Saturday 6 November 2010

1/144 scale aircraft - Messerschmitt Bf 110

Following on from my posting on the Messerschmitt Bf 109, I now give you it's big brother*.  The 'heavy fighter' concept appeared to be the weapon of the future in the mid 1930s as the larger airframe could carry a very heavy armament.  Sadly though (for their crews) the concept failed when confronted by modern single-seaters like the Spitfire and D.520. 

I have always had a soft spot for the '110 - partly because the old Airfix 1/72 kit was the first model I ever painted.  Also it's reputation for being a bit crap makes it irresistible and of course it looks cool.

All of my Bf 110 models were built from the Academy (minicraft) kit.  Here we have a pair of '110s, painted for operations over France and Egypt respectively.
Same again from a different angle (the gun camera of a swooping Hurricane?)
A Bf 110 for less sunny climes - accompanied by an Fw 190 (by True North Miniatures).
It was as a night fighter that the '110 found it's true calling.  I made a 'toasting fork' type antenna for the nose from piano wire.  Spurred on by such success I then converted a Revell Ju 88 into a night fighter in a similar way.  The paint job was done with light grey, black and dark grey spray paint - each applied from further away than the last without waiting for the earlier coats to dry.  I make no claims about it's authenticity but I rather like it.

* Or sister. Or non-gender-specific sibling.

2 comments:

Chris Kemp said...

Love the night fighter camo technique Tim. Our kitchen worktop looks similar. The finish is brilliant for hiding breadcrumbs.

Regards, Chris

Tim Gow said...

CK
Oddly enough our own kitchen worktop is pretty similar. I must try a photo of the '110 with the worktop as a backdrop....