Huckbein- AmTech's sweet little birdie, she's done!

Thanks, guys!  The technique is easy, fun and fast.  Here's a fringe benefit from having a q-tip loaded with "dirty thinner" from wiping off the panel wash excess- using a tapping motion, add some dirt to the traffic areas of the wing.  You can build this up with a couple of consecutive applications.  More variety on you base coat.  

 

She'll be getting a flat coat today- on the paintchipping! 

  I've been following  your progress and since I build 1/72nd I have started the inferior PM models kit. It lacks detail BUT looks good in outline. After doing some research I have noticed that the main gear doors on the Amtech kit are rectanular while the PM kit has them with an angle which bears true from all the research SO... whats up and which is right? Anyone with an answer(No guesses please!). Thanks for any answers and......Good Hunting, G.W.

Great paint job, the blending of the camo is really well done. The dented fuel tank is a real nice touch. The only thing that I didn't like about this kit was that I wished they made the air intake deeper so that it can be at least given the impression of going into an engine. You are really taking it to the next level by painting those german crosses, creat pictures to show how you've done it too.

RDXpress- Thanks! Ihope you're enjoying your build.  I have no idea which gear doors are more in keeping with the historical facts as they stand- sorry!

waikong:  I cheated past the shallow opening with a quick FODcover- cheers!

Okay, she's just about done.  It was one of those "D'oh!" moments when I realized I had been totally ignoring the canopy up until now!   I got down to it- cut out and separated the Squadron/Falcon vacuform.  No worries there, but when I placed the rear dome on the model there was no where to rest it!  It basically fell down on the fuselage spine, so I knew some structure needed to be cooked up.  Out came some vintage 1970's squadron styrene, some recently-purchased Evergreen strips and a spare DF loop from an Eduard Me109 set- viola!

I glued it to the Future-dipped canopy with a few spots of CYA, followed by a bead of Testors Canopy Cement.

FW 190's had a rather robust rollover bar built into the windscreen framing, so I thought that might look cool here as well.  

To hold the front of the sliding portion to the frame I used a couple of PE sway braces from the True Details generic set- perfect!

I repeated the painting and weathering process for the assembly.  I masked the frames inside and out- easy and effective on such a simple example.  



A few dabs of touch-up paint and she's done- stay tuned, and cheers!

Wow, you make it look so easy! 

Outstanding work, Chukw!

Wow. Posts like this dont come up very often. Your photos and attention to detail are sublime. Your use of filters on an aircraft have spoken for themselves with an excellently weathered craft. You have gone above and beyond, to give a quality Step by step, which many modellers, myself included find priceless.

You really should submit this post to FSM to post in their features slot.

I know the term 'Excellent' gets bandied about a fair bit in this forum but this model deserves it.

Congrats on a fantastic model.

...Guy

I've been waiting for you finish this for over a year! Every post I learn something. That canopy detailing came out really nice - makes me what to buy another one just to add some of details you put in!

You guys are the best!   I'm blushin' from all this kindness.  Thanks a million!

Well, she's done.   I took her out to the driveway to snap some pics.  Sat her on a a blank comics page- 4-ply bristol board on top of a rotating stool, and went to it. I sensed impending disaster- a puff of wind blew up the board- the model flew back- and I managed to catch it!    :o  Only the rudder was dislodged, so after a quick repair I resumed shutterbugging- this time with the plane on a wooden shelf board.  Guess you could call it a plank stand! 






I added a torque link to the nose gear from styrene- and there's the simple FOD cover- styrene as well with bent wire handles.

Fine solder brake lines

Cutting Edge tinted resin was used for the nav lights.





It casts a nice shadow!

This angle gives a good view of the "long" stance of the gear.  No nose weight necessary!

The canopy floor is clearly evident- even the DF loop!


I broke down and tried brushing on pastels for the first time- check out those tan streaks on the wings.  Easy, and the pigment really sits well on the matte finish. 






Thanks for following this odyssey- it's been a fun build, and I can highly recommend the kit.  Tamiya has released it with their kettenkrad as a set- give it a try!

Now, it's off to super-detail that Promodeller/Accurate Miniatures SBC2-4.  I think I'll make it a -4E, and better check to see if the 1.5 degree fin offset is molded in- better get the razor saw out...  

Awww, it's just so cute!   

 

But seriously, awesome job.  The Ta 183 isn't one of my favorite Luft 46 aircraft, but then again, I don't like ANYTHING in the "jet engine with wings attached" line.  But you my friend, your work is simply commendable.  I simply can't find anything wrong with it!  (And you know I'm looking, too!  )  Really nice.  It's good to see a project this nice finished.  

Thanks for sharing! 

Cant get over that nose decal, looks sprayed. Top job fella.

...Guy

Hey, Lucien- you just aren't looking hard enough!   Seroiusly- praise from an accomplished and hard-working guy like you is praise indeed- cheers!

 Luftwoller- thanks- and sometimes even things like crazy decals can be fun.  That was the goal of this whole build- mission accomplished!  The icing on the cake is that it's currently in the big glass case at The Miltary Shop in Long Beach, CA- an honor, for sure.

INCREDIBLE!!!