Messerschmitt Bf109 E-1 (Airfix)

My first build on my return to the hobby was this kit, but it went disastrously wrong and ended up in the bin. I felt like I had unfinished business with the 1/48 Airfix Bf 109E-1 so bought the same again for my second build - this was officially my first completed kit.

The main thing I remember wanting to improve was all related to painting - from masking through to my airbrushing skills. The other big thing I wanted to work on was pigments, as you can see I wanted to use some for the around the guns and the exhausts, but was really unhappy with the result.

I also had a bit of a disaster after I shook a bottle of cellulose thinner which I had an already loosened cap and it got everywhere - my intial priority was that it got in my eye so I had a slight panic that I would loose my sight in that eye or something. Having washed it thoroughly I went back to the bench and found it had got all over the engine cowling and melted the plastic. Airfix couldn’t provide a replacement at the time so I made the best I could of a bad situation, although one saving grace was that the decals from the kit I threw away were still on my bench so I could at least replace those.