Tamiya FW-190A-3 finished!

Killer Butcher Bird! Can´t say much that ain´t been said. The smoke and exaust stains on the white really set it off. super technique. Ever done mud/dirt stains on the underside from operating from an unimproved feild? Panel lines are sharp as well. Have to do any rescribeing, if so, how? I´m building the same kit and lost the entire access panel on the left side of the vertical stabilizer due to a combination of a decal disaster and stupidity and now I´m looking for a remedy.

                                                           Mac

Daywalker,I found this video today on youtube.....and immedietly thought of your build.  Very similar besides being an A-4 not sure what the differences are....but you weathering looks spot on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qayREUJe65w&feature=related

Thanks again, glad everyone is enjoying this one.

Darren- WOW!  That sounds very official.  Please pass my best regards to HMSS.

Steve- I most humbly agree with your finishing techniques!  I am also of the school where "as long as I am pleased with the build" is the rule.  I couldn't agree more!   I am using a home-made light box, with four spotlights incorporating 100w G&E Reveal balanced lights.  The camera is a Nikon D80, with a AF-s 18-135mm lens.  I use these settings F-stop 22, shutter speed 1.3, and ISO 100.  Seems to work for most things, and I am always up for trying different settings if anyone has others that might help. 

trexx- Why, thank you!  I did not re-touch any of the photos, they are as taken from the camera.  Great weathering technique, isn't it?  Nothing quite like worn off paint to resemble worn off paint.

Good-Gawd! Sickeningly Gorgeous.

Did you retouch your photos!!?

That is one beautiful Focke Wulf. DANG. Drool worthy.

I appreciate that one method where you lightly sand to reveal color beneath... I do that!

Frank, Ive said it before and ill say it again. Shes a honey for sure. From the weathering that does show it look s perfect. I imagine in the flesh it would look even better. You never know, maybe one day i will see it in the flesh LOL. You never know.]

...Guy

Daywalker wrote:

Looking at the photos, I realize how little of the patchiness shows up in them.  Does anyone have any suggestions for camera settings, background colors, etc that might help?  TIA!

What you've mentioned is interesting and a perennial problem that's difficult to solve. Essentially, it boils down to many digital cameras lacking the ability to differentiate real subtleties of tone (maybe exacerbated by the quality of monitor used to view the images as well).

I've certainly noticed gradations of tone in my models fail to show up in the resultant photos. I've therefore asked myself 'Am I finishing this to suit a web application or so it looks right to the naked eye?'

I personally opt to finish to the latter.The alternative is to increase the contrast in my finishing but this would then look 'over-egged' to the eye and as I live with the things after completion I go for the selfish option instead.

Currently I'm shooting my photos on a Canon S50 compact at 5MP and I'm having to wring its neck to try and squeeze maximum image performance from it. I'm in the market to upgrade to a Canon 450D SLR 12.2 MP tied to a Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens. I'm hoping the Digic III processor with 14 bit colour rendition plus the flat field lens will see a leap in the amount of image information captured. We'll see.

I do photograph using a polarised daylight source (an Actulite task lamp) - not sure what you're using but if it's ordinary daylight (blue) bulbs then a certain amount of glare (being non-polarised) is inevitable and will have its effect.

What camera / lens are you using Frank? Are they flash or tripod exposures?

Best regards

Steve

NB: Does your camera have the ability to shoot in RAW mode? If so, I understand you can extract greater levels of image information from the files via Photoshop or similar. 

RELAYED MESSAGE FROM HMSS COMM LINK:

Frank, 

that my old mate is the DOG'S BOLLOCKS! Flawless.

TTFN.

MESSAGE ENDS. STYL63783834940404-4-4--40038383833883333.

Thanks again everyone for stopping by!  I appreciate the feedback from you all.  THANK YOU!!!

SC- Thinking about submitting the photos, but also considering adding a little more weathering to it first.  Something is still missing IMHO.  As soon as I figure it out, I'll post some updated pics.

Kevin- The outer wing cannons on these had flash supressors on them, not sure why they did and the inner ones didn't though.  I would love to know why, anyone?  I simply machined them to look like the kit ones molded onto the wings.

Brendan- The desert 109 is a G-4, in the markings of the Regia Aeronautica.  believe it or not, it will be the first model for me that doesn't have the markings of the country of origin.  I am very excited to break outta the mold!

Charles- I really don't know what to say, you are WAY too kind!  Honestly, that means a lot to me and I sincerely appreciate that.  You made my day with that post.  Thank you very much.

Mike- ACK!  Thank you, that means a lot coming from you.  I like this one, but I still think I like the winter 109 I did last better.  Maybe after I figure out what this one is missing, I'll like it better.

An OUTSTANDING job Frank, one to be proud of for sure.

Jerry

Stop showing off, Frank!!!!

Seriously, one of the nicest winter schemes I've seen ever. I'm always looking forward to seeing what rolls off your bench next, my friend. Always a feast for the eyes!

Frank, you are a pro in every sense of the word. Tremendous workmanship all the way through the finished product. I've definaqtely learned a thing or three from your build. Not only your build, but your posts are among the best. Great stuff, once again, my friend. You continuously raise the bar

Great job Frank! The finish is amazing. Usually you don't see a FW in whitewash without the Grunherz badge, but it is cool to see something out of the ordinary.

Can't wait to see the desert 109. So is going to be an F Trop model or an early G Trop?

Once again, Frank knocks one outta the park.

Good job. I have the light blue sprayed on the underside of mine. Hopefully I'll get more done this week.

Regards,

Jeff

Frank,

I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy. Seriously, that is one fine looking 190. I've enjoyed following the post and learned alot. Thanks for answering questions along the way.

Can't wait to see the desert camo!

Another beautiful effort, Frank! I really like the small added details and subtle shading and weathering. Well done, sir!

A question for you - what led you to machine your own barrels for the outer set of cannons? Is there a difference between the two sets of guns - I'm clueless on 190s, here - or did you want to give the process a go for practice?

Kev

Simply awesome there Frank. Make sure you send that one into the Mag so everyone can enjoy it. Its going to be hard to top that one.

                                                                                          Soulcrusher

Howdy Frank,

 Wow.. Simply amazing my friend!! I followed this thread from the get go and the finished build is nothing but jaw dropping!!

 Thank you for sharing my friend!!

Flaps up,

Mike

Rangers Lead The Way

Thanks guys!  I appreciate that.  Looking at the photos, I realize how little of the patchiness shows up in them.  Does anyone have any suggestions for camera settings, background colors, etc that might help?  TIA!

Steve- Next up is a pair of Hasegawa 109's, a G-4 in Regia Aeronautica markings and a G-10 in a very complex camo scheme.  I can hardly wait!

She's a beauty Frank.  Excellent work .

Regards,  Rick

Cracking result Frank - a truly beautiful build that'll look great on display with your collection I'm sure.

What's next for the Frank treatment?

Best regards

Steve