1/32 Matchbox Bf-109E

by Dean Large

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Last March, I set myself a challenge of taking an older kit, something quite basic, and seeing what I could do with it. I ended up choosing the Matchbox 1/32 Messerschmitt 109E as I’d recently done a photographic walkaround of the example in the RAF Museum at Hendon, Equipped with an Eduard PE set for the cockpit and a newly acquired Rosie the Riveter tool, I set to work. Nine months later, this was the result…

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I modified, exchanged, replaced or scratchbuilt just about every part of this kit in one way or another. The list of mods as I remember them is:
 
Canopy framing scratchbuilt from plastic rod, and windscreen hinge added;
Grab handles added to windscreen;
Canopy stay spring added from light bulb filament;
Canopy sliding portion knobs added;
Cockpit built from PE and a lot from scratch;
Wheel wells totally scratchbuilt;
Brake lines and data placards added to undercarriage;
All cowling vents opened and edges thinned;
Stabiliser trim mechanism scratchbuilt;
Propeller boss drilled out;
Spinner backplate lightening holes added;
Spinner backplate lightening holes added;
Aerial insulator and antenna wires added;
Lights faired over and replaced;
Existing panel lines subdued, other scribed in;
Riveted entirely;
Rudder horns and cables added;
Wheel covers scratchbuilt;
Flaps dropped and wing root lightening hole added;
Radiator stays replaced;
Pitot tube drilled out;
Tailwheel well enclosed inside;
Cannon muzzles scratchbuilt;
Exhausts replaced with resin from Quickboost;
Exhaust shroud leading edge scratchbuilt.

I’d decided to do a Battle of Britain era 109E to go with my 1/32 Spitfire II, so I used the Eagle Cal decals for Hans ‘Assi’ Hahn’s aircraft on an unmottled airframe. Colours used were Vallejo for a change, as I usually use Tamiya exclusively, Johnson’s was used as a the clear coat, weathering was done with the airbrush, panel lines with a pastel wash, and tyres dustied up with dry pastels. A matt coat sealed everything in, and the photos were taken outdoors on a scenic grass mat.
 
Hope you think the 96 hours work I logged on this one were worth it!

Dean 

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Photos and text © by Dean Large