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Great Wall FW-189 Finished

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: hamburg michigan
Great Wall FW-189 Finished
Posted by fermis on Thursday, December 23, 2010 6:45 PM

 Got my next project in, late this afternoon. Having a couple hours break from not building anything, I'm ready to get back to it!!!!

If initial looks are an indicator of things to come, this is gonna be GREAT!!! Everything is neatly packed in self sealing bags (ala Eduard PE sets), one sprue per bag, except for the smaller sprue (x2 in one bag).

This thing is loaded with everything you need!!!

Pre-cut masks for all that glass, PE fret, instructions appear to be clear enough!

Color decal guide for two versions.

Parts are nice n' crisp, no flash! Only snag is all the ejector pin marks (as fine as they are) all over the interior parts(gear bays, cockpit). Also looks like there will be a very tough to clean up seam in the cockpit.

You get two, full, well molded engines too!!!!

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: N. Georgia
Posted by Jester75 on Thursday, December 23, 2010 6:47 PM

Down Manny, down, heel boy!!! Can't wait to see what you do with this one fermis!!

Eric

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 23, 2010 7:40 PM

Jester75

Down Manny, down, heel boy!!! Can't wait to see what you do with this one fermis!!

Oh, I dunno---doesn't do much for me...

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: N. Georgia
Posted by Jester75 on Thursday, December 23, 2010 7:41 PM

It's ok Manny, I understand how you feel....

Eric

 

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
Posted by DoogsATX on Thursday, December 23, 2010 8:42 PM

I predict this thread will eventually be 229 posts long...

Looks like a solid kit. Nice to see those pre-cut masks. I thought it was pretty cool that Tamiya included a mask with the Storch, until I realized it was just a sheet of Tamiya tape with a template printed on it...

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: hamburg michigan
Posted by fermis on Thursday, December 23, 2010 8:45 PM

Manstein's revenge

 

Oh, I dunno---doesn't do much for me...

Ya, ya, ya.......just wait til I get going.....you're gonna love it, and ask for it's hand in marriage!!!!

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: lafayette la
Posted by 40.mm on Thursday, December 23, 2010 9:46 PM

im gonna keep an eyeball on this build

http://www.vairhead.net/forum/dhg.jpg

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 23, 2010 10:01 PM

40.mm

im gonna keep an eyeball on this build

I'm gonna keep two of 'em on it...Indifferent

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: hamburg michigan
Posted by fermis on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 2:27 PM

 Been spending a lot of time looking for refs....search for an hour...work for 20 minutes...on and on and on!!! Finally, the fuse is ready to be closed up at this point. So far, there is a little disappointment in the pit details. There's quite a bit lacking, that could have been done, quite easily.

 Here's that nasty seam running the length of the fuse on both sides. (looks like the gearbays will be similarSad)

I used regular old printer paper to cover the panels with the seam and panels with ejector pin marks, Tamiya tape to cover the gaps on the ribbing.

I bit of scratched detail for the rudder controls.(stretched sprue, tape, and wire)

The PE seat harnesses included in the kit are not real good, I used the buckles from them and some strips of Tamiya tape. The side console has no throttle controls, I used bits of aluminum for those.

The instructions would have you put only two ammo cans behind the navigators station, but the kit includes 6, with no mention of where they go, refs told me where to put them, and I had to steal a few from other kits to have enough. Other scratched details include the wing spar(prominent item not included in the kit), hand crank(attached to spar)for the camera door, oxygen mask canisters, first aid kit, a couple misc. bits and pieces on the fuse walls, and flare canisters on the right side fuse wall(brass rod)

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 2:48 PM

WOW...Indifferent...

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 1:48 PM

looking great! I got mine in ca'nt wait to start on it. Thats some great research info on the interior thanks for sharing

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: N. Georgia
Posted by Jester75 on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 2:10 PM

Very nice scratch work fermis!! If anyone can make this thing shine you can! Is that a molded seem line on the pit wall or is it from joining two pieces?

Eric

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 9:09 PM

Great start. Those windows ought to fun.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Hobart, Tasmania
Posted by Konigwolf13 on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 9:33 PM

Awesome fermis

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: hamburg michigan
Posted by fermis on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 10:29 PM

Danka!Toast

 That seam is from two parts coming together.

 I made a boo-boo, well, not so much MY fault! The ammo mags around the rear are not right for this version, would be alright if the gun positions were single guns, but these are doubled. I whipped up a couple ammo crates for the rear guns.

The IP is smooth across the back....no good, with all that glass up front! I used bits of stretched sprue for the instrument casings and wired em up.

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: N. Georgia
Posted by Jester75 on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 10:39 PM

Damn dude, you are the man!!! I;ve got some cool refs of this aircraft with a single MG131 firing directly down through the bottom of that rear position. Seems it was used for an auto firing system using magnetics to pick up the target and queue the gun to fire. You did a great job covering a very very nasty looking seamYes

Eric

 

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Indiana
Posted by hkshooter on Thursday, December 30, 2010 12:45 AM

Looks good Fermis.

Word of warning. I read in a review of the kit that adding the rudder pedals when the instructions recommends is a death sentence for them. They stick out and are very easy to break until the glazing goes on. Reviewer recommends leaving them off until the very end.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Fox Lake, Il., USA
Posted by spiralcity on Thursday, December 30, 2010 12:53 AM

It's looking real good so far. I cany wait to see some new progress pics. Toast

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 30, 2010 8:49 AM

I love your eye and want to live in that big greenhouse it has for a cabin...

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: hamburg michigan
Posted by fermis on Thursday, December 30, 2010 10:41 PM

Thanks all!Toast

Manstein's revenge

I love your eye and want to live in that big greenhouse it has for a cabin...

 I knew you would change your tune!!!!

Not much of an update. I attached all the clear parts, except those that will be posed open, and masked. The precut masks are mostly OK, only a couple had to be cut down a bit or added to. I can tell already, they are gonna be a pain to remove without bringing the whole clear part along with em. Super sticky! I taped off the openings from the inside, also used liquid mask to seal up the edges. This will help keep all that unwanted sanding dust from tainting the greenhouse.

The rear gun position is somewhat of a PITA. You definitely have to glue the shroud piece to the circular clear piece before trying to install it(as per instructions). However, the way the thing is designed, there is only one way to position the "turret". Could be modified easily enough though.

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Friday, December 31, 2010 12:49 AM

looking at the instructions the tail cone was for sure not going to be fun,looks like you have it well in hand!

  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Frisco, TX
Posted by B17Pilot on Friday, December 31, 2010 9:12 AM

I got this kit too!  As always love the detail work.  Now I'm going to have to hold off on mine, cause yours is already way better Bow Down

Speaking of references, just got the Jan '11 Squadron catalog in the mail, and they have the Fw 189 in Action book on sale for under $10.

  

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 31, 2010 9:31 AM

fermis

Thanks all!Toast

 Manstein's revenge:

I love your eye and want to live in that big greenhouse it has for a cabin...

 

 I knew you would change your tune!!!!

Not much of an update. I attached all the clear parts, except those that will be posed open, and masked. The precut masks are mostly OK, only a couple had to be cut down a bit or added to. I can tell already, they are gonna be a pain to remove without bringing the whole clear part along with em. Super sticky! I taped off the openings from the inside, also used liquid mask to seal up the edges. This will help keep all that unwanted sanding dust from tainting the greenhouse.

http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu340/fermisb/2011/FW-189/001-2.jpg?t=1293770175

The rear gun position is somewhat of a PITA. You definitely have to glue the shroud piece to the circular clear piece before trying to install it(as per instructions). However, the way the thing is designed, there is only one way to position the "turret". Could be modified easily enough though.

http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu340/fermisb/2011/FW-189/002-2.jpg?t=1293770175

According to my refs, the entire tail cone could rotate through 360 degrees...AND the small circular window within the rear of it w/ the MG's could rotate 360 degrees as well, independantly within it....

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Rothesay, NB Canada
Posted by VanceCrozier on Friday, December 31, 2010 10:56 AM

Looks slightly better than my 1975-vintage version from Airfix... Wink

On the bench: Airfix 1/72 Wildcat; Airfix 1/72 Vampire T11; Airfix 1/72 Fouga Magister

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: hamburg michigan
Posted by fermis on Sunday, January 2, 2011 8:45 PM

Toast

Moving right along!

Engines are simple enough. I added stretched sprue as a backer for the wiring rig, and bent some wire, to go from the short wire rig on up to where it belongs.

The landing gears are nice little gems, but somewhat of a PITA! The fender being the most difficult. The only attachment points are a tiny PE strip that wraps the fender.

For the wing/boom assembly, the instructions would have you first attach the bottom outer wing half to the outer boom half, then attach the top two pieces, while sandwiching the flap and aileron. Then you install the engine and gear, then the inner boom half.

 To make the sanding process easier, I glued up the booms, just to the rear of the gearbay. This way, they could be split apart to install the gear and engine.  Booms were warped.

When I cemented these to the inner wing top, I cemented the rear portion on both sides, but only the outer boom half was cemented all the to the front, allowing the parts to still be pulled apart.

The outer wing portions were cemented together along with the control surfaces and......... clear wingtips, kinda silly feature! It took a bit of brutality and finess at the same time to make them fit the rest of the wing.

 

 Sorry Manny, this one just can't knock Accumins TBF off the top shelf!!! I'd rank it somewhere in the middle, not GREAT, but not BAD. I'd build another someday!

 Should be throwin paint in a day or two!!!

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: N. Georgia
Posted by Jester75 on Sunday, January 2, 2011 9:27 PM

Those Argus engines look fantastic!

Eric

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 2, 2011 10:19 PM

fermis

 Sorry Manny, this one just can't knock Accumins TBF off the top shelf!!! I'd rank it somewhere in the middle, not GREAT, but not BAD. I'd build another someday!

 

Yeah, as more are being built I'm reading about some of the issues you are running into...BUT, overall the kit is still getting high marks, especially for a first offering from the company, Great Wall...and none of the issues seem to be "deal-breakers"...

Great work on the engines and landing gear...Yes...my refs show that the troublesome fenders were sometimes removed in the field...most pics show them on, however...

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Rothesay, NB Canada
Posted by VanceCrozier on Monday, January 3, 2011 7:24 AM

fermis

Toast

...The outer wing portions were cemented together along with the control surfaces and......... clear wingtips, kinda silly feature! It took a bit of brutality and finess at the same time to make them fit the rest of the wing.

Hey Fermis, enjoying the progress on this. Clear wingtips? Maybe that is supposed to save you gluing a tiny bit of clear plastic for the navigation lights??

On the bench: Airfix 1/72 Wildcat; Airfix 1/72 Vampire T11; Airfix 1/72 Fouga Magister

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Monday, January 3, 2011 8:40 AM

Fermis,

very nice detail on the cockpit. And looks like in this particular aircraft it will be pretty good visible, after closing it up! I heard it was used by the Germans during the Warsaw uprising in 1944 and the insurgents called this aircraft THE FRAME. Good luck with your project and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 3, 2011 3:53 PM

Pawel

Fermis,

very nice detail on the cockpit. And looks like in this particular aircraft it will be pretty good visible, after closing it up! I heard it was used by the Germans during the Warsaw uprising in 1944 and the insurgents called this aircraft THE FRAME. Good luck with your project and have a nice day

Paweł

I've been framed!

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