discussion ICM 1/48 Bf109 F4

[dave]

Ok, so this will be my next victim, I am just doing the aircraft for now, I will save the figures for a diorama another day.

This will be my first ICM kit, fairly basic, but quite a detailed engine but I will build closed up. There are no part numbers on the sprues, you need to refer to a layout on the front of the instructions. There are also no locating pins or lugs which will make things interesting.
Done a bit of research on the aircraft in question and at this time the undercarriage bay doors were taken off to stop the wheels getting stuck to them with snow, ice and mud.

 

[Steven000]

They can be a handfull but turn out nice :thumb2: .
I like to scrape on the rudder and ailerons because they are a bit too thick when installed...
Have fun!
Steven

 

[stona]

Dave, I hope you are a man who enjoys a challenge.

It should make a very nice model, but I think you will find it takes some building.

Good luck!

Steve

 

[dave]

Made a start and already encountering issues, the piece on the end of the cockpit floor needed thinning down to fit into the receiving slot. Couple of locating pins on two parts of the engine also needed removing as no corresponding holes to receive them.

 

[Dave Ward]

Dave,
this dates from 2006, a few years before ICM really stepped up their game, I've made the Spitfire IX, and the P-51B, from the same era. They are nice models, but need quite a bit of fettling. Dry fitting is the order of the day! I seem to remember that you could finish them with the cowls off, but to show them with the cowls on, you had to cut away parts of the engine, to get a good fit.
Dave

 

[stona]

It looks like you've got some nice sink marks there too!

Cheers

Steve

 

[BarryW]

I have been very impressed with the recent ICM 1/32 releases and still have the Gladiator in the stash. They have certainly moved on from the 'short run' style of kit without location pins and tabs and are now very mainstream with their new releases. Enjoy this build, I will certainly be looking in..

 

[dave]

Glad to hear their new kits are much better, I have been debating their new He 111. The sink marks will be hidden once assembled in this case, but I am keeping my eye on them. I have read a couple of build reviews and it is not entirely clear how much of the engine will Need removing to make it closed up, I also understand I need to be careful of the length, if not mated to the cockpit assembly the Engine can protrude too far forward. The engine I understand, the same problem happens with the Eduard 1/48th E3.
normally I do some research on a kit before Buying, but this was an impulse buy visiting a model shop down in Bastogne, I fancied the winter colours.
I am also quite liking the challenge of tackling an older kit.

 

[Steven000]

I made two with closed panels and one with open engine, in the two closed ones I build up the nose with just the panels, so without the engine. It will result in a much better fit then with the engine underneath...
Steven

 

[colin m]

And it all looks so harmless, sat there attached to the sprues.

 

[Dave Ward]

You can pick these ICM models up for £12-13 in the UK ( less postage ), and as such are pretty good value - sure, they need work, but isn't that part of the fun? I did make the ICM Lagg-3, and that was a 10% filler model!
If you're looking for a 1/48 WWII Russian fighter, I can really recommend the Zvezda La-5FN
Dave

 

[dave]

Thinking about it and looking at his builds I am going to leave the engine out.
Made some progress on the cockpit, as there is no decal for the instrument panel I have daubed some paint on to give the impression of instruments if you don’t look closely. The sidewalls were a bit bare so I scratchbuilt what if I remember correctly is the yellow fuel pipe and the document case.
Next step the seatbelts.

 

[dave]

Been nearly a week since I posted last and for me this build is going like lightning. Just about ready for the primer.
Took a little time scratchbuilding seatbelts, the lap belts are in, but I am waiting to add the shoulder belts.
Some careful fettling needed to get the pieces all reasonably lined up. I did leave the engine out in the end. So I have a spare engine for something in the future.

 

[Steven000]

Nice progress Dave, seatbelts look great :thumb2:
Steven

 

[dave]

Ok we are now into the paint shop, primed, then some dark grey blotches, now the first coat of white. I will do a couple of patches in places with Insignia White as well for a bit of variation.

 

[dave]

Got the yellow wing tips, underside at the front, spinner tip and the yellow band on the fuselage done today.

 

[dave]

For those who might find the information useful the paints are MRP except the yellow which is the Gunze aqueous (mr Hobby)

 

[dave]

A bit more progress, propeller and spinner fitted but the spinner need a slight touch up. Undercarriage is also on, quite surprisingly, this is a good solid connection giving the right splay.
Once I have done a little touch up and a bit of “rust” to the exhausts. It will be time for a coat of Humbrol Clear.

 

[dave]

Got the decals on this morning, accompanied by one or two choice words. The decals were very fragile and a three of the larger ones broke up on me. The spares were raided for the swastikas on the tail as there were none in the kit. Also not conforming well to the panel lines. I will need to try and hide the joins tomorrow with a little careful paint application.
I do hope the decals on the newer ICM kits are better, I quite like the look of the Henkel III.

 

[Steven000]

Looking good Dave :thumb2:.
Those decals need quite a bit of a product like micro-sol indeed, I never broke one (decal) but perhaps I was lucky...
Good luck with the finishing touches :thumb2:
Steven