BF 109 design

[lunarhighway]

I've recently got back to paper modeling, and designing, and i'm whiping off the dust of some old projects, including this BF 109 F the basic shape and detailing is done but there's a few fit issues and some things i'd like to improve.

The bf 109 might very well be one of the most modeled subjects from the WW2 era so some might wonder if we really need another messershmitt. Because of this i've raised the bar on this one.

it should be easy to build but as detailed and accurate as possible. One particular feature will be to reduce the number of seems without compromiseing the shape accuracy... and to have as many seems as possible coexist with actual panel lines

because i'm still (re)learing 3d modeling most of this model was designed by hand... the formers where based on plans and the panels where vector drawn based on measurements and educated guesses, than printed, test build and adjusted.

here's a few pictures of my testbuilds

the main structure, i tried to keep it simple but with enough formers to keep all the parts in the right shape and aligned



after the first testbuild of the main parts all remaining problem areas where marked
a new version was build... it may look the same, but quite some parts where changed... the wings became a single piece and the nose panels where redesigned

it can't be seen in this picture, but there's still an "impossible fold" at the wing root.. this is a compound curve that causes a wrinkle in the paper... so that needs be be fixed. i'd also like to have some sort of wing sparr that includes the wheel well detail and sets the wing angle and perhaps more structure in the rear fuselage as this is also still a bit floppy.

I'm also playing with the idea of useing a "inner skin" in certain areas such as the lower aft body so that the outer skin can be glued around this without the need of tabs

once the basic shape is done i can tweak some details like the airscoop and the wheelwells and than it's ready for the painshop

[Werner Smuts]

WOW, this looks great!!
Looking forward to see the progress in this one.
i love the Me-109....... can never have enough of them.......... :-)

[cgutzmer]

nice looking work!
Chris

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

That look very nice and shows a lot of work and effort. I am not of great knowledge, but I make the Wilhelmshavener Messerschmitt 109 (It is vaguely the F or G) and I would though suggest to make the propeller cover in rings...





The Wilhelmshavener kit it has the nose for the Avia S-199 so I investigate to find new nose piece I can use from a different model. I have one 109 with the "petal" style nose and it is not so good. But then I find the ring style nose design I use here and it capture the shape much smoother. It is just a suggestion...

[nothing]

looks awsome.i always admire those that can design by hand like that!

[cdavenport]

One suggestion to go along with your design philosophy: tone down the panel lines. Aircraft do not have great big black lines all over them. Rather, the transition from one panel line to another is quite subtle, especially in the scales we are working in.

I'll look forward to building this one because that blasted seam down the center of paper airplanes makes me crazy!

[lunarhighway]

@Keds_Girl_Lara

good point...perhaps i could include both. they both and pros and cons

petal spinners have a lot of visible seems in the wrong location but a smooth silhouette.. so if the spinner is in one dark color and especially if you cover it in glue, sand and paint it... it will represent the original more accurate...also they consist of one piece so it's easier to get them right in smaller scales.

on the other hand cone type spinners will have the seems in a more natural location... so the finish will be better especially on multi colored spinners and in a pure paper build ... on a small scale spinner however the number of cones needs to be reduced or they get to small to be buildable and the silhouette will have a stepped appearance

i think it comes down to personal preference and skill and the original shape which type will be more suited... so i'll add both to the finished product to keep everyone happy

@cdavenport

dont worry this is just an unpainted test build... when i color it i'll look at the different locations to see what's be nicest approach... on lighter colors i sometimes use the lines as a overlay with different blend options so they appear as a darker tint of the base color. i think it's probably also a nice idea to include a blank version of the model...so everyone can paint it the way they like