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eduard
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Info Eduard - March 2011
WORKSHOP
could be shown, albeit restrained, under such
things as scratches. For my panel, I chose a very
lightly weathered appearance.
The situation with the bezels is more complica-
ted. Components of Luftwaffe panels, including
bezels, were manufactured of various materials.
They could be metal, or formed of black Bakeli-
te. Red-brown Bakelite has also been observed
sprayed black, but not often. Still, a lightly wea-
thered and worn red-brown Bakelite visible
under a coat of black gives the modeler an in-
teresting option.
According to available references and artifacts
of panels and associated equipment, different
weathering possibilities come to light. It would
be a mistake to give a metallic sheen to a bezel
made of black Bakelite. Extremists are presen-
ted with the option of depicting different instru-
ments according to their sheen (Bakelite had
more of a sheen to it). As with everything, there
could have been differences and exceptions.
In most cases, though, instruments were made
of these materials (and this will have impact
on weathering and sheen).
As I stated earlier, the screws were generally left
in their molded color. That doesn’t, however, apply
Kit Part Description Original German
Description
(Bf 110C Instruments)
Material / Notes
K15, 18, 39 Magneto Switches Zündschalter Metal, round lever typically in aluminum
K4, 16 Landing Gear and Flab Levers Betätigung für Fahrwek u.
Landeklappen
Metal, indicators in color (EIN-red, AUS - green)
K13 Landing gear controls Fahrwerkanzeige Metal, including switches. Control with the label
‘EIN’ could have had (but not necessarily) a red
frame or even red lettering, but that tends to hold
true for later machines from 1944.
K36 Air pressure gage Pressluft-Druckmesser Metal, typically with blue framing and gage limits
in red.
K14 Emergency landing gear and
ap handles
(Notbetätigung für Fahr-
werk u. Landeklappe
Typically in metal with black frame.
K23 Emergency Steering Control Notzug für Kurssteuerung Covered with black bakelite with red /white
lettering
K3 Armament switchbox Schaltkasten Metal. Its presentation in the model represents the
only real deviation from reality. The black ports on
the top part are in fact red controls, and the clear
parts in the bottom part are in fact, black buttons.
This doesn’t present a big problem that ‘more dedi-
cated’ modelers would not be able to deal with.
(link http://www.cockpitinstrumente.de/
instrumente/katalog/Schaltkasten/gross/
Fl.47292.gif)
K21 Armament Selector Kippwechselschalter Metal with plastic lever
K37 Radio navigation indicator Anzeigegerät für Funkna-
vigation
Metal
K22 Electric Compass elektrischer Kurszeiger Typically bakelite front
K38 Compass Führertochterkompass Rotating frame metal painted grey or black. Black
middle plastic.
K2 Ammo counter Zähl- und Verschlusskont-
rollkasten
Metal, with plastic buttons. With this piece of equi-
pment, we run into the same problem as with part
K3. The two upper openings are in fact red
controls, while the clear components are supposed
to be buttons.
(link http://www.cockpitinstrumente.de/instru-
mente/katalog/anzeigen/gross/Fl47298-1.gif)
K41 Turn and Bank Indicator Wendezeiger Could have been metal or black bakelite
K34 (1) Vertical Speed Indicator Variometer Metal bezel
K35 Gyrocompass Kurskreisel Metal bezel with plastic handle
K34 (2) Altimeter Höhenmesser Bezel and tuning knob were in bakelite, often in
red-brown color
(Although there were metal versions).
K24 Controls Warnleuchte Front part of the panel, middle typically white
(alternatively yellow);
bottom section of the panel, middle in red; body in
metal painted black or RLM 66.
K32 Articial Horizon Pneum. Horizont Bezel typically black Bakelite
K1 Pitot Tube Heater Control Rechteckschauzeichen mit
Staurohrbeschriftung
Metal bezel
K12 Airspeed Indicator Metal bezel
K17 Collant Temperature Temperaturanzeiger
(Kühlstoff)
Bakelite bezel. May have been outlined in color,
typically light blue or light green. Less frequently,
yellow, red and orange also appeared.
K10 Fuel Gage Vorratsanzeiger Bakelite bezel, could have been outlined in yellow.
K31 Radiator Shudder Control Kühlerklappensc Metal bezel, could have been outlined blue, lever
in Bakelite.
K11 Fuel tanks switch Umschalter für Kraftsto-
fftanks
Metal bezel and lever in aluminum or black
K40 Clock Borduhren Metal (usually brass!), bezel often black, but could
have been in another color, typically green, red-
-purple, or blue-grey. In view of the materials used,
the weathering would lean to a dulled brass look,
instead of a grey metal look.
K10 Propeller Pitch Control Luftschraubenstellungsan-
zeiger
Bezel could have been metal or Bakelite
K20 Tachometer Elektrischer Drehzahlan-
zeiger
Black or red-brown Bakelite
K19 Pressure Gages Ladedruckmesser Black or red-brown Bakelite
Instrument arrangement drawing cross-referenced
with the chart and kit parts.
The panel immediately prior to weathering.
to all of them. Some are molded as part of the
bezel, and so gained the same matt appearan-
ce. After mounting the screws, I gave them a light
coat of Gunze black. Here, it is important to note
that Luftwaffe panels had screws that could be
the same color as thier respective bezel, or could
have also remained in their natural metal color.
Naturally, a combination of the two would also be
reasonable.