Fujimi and Airfix Bf110 C/D in 1/72 (6)

The Airfix One-Ten has been in the sprayshop today - have decided against my original planned scheme and opted for something a little more colourful - a ZG76 machine based in the Greek theatre during May 1941. This will be Bf110 D-3 M8+AP flown by Staffelkapitän 6./ZG76 Hptm. Heinz Nacke. According to Vasco/Estanislau in their excellent Bf 110 guide (Classic Publications) the 'D' sub-type featured a longer rear fuselage. Airfix have the parts in the box but I've omitted it here since Kagero portray Nacke's machine with the shorter rear fuselage. As Vasco/Estansislau also state its is very often impossible to be sure from photos what a particular variant is, since many Bf110s display the characteristics of a number of different sub-types. At least we know this one is not an 'E' since it does not have the nose air intake for the cockpit heater. It does however carry the ventral oil tank and is fitted with the enlarged 'D' tail wheel. I'm painting this in RLM76 undersides and standard 74/75 uppers with plenty of yellow theatre markings. Using the kit decals as far as possible - the sharksmouth was hopeless at settling down around the nose curves though and I've had to cover up the gaps, my mistakes etc etc with suitably coloured decal strip from the spares. I'm spending far more time on this Airfix kit than I am on the old Fujimi Bf110 being build alongside. That said I think the Airfix kit has a better shape -especially around the forward fuselage- and better detail. The wheel wells, undercarriage legs and bulged main wheels are particularly well done on the Airfix kit. The Airfix decals are poor and will probably not be fully used. (Click on the pics to get in close)