Bf-109F-4 1/32 Hasegawa

[s00ntir]

My "Gustav" has just been finished so I immediately started nex project - Bf-109F-4, 363 Squadriglia 150 Gruppo Autonomo based in Sciacca , Silicy 1943. There are only very few not especially good quality pictures of these machines available so there are also many doubts regarding their camo. I've decided to modify typical German RLM 78 / 79 scheme with streaks / mottles of RLM 78. Although many sources claim that this camo was modified with the use of Grigio Azzurro Chiaro - in my opinion the colors on the only available color pictures seems to be identical. In my opinion (not necessary right) this strange camo was probably of German origin applied somewhere in the field. I'll overspray German markings with GAC1. Let's see what happens

So far - the kit has been riveted and black based.

[s00ntir]

And some marbling done

[s00ntir]

Gentlemen, I've just finished airbrushing my Bf-109 F-4. There is stil a lot of work to be done but I'd be grateful for your comments. I can still change / improve this camo. First of all - as we agreed with Vince and Stefano this machine was probably in German applied camo before it was passed to RA. I really doubt that anyone at that time - at that place had enough time for repainting old German machines. They were intensively used for training - with high ratio of accidents. So I've airbrushed some RLM 75 blotches over early version of RLM 79. The result is to be discussed of course. I've taken totally different approach - just tried to be consequent - i.e. the same pattern on fuselage and wings. German crosses have been painted over with GAC1. So far - no decals have been used. Just some wet transfer stencils before applying RLM 75. The model is much lighter than on attached pictures. Sorry - poor light. Nevertheless - what do you think about the result?

[s00ntir]

And that's original color picture from Sicily

[Editor]

The paint job looks looks great Just a beautiful job.

I don't think that's the original photo, the blue sky is too dark but its a good photo since it highlights/contrasts the disruptive pattern that was applied over the original 78/79 scheme.

Great work and send in a short write-up for this plane and Ugo Drago's G6.

[s00ntir]

Actually I've one more problem with this camo. White band on the fuselage is in different section than on German Bf-109s.... So what? Should I paint the section next to this white band on my model with GAC1? Definitely I think too much...time for a drink....

[Editor]

Below is a rough line drawing over the photo of this plane and you can see that the white fuselage band sits on the 5 panel overlapping the 6 (and 4) panels slightly and sitting next to the hatch on the 4 panel. The way you applied the white fuselage band looks fine, I wouldn't change the white fuselage band you applied.

Keep in mind the photo is not at 90o (see the landing gear struts) so you wont get a perfect overlap with the drawing. The drawing is a Bf.109 G2. Also note the C.202 600mm wide standard white fuselage band. The Germans usually applied their theater bands further astern but there seems to have been no directive that stipulated either placement or width of the bands. The RA seemed to be more strict about the application of tactical markings.



Also nice attention to detail on the port side flap.

Just one last thing, this plane had an armored windscreen, if you can easily modify the current one that's great but I wouldn't remove it - it looks fine as is. I just mentioned this because I know you're detailed oriented. The plane looks very accurate and gorgeous as is.

[s00ntir]

Maybe I was not enough precise - I know I've applied my whithe band in more or less proper place - my concern is about section 6 - that's where it should be painted white by the Germans before they passed the plane to RA. So - the question is if RA overpainted section 6 with some color (presumably GAC1) - while applying white to section 5.

I've assumed that port side flap had been repaired in the fimed - ao I put small circle of thin self adhesive alluminium foil to the flap and painted it - such a small detail

Regarding armoured windscreen - I know of course it shoud be there - it's just not installed yet. I still need approx. two weeks to finish this project. And G-14/AS is coming next - presumably together with K-4. There will be a lot of questions

[lb]

great ! excellently; very well.

[Stefano]

Excellent rendering of the squiggle. Surely RLM 75 seems more proper than GAC1 for it. Watching the stern view of the original, notwithstanding the fuselage in shadow and the sun reflection on wings, it seems the latter did have the squiggle but not what could seem an overpainting. Maybe the crosses were scratched away, or a fine and accurate replica of the pattern had been made, but I don't think so. Even on the fuselage is hard to see some overpainting. An underwing patch with GAC1 is however visible in the colour picture of the subject.
A note on overpainting on the model: Italians hardly did it in with a sharp way like you've done. Photos show wide, soft and irregular patches covering old insignia, mainly if the color used was a bit different than the original. The few examples of 'trimmed' overpainting I recall were on some JU 87B/R, but they were done with a paint (VOS2) that's virtually the same than RLM 70; it stood out just because newly applied. Moreover, on a logical basis, if Italians wanted to delete a marking over a 79 camo, they simply had used the most similar of the several sand paints they had. GAC1 grey was used to overpaint on 74 and 75 greys, and it's higly probable that - at least early in time - some mixing with black was done to get it closer with RLM grey tones.

[Editor]

You did such a good job on the port side flap that the camo looks better with it

In short it’s unlikely RA ground crew *repainted* the rear fuselage, they didn't have access to German paint stocks until 1944, and nor did ground crew apply a spray of GAC1 over that area, especially on a plane that was meant for training. I believe the white band was already present on these planes (F) but your question can be answered in three parts:

1) 15 x F4 - old machines built in 1941 mostly drawn from German units in Greece (Mediterranean theater) JG.27. Deliveries began on 19 April 1943
2) 6 x G2, 10 x G4, 91 x G6 - built between Feb.-March 1943 - (relatively) new/new
3) 6 x G2, 10 x G4, 91 x G6 - built between Feb.-March 1943 - from existing German units

Notes:
1) The F4s that were drawn from German units in Greece can be assumed to have had a white fuselage band, applied by German ground crew. The width and placement of the white band didn't seem to follow any order as seen by the first two photos below (Bf.109F) - ref. Squadron Signal Pub. #57. In the first photo, the bands are different width and located on different parts of the fuselage and the plane in the background, the fuselage band is applied at a slight diagonal. In the second photo, the plane furthest from the camera, the white fuselage band is quiet wide while the plane closest to the camera is narrow - again note the placement of the bands relative to the Balkenckreuz. The third photo shows a Bf.109G with no band. Note that 150o Gruppo G6s all seemed to have had a uniform white band 600mm width at the same location on the fuselage which suggests most of these planes were received by the RA with no fuselage band or some were new.

2) These planes were received from factory or transferred to the RA in a new state without a fuselage band. The fuselage band was applied by RA units uniformly 600mm width at the 5 panel, overlapping 4 and 6 panels.

3) Planes that came with or without a fuselage band.

There is a RA Bf.109 where German markings extended slightly further astern and were repainted with GAC1 and the white band applied over GAC1 Bf.109G6 4-154 W. Nr.18096. I only have the profile of this plane (below) but the photo is in D'Amico's first book on the subject. This plane was received either new or without the fuselage band. In Ali Straniere #1 there's a good list of all known Bf.109s received by the RA and ANR and you can see which were received from existing German units and those that were probably new.

In regard to the plane you're modelling, I believe a white band was already present on this machine and its width was approx. 600mm from the photo I posted above. Also in the photos below, German Bf.109F units operating in this area (JG.27) didn't carry codes on the rear fuselage or aft of the white band. Without a photo of the rear fuselage of this particular machine, I would leave your model as is (maybe Stefano has more to add here).

[s00ntir]

Wow! Just Wow! Thank you

[s00ntir]

Gentlemen - maybe I'lll try to repaint this GAC1 on upper surfaces with Nocciola Chiaro? And maybe put some delicate motlles / streaks of Verde Oliva Scuro... Both colors should be available at that time - the final result can be interesting. I'll leave GAC1 on lower / RLM 78 surfaces. In the end - it will be quite "colorful"

[Stefano]

I wouldn't paint any erased cross on upperwings. I can't see any on there, and sun reflection would have highlited every feature.
One of the F-4s flown by Marseille, I recall, had one cross partly chipped, suggesting it could have been a decal. Maybe Italians simply scrapped them. Undersides instead show what seems a roughly covered cross. A true guess are fuselage sides and fin swastika.
Stefano

[s00ntir]

Stefano - so it's decided. No overpainting - I'll repeat my initial pattern. It will be just like that. And you and Vince will be "Godfathers" of this project Thank you very much for you support.