Here I present my latest build, the relatively new mold Great Wall FW 189 recon/bomber version. This build is also for a friend, but I've always been intrigued by the Uhu (OWL) so I was excited to try it. Furthermore, their new P-61 is next on my agenda, so I wanted to see what I was in for with this company. The Uhu was the eye of the Luftwaffe and was very successful in that role. It was extremely manueverable and could out turn just about everything. It was also reportedly rugged and hard to shoot down. The owl was used primarily on the Russian front, who called it "Rama" (frame) due to the strange design.
I started with the cockpit. My reference said these could be either RLM 02 or 66, depending when it was built. This will be a 1943 machine so I went with the latter. It's nicely detailed but has a two part assembly that leaves a seam line on the side walls. It sits low so I suspect it will be invisible once everything is added and closed up, so I didn't mess with it. I added a color Eduard PE set and made flares from styrene rod. I added wiring to the back of the instrument panel as I suspect it will be seen from the front HE 111 style.
Great Wall is unchartered territory for me, so I followed the instructions. After I assembled the centre pod, I attached the wings to the booms. The wheel wells were painted RLM 02. The wing boom joints were far from perfect. I had a step on the starboard lower side....weird....but I muddled through and sanded what I could....that's what putty is for. I also assembled the engines as they are need to attach the props, but the access doors will be closed so I just painted them black (unless it's a radial it's not my thing)..
People have raved about this kit's fit, but I've had nothing but problems. The wing root joints needed lots of putty. I buckled down and got it done. The kit does have poseable control surfaces which is nice, but some genius thought it was a good idea to make you install the landing gears as you close up the booms...so it will be a pain to paint. Also, ejector marks everywhere in the bay. I've heard this is their first endeavor into aircraft models so I'm inclined to give them a Mulligan. Hopefully get made improvements on the P-61.
This turkey is a great candidate for Eduard masks. These are God send. My friend wanted the canopies closed, so I attached them before paint. I used a combination of Tenax and white glue. Any gaps were filled with white glue.
The canopies were then sprayed RLM 66 then everything was preshaded in XF-1 Flat Black.
As I said, this one will be a machine from the Russian front in 1943 which carried RLM 70, 71 over 65. It had yellow identification markings on booms and under wing tips. I sprayed XF-3 flat yellow with a touch of XF-7 flat red. These will get taped off before paint. It's almost time to start the scheme.
