how to set it to take higher res images.

---

Thanks for the pictures and offers guys, it all helps.


I'm trying to get the wheel wells finish up so I can get the bottoms of the wings sheeted .

---

These things are time consuming little buggers.

---

Making and fitting the wheel covers proved to be quite the challenge also. There almost done.
I'll get back to them with more detailing later.

Sorry about the pic quality.

---

Superb job Al. All that work underneath the plane..

Wow, nice job Al...cant wait to see her in flight...

Sorry to rain on anyone's parade, especially when everyone seems so impressed with your work, but I still think you need to find a better method to strengthen the gear. I will admit that the wire between the axles is better than the tape in an earlier photo but I think you can raise the bar here. Maybe extra fine fishing line ....  ;) ;) ;) ;)

Oh yeah, the left retract base looks a few thou off.  ;D ;D ;D Is there an envious emoticon?

Steve, What the hell ?
You trying to get in on my action?
Get back to building that dauntless, I'll do the heckling around here  :D :D :D :D :D

Steve Mosher wrote on Mar 25^th, 2017 at 3:25pm:

Is there an envious emoticon?

yup
:tongueout :moon :Naaah :Fun_bat :swear :violin :S--T Hit The Fan :Oops Sorry
take your pick Steve.
Although I do agree with the fishing line comment

Love the detail in the landing gear bays.  A whole new high water mark.  Excellent!

Thanks again for the kind words guys.  Funny stuff Steve.

I got to get these wings done so I can start glassing. So another big push on Sunday.  I need to cut some G-10 carbon board to make the hinges and get the ailerons done so I can finally sheet up the bottoms. Here's what I got..

My first and only selfy. Cutting carbon fiber is nasty.

---

G-10 board is cut and well on the way into the wings. This system make everything so smooth and looks right when it moves.

---

Wings are done so I couldn't resistant an inspirational look.

---

Now that the wings are done on to what might be a bit difficult .  Going to see what happens here.

---

Yak Man wrote on Mar 27^th, 2017 at 5:41am:

Now that the wings are done on to what might be a bit difficult .  Going to see what happens here.

Looks like a great start, Al. Gotta be better than 20 year old brittle plastic. Is that welded together when you are done?

You could try the Galland Hood. May be a little easier to model, .....but not nearly as cool, and documentation is not as available as the heavy cage type.

---

Steve Mosher wrote on Mar 27^th, 2017 at 8:40am:

Yak Man wrote on Mar 27th, 2017 at 5:41am: Now that the wings are done on to what might be a bit difficult .  Going to see what happens here. Looks like a great start, Al. Gotta be better than 20 year old brittle plastic. Is that welded together when you are done?

Yes the old plastic one is very fragile.

Some parts will be soldered together.

MkIX wrote on Mar 27^th, 2017 at 7:12pm:

You could try the Galland Hood. May be a little easier to model, .....but not nearly as cool, and documentation is not as available as the heavy cage type.

Yes I agree, I like the early one also and the  G-8 I'm doing has the heavy one.

---

This is a challenge :-?  I soon discovered I need to build a hard wood frame to support the endeavor. The plan is to remove it once it completed but the real one had quite a but of framing inside so some may stay. That's if I can get this to work. Not even sure yet....

---

With the center section somewhat built I went aft. Hard to keep it all straight so that the center will open or I hope it will. :P

---

This is what I have so far so good.

---

That's going to work Al........super.

I like the aleron hinging. Looks easier to line up. Where can you get g10 carbon board?
Would fiberglass matts work for the hinges? I assume you bury the ron in the aileron end?

Marc

yorcram wrote on Mar 28^th, 2017 at 2:23pm:

I like the aleron hinging. Looks easier to line up. Where can you get g10 carbon board? Would fiberglass matts work for the hinges? I assume you bury the ron in the aileron end? Marc

I got mine of E-bay. Lots of it there. You can also use fiberglass board, it should be just as good.

More done yesterday.

---

It looks like it will function just fine. This will allow me to place all the switches inside the cockpit :)

---

Are we getting board yet? More

---

That greenhouse structure is a work of art. You could frame that itself in a glass case. Very nice Al!

I agree with Whitey 100%.

The canopy looks very realistic.  And having it operational is the icing on the cake.

Switches in the cockpit will be cool. 

Outstanding canopy Al !
Now you'll have to put a pilot inside .

Yak Man wrote on Mar 29^th, 2017 at 6:01am:

Are we getting board yet? More

Saaaaaaaaweeeet!  :)

whitey wrote on Mar 29^th, 2017 at 7:52am:

That greenhouse structure is a work of art. You could frame that itself in a glass case. Very nice Al!

Mike   That's very kind of you to say, thank-you.
Thanks to all for your encouraging words.

I've slowed down a bit. Plus it's at that stage were you work and you work and it doesn't look like you did anything.. :-[    Anyway this is the whole plane just about ready for final sanding. 

---

The tail feather were fabric so solar flim on those parts.

---

This is the reason this plane exists,  There not glued in but the slot is ready for them.

---

This tail wheel is giving me a lot of problems and I may have to rethink the entire thing. It's slowing me down. :-?  May have to head out to the slope today and think on it. :D

---

Mike is correct Al. Work of art.

Al are there any trips to Top Gun in your future?  :) She is looking very nice!

Hey Al. A little
Off Topic but Graeme just got picked up by JR. Also, he's talk g about going ng back to Top agin, so there may be another trip!