New Messerschmitt Scheme. Love or hate it

I too like the idea of a flap or other panel to seem like it came from a different aircraft 🙂

I like it. It would have been interesting to see how the odd flap looked, perhaps a removable panel or hatch could be done in a similar way. The panel could for instance still be in primer, maybe a different colour, the same colour but not weathered at all or mismatched camouflage boundaries. Too many possibilities!
Cheers Paul.

I think it looks great.
Very authentic.
I hear the idea of the aileron, but think at the end of the day it may just look a bit odd, and not many people would make the mind leap of what it is supposed to represent.
Looking forward to seeing in the flesh

great job mate

I thought the same, particularly that first top shot looks exactly like a model. Its actually very hard to take a pic (with my low levels of ability and just an iPhone) to get across the look adequately. I swear in real life it looks much “better” than these images suggest. The satin looking finish might be a little trick. The aircraft was out in drizzle when the pictures were taken so the surface was uniformally damp which might account for it.

The initial idea was to paint one flap in a totally different colour and then weather independently to a slightly lesser degree than the rest of the aircraft. This would then present as a hastily executed field repair. In all honesty I lost my nerve at the last minute, fearing I was going too far. Kind of regret it a bit. Guess I could still do it. Group thoughts?

When we’re doing all this for the first time we just have so many valid voices at the table. Aircraft engineers, aircraft painters, scenic artists, paint manufacturers and just occasionally the owner. It does take time when you have no reference nor can you draw on any advice of those that have done exactly this before! The experts are deciding now if we should put a clear matt lacquer top coat on to protect the finish, oh the irony of it all. If we do then I’m hoping the cost of that wont be the uniformity of which you speak. We’re all finding our way a bit.

🙂

Me too. I thought the first image looked like a scale diorama 🙂

Are there plans to do an air-to-air shoot with this one and the weathered Buchon?

To draw a parallel with one of my other hobbies, there is a trend for guitar manufacturers to finish instruments with pre-worn areas. Older electric guitars were finished with a nitrocellulose lacquer that quickly wore down and discoloured. Some guitarists want this look from the word go. Some critics of this finish hint towards it being stolen valour of a sort, as the wear hasn’t been earned honestly through the hard work and discipline of playing these guitars for the hundreds of hours required. If nothing else, the manufacturers of these instruments tend to go hog-wild and produce a finish that looks like the guitars took a serious mauling; right down to some adding fake rust to metal parts!

I wonder what Melvyn Hiscock makes of it all…

I’ve already said that I like this Messerschmitt’s scheme. Plus, the option is always there to crack open the paint stripper (I’ve seen dedicated ‘aircraft stripper’ on some websites) and paint it some other colour.

The only thing that bothers me is that it almost doesn’t look like a full sized aircraft. If somebody uploaded this on Britmodeller as a 1/24 model set up as a diorama then I wouldn’t be too surprised. Maybe the finish is just a bit too uniformly flat and satin-finished?

A few more images..

[ATTACH=CONFIG]256533[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]256534[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]256535[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]256536[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]256537[/ATTACH]

Nice 🙂

What Messerschmitt is referred to in the very first post? Photos don’t show up on my smartphone and can’t get time to look on the laptop.

Here is PV270, which has as-authentic-as-they-could-get paint, and has been allowed to weather. Not quite the same weathering as in-service use of course, hours are a lot more spread out than a Wing Leader’s mount.

“AL” Deere Spitfire by Errol Cavit, on Flickr

Hi All,
Nice to see an original idea hold despite what anybody will say it’s up to the owner and what the aircraft was possibly being used for, if not accepted
bringing negative comments then the owner can always change if he wants to I am just glad the aircraft is flying.

What I will say about paint schemes is at least like the example Meddle provided they should be some authenticity to the colours and not like the
Spitfire in the picture unless that was actually a colour scheme used anybody ?

Geoff.

Yep, both a fair gramactical point and excellent historical knowledge!

🙂

You’re correct in that the scheme hasn’t actually changed. It belongs to a 109 and is about 8 years old. When we first selected it we were all excited about being a fake 109 and having lots of fun at airshows being shot down. That worked out and it served us well. With “real” 109s now on the scene and airshows being a little more tiring I think she’ll eventually end up in a more authentic 108 scheme. Likely weathered again as I really like the look, although I’ll concede I could just be in a period of post project euphoria. Maybe I get bored of it. Hope not.

This weathered look has been on my mind for years, the final catalyst was that she was getting near to wanting a strip and repaint anyway. This was a way of both experimenting with this and maybe stretching out an already slightly scruffy paint job for another couple of years. It was certainly a leap of faith for all; myself and the artists concerned. Its permanent paint by the way, not washable. Lots of web searching for reference images and discussion with modellers who’ve been doing it for ages. Seeing which of their techniques will up scale to real aircraft and which wont. Trials on loose bits of aircraft skin etc etc. Lots of work.

Other than the recent buchon washable job I’m not aware of it having been done before? Good or bad.

*Stands back, awaits to be proved wrong…*

That’s not a Bucker 181 Bestman, it’s a Heliopolis Gomhouria 181, which is a Egyptian built version of the Zlin Z.381, which is a Czechoslovakian built version of the Bucker 181 Bestman

You should have explained that you meant the weathering. The weathering looks very well done so hats of for that. You asked about the scheme. A scheme that was in use on the Bf109E with the tactical markings specifically in use from mid-August 1940 until the end of the first week of September 1940… Presented on a Bf108 that is supposed to look like it was found at wars end… But hey I’m a puritan… The weathering is very good though… 🙂

Looks spot on.

For flight safety the Perspex is clean. The wheels and underside are actually as grubby as the rest of it although you are touching on a relevant issue. The problem with such a paint finish is that it potentially serves to hide any genuine fluid leaks, be that fuel, oil or hydraulic. It’s odd to touch as you’re convinced you’ll get a dirty hand but you don’t. Pre flight checks now need to be done by running it over with a clean rag!

Nothing wrong with a filthy bird – I rather like it!

I like it. I agree with those who prefer this type of finish to a gloss or polished one.

I think it looks great, certainly looks the part.
Although the canopy Perspex and wheels look a little too clean from that distance.
Brilliant job though!