From: "Submissions for ARC" To: "Dave Johnson" References: <4CB3D924.5000203@wingnutfilms.co.nz> Subject: Re: HLJ Hasegawa,,1/32 Messerschmitt Bf190F-4 Trop Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2010 13:47:09 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252"; reply-type=original Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3664 Hi, I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today. Thanks again for sending it in. Steve Bamford Aircraft Resource Center http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com Live like there is no tomorrow; Love like you've never been hurt. Work like you don't need the money. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Johnson" To: Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 8:42 PM Subject: HLJ Hasegawa,,1/32 Messerschmitt Bf190F-4 Trop > > > Hasegawa > > 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf190F-4 Trop > > Product # 8428 (http://www.hlj.com/product/hsgst31) from HobbyLink Japan > (http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist.cgi?rel=nav&GenreCode=Air > ) > > Product Article by Dave Johnson on October 2010 > > *History –* > > The Messerschmitt Bf109 went through a second major redesign during > 1939-40 which gave birth to the F Series. The "Friedrich" saw a complete > redesign of the wings, the cooling system and fuselage aerodynamics, and > was powered by a DB 601N for the F-1 and F-2 variants and was upgraded > to the DB 601E for the F-3 and F-4 variants. Considered by many as the > high watermark of the Bf 109 development, the F series abandoned the > wing cannon and concentrated all armament in the forward fuselage. A > pair of machine guns above and a single 15 or 20mm cannon behind the > engine, the latter firing between the cylinder banks and through the > propeller hub and spinner. This configuration was used by all subsequent > variants. A handful of Bf 109Fs were used operationally late in the > Battle of Britain in 1940, but only become widespread in service in the > first half of 1941, replacing the 109E. Production lasted exactly a year > between May 1941 and May 1942, with 1,841 F-4 variants produced. The > Erla factory produced 576 tropicalized F-4 trop’s in the first half of > 1942. > > *The Kit* – > > It has been a long wait for 109 fans to get plastic injected Bf109F. > Thankfully Hasegawa has finally added the Friedrich to their 109 family > and answered all 109 fans prayers in doing so! With this F release, > Hasegawa has retooled approximately 90% of the kit and only uses the old > G series wings, flaps and slats. A completely new fuselage has been > tooled and it has eliminated the tail plug that is on the older 109G and > K releases. Also an insert panel has been added to the left front of the > fuselage to allow different sizes of supercharger intakes of the earlier > and later series of the F series 109’s. There is a small down side to > this insert panels and that is, it creates a seam line that is not found > on the actual airframe. So there will be some filling and sanding > required in this area. > > The propellers and spinner has been completely redone, and they have fix > the bulging spinner that is in the 109G kits. The propellers taper has > also been corrected with the sides sloping inwards. Along with the new > tooled parts, is the cockpit which now features more detail than the G > and K series. There are finely molded wiring looms and control wires to > the components within the cockpit. Two styles of seat are offered the > later tub type which is molded in one piece and the early style is > molded in two. The way that Hasegawa has designed the earlier seat is a > bit odd, the two pieces join in the middle of the seat and creates a > nasty and tricky seam to remove. The cockpit canopy also features the > flare gun and have finely molded latches and grip handles. Hasegawa has > also included a very impressive seated pilot figure that has 3 optional > heads... yes 3! A Seat harness is included also in decal form, but it’s > really crying out for a photo etch replacement. > > As mentioned before the wings that are included is from the G series > releases. The instructions that Hasegawa supply are clearly marked to > backdate the G wings to a F series. There are a few details that need to > be filled and removed. The main landing gear struts has also received a > face-lift and now has a molded on brake line. Separate oleo scissors and > tie-down rings are now separate items. The wheels now are molded in 4 > pieces and the hubs are now separate pieces which will easy the painting > process. Two tail wheels are included too, one with the oleo link and > one without. Some of the F-4’s were fitted with two external stiffening > plates that were screwed onto the outer fuselage on each side due to > tail failures, Hasegawa has included these stiffeners as self adhesive > foil. But check your references before adding them as not all F-4’s had > these plates added. > > The kits decals are printed on the super thin paper in a Matt finish. > The white on the decal sheet is white and not the cream that Hasegawa is > known for. I think with their new and future releases, we won’t see this > problem anymore. Decals are in good register and are well printed and > appear in authentic RLM colours. There are four marking schemes included > in this kit, all belonging to the Star of Africa, Hans-Joachim Marseille. > > All the Marseille schemes are from North Africa in 1942, > > WNr.8693 – February 1942 with 50 aerial victories. > > WNr.10059 – May 1942 with 68 aerial victories. > > WNr.10137 – June 1942 with 101 aerial victories > > WNr.8673 - September 1942 with 151 aerial victories. > > Since this is the first release of the Bf109F-4 Trop from Hasegawa, they > have included a nicely cast resin figure of Hans-Joachim Marseille in a > standing pose. > > Overall, this new tooled release.. well 90% tooled, raises the bar again > from Hasegawa. The level of detail is fantastic with very crisp and fine > details. With the other 109 offerings from Eduard and Trumpeter you > should be able to modeled all major variants in 32^nd scale. This kit is > very suitable for any level of modeler. > > I would like to thank HobbyLink Japan (www.hlj.com ) > for this review sample. > >