Fw 190 Butcher Bird 2013 (extended to June 2014) Group Build

Clemens, Here is a link to Hobbywave for Mr. Surfacer. Another very good internet hobby store. It's where I get my Gunze/Sangyo paint and thinner.

www.hobbywave.com/.../surfacer

LOL I just noticed that this kit IS in fact on sale at Hannants. It still is somehow expensive (38 bucks). I'd be able to get 3 Eduard kits instead if it wasn't reduced...

I'll buy one of them in August if it's still on sale untill then...

Joe: Yep, they have some nice stuff. There's only one thing I'm missing: Mr Surfacer (in those little jars). Does anyone know where I can get that stuff and some Solvaset? Hannants' shipping fees are great as well (never had to pay more than 7 bucks for up to 3 kits). It just takes a long time to get here... (I always chose the cheapest airmail option though)

I just did a quick Google search regarding your kit. Looks like it's a nice one! Are you building it with the camo scheme displayed on the box art? I love that camo pattern! I might have to get myself one of those kits as well. They are just so bloody expensive... (almost twice as much as the Eduard profipacks) Mabe I'll pick one up when Hannants makes a special offer for it...

You know Clemens I very much like Hannants. I've ordered from the on a few occasions as they have odd stuff you can't seem to find here. Not to mention their shipping to the states is quite reasonable and rather quick.

I actually heard about the squadron sale in this GB! I hate them for having such a good offer, but so high shipping costs. Aint worth it in the end...

I just went ahead and ordered that A-8 kit at Hannants for the full price... It was 22 bucks and they charged only 4 bucks for shipping (all prices in Pounds). If you convert that into Euros, you pay a bit more than 30€ including shipping. That's even cheaper than on the Eduard website!

Don't worry there Greg. You made an excellent choice of kit. It will be cool to see a build with the torpedo.

Eric, those are looking stunning. Interesting you posted a pic of post-solvaset application. Been going through that myself past several days (lots of decals)

Doug, I think I dodged the bullet and didn't order that particular kit. Looks awfully close, though! We'll see.

Joe, love the shoe comeback. Perfect. Trouble is my other half doesn't waste money on a darned thing that I can harass her about. :)

Mustang, I was just kidding. I committed (and probably should be committed). Please put me down for Hasegawa's 1/48th FW190F-8 with BT700 Bomben Torpedo Limited Edition. Hope I made a wise choice from within the Hasegawa line. I liked the paint scheme and thought a this will be my first freehand camo attempt. First camo with airbrush, period. :) I think it is going to be pretty much OOB, couldn't find any aftermarket stuff, and my emphasis is going to be on the exterior and finish this time. And thanks for letting me join your GB!

Clemens, thanks for letting me know about the Squadron sale, got a good price on the above kit this afternoon. Quite good. My first purchase from Squadron.

The Bunny Fighter Club prices are pretty low for me, but I am no member. I'm still waiting for a bunny kit I like. It was a Mig.21 last time I had a look at their shop, but I don't need one...

Joe... LOLOLOLOL Thats funny!

Bill... If its the Lone Eagle series, Very basic and IMO one of the poorest examples Revelle ever produced. Is it the 1/32? I have both the Lone Eagle series Bf (they designate Me) 109F and G and they are very plain and basic kits, However, The 1/32 Fw 190-D seemed to be a fairly decent kit and fit together well. Alot of trimming and cleaning of parts, but not a bad build. Alot of these kits I find at yard sales and such,cheap. If I spend money on Revelle its usually Revelle of Germany. Vast differences. Just my opinion...

Doug

I wonder how the prices are for you directly from Eduard Clemens? I am a member of their Bunny Fighter Club which entitles you to a permanent discount but its only really good for me if the order is over 150 and the shipping is free.

Yeah, Squadron is great, but they charge horrendous fees for shipping their stuff to Austria... Makes me a sad eduardaholic...

Oh, and I highly recommend Walthers Solvaset!! It is the only setting solution that I have ever used and I have only had to purchase one bottle of it at that and its still half full. Like has been said though, it is very potent.

Thanks everyone! Doug, in the picture below from Ospreys Jagdgeshcwader 54 'Grunherz', you can make out the trident and a faint outline of the devil. I have doctored it a bit to try and bring out more detail in that part of the image.

(The above image has been posted for discussion purposes only)

Eric - Absolutely sweet looking with the decals on. Really sharp looking birds. Excellent work.

Clemens - I recommend the Solvaset. It's pretty much the only setting solution I use. Just be aware that it's pretty potent stuff and some decals may not take kindly to it. although I have to encounter any problems. Yes, the the Squadron sale is on until 11:59 central time tonight. In fact I broke down today and ordered the 1/48 Eduard FW 190 D-9 Weekend Edition for under $15.00. I just could not resist. 

Speaking of Squadron Shop, they seem to have upped their game. I ordered the Eduard 1/72 F6F-3 Hellcat and the Osprey Lavochkin La-7 vs FW 190 book on Thurs. and the order arrived on Sat. Nice. With faster delivery and their great sales Squadron will garner more of my business. although I have always liked and used them.

 Well, I met a bit of set back today when I masked off the exhaust panel to paint black. Small patches of the RLM 84 came off with the tape when I pulled it. Thus, I will now have to take some extra time to putty mask off areas and repaint. Man, what a drag.

Regarding the "Stink Eye" look I have a quick defense. When I get the "Stink Eye" coupled with "You got another package?" I simply reply, "Yup, and exactly how many pairs of shoes do you own?"  Peace restored. On the other hand their is those times when I get the "Uber Stink Eye", the one that burns a hole clear into your soul. That's when I counter with "Hey Honey, You want to go shoe shopping?" She laughs at me so hard she forgets why she was mad at me. Yeah, My wife totally rocks.

Greg

Hey Doug,

Thanks! You've helped me have a better handle on what's out there. And you were right, you guys got me. You're having too much fun here to miss! Plus I don't want to do my second build "alone", am enjoying the other (Clemen's Carrier 2013) GB too much to 'go it alone' next time. :)

Don't you or anyone ever worry about underestimating my abilities. Compared to y'all, that's pretty much impossible at this point! And I'm just here to share, learn and to have fun. I've been hanging around online forums (non-modeling) for too many years to be terribly thin-skinned anyway.

And I'm happy to be considered your new friend. Likewise!! And thanks again. I think I'm leaning towards a Hasegawa then. I've been wanting to check one out anyway.

Cool, Greg. I KNEW you'd be signing on. Going with a Hasegawa then? That's great, just make sure yours doesn't come in this box:

If it does, you're in for some true learning. try to get the new Hasegawa stuff. Mine (pictured) was from mid 80s.

Joe - Doug ..... You guys are big fans of the 109G? I have an old Revell 109G. What nightmares should I expect from that?

I have another question: Does Micro-Sol work together with Alclad clear lacquers? I can't get Future or any good replacement here in Austria: All the stuff similar to Future provides a nice finish, but it gets little cracks everywhere after some time. I've seen a model finished using that stuff (I can't remember the name) at my LHS. It was only 6 months old and the surface looked horrible (fine cracks on the whole model)

Doug: Thanks mate! I happen to have a bottle of Micro-Sol in my tools-box, but I never used it! (just bought it last weekend)

I just looked at Sqadron's website and found an A-8 for 20 bucks. There is one problem though: The shipping to Austria costs 55 bucks... Aint gonna do that. Even with the discount, it's still much cheaper to buy the kits at my LHS paying the full price...

Hey Clemens... Lets put it this way... I wont build a model without using Micro-sol on the decals. The stuff is GREAT! What you do is gloss coat as usual, apply decal as usual, daub fairly dry, (remove the excess water from under and around the decal) Then I take a semi soft artist brush and apply the Micro-Sol.Now... be careful, on most mfg decals it will take a few applications to soften the decal, on most after market decals they soften almost on application. At this stage the decal is very soft and plyable and can easily be damaged or distorted.The first instinct is to try to smooth out, and some can be smoothed a little,with the brush, but if they start to distort, FIGHT THE URGE!!!(ha). As they begin to dry they will conform to body lines, seams, rivets and anything else they are applied over. After curing for about 8 to 12 hrs they look great, as if they were painted on, and if a little wrinkle still exisists hit it again, I've never had that happen. I prefer the Micro Scale brand and it comes in two seperate types, The Micro-Sol (red lettered bottle)and Micro-Set (blue lettered bottle). I bought a bottle of each at first and tried both as they recommended and have found no real need for the Micro-Set. I apply the Micro-Sol as  previously stated and after curing simply re coat (the entire project) with Future again, Then when ready dull down with Dull Coat and rubbing alcohol.

There are other brands available and I'm sure they do just as good as what I use.

Hope that helps... Try it and I'm sure you will be thrilled with the results!

Take care brother...

Doug (RR)

Eric, those are gonna be some outstanding builds, man! And, yeah, decal set is a scary step.

Eric: What can I say? Awesome work as always!

Doug: Do you recommend solvaset? I'd have to order it in the stats, so getting that stuff is going to be a challenge... I have to order me some Mr Surfacer 500 and 1000 as well, as we can't get that stuff in Austria (only the spray cans...) Is That Squadron offer for the 190s still there? I might place an order for a 190 and said chemicals...

Eric... Man, Top notch as always!  On Dortenmann's A8 I've seen the Grun Herz emblem but I'll admit to being puzzled as never having seen the Cowling emblem. Cool looking, but just never seen it before. Always look forward to your schemes and applications of! Great work as always... Oh, by the way, I hear ya about the solvaset, First time I used it I about cried! They wrinkled up and I thought I had ruined a set of decals. Left it on the bench, walked off in disgust, came back the next morning to scrape off and the things had dried, laid out flat and smooth and looked as if they had been painted on, conforming to body lines, rivets and whatever else!

Doug

Joe, I hear you on the Eduard G, got to start planning on that one now!!

Well, spent a nice rainy Sunday decaling these two gals. No matter how many times I've done this, I still pucker up and cringe a bit when that first application of Solvaset goes on...

So after drying out a good bit, here is Hohenbergs Dora. I plan on knocking down the cals with some diluted overspray especially the '41' on the rudder as it can barely be seen in pics of the actual bird. Still gotta do the mottle on the tail also.

And Dortenmanns A8...

These shall dry a day or so, get a dusting, they another gloss coat and wash time. I can see the finish line!!

Greg:Sorry about jumping the gun. I haven't officially got you down yet. After you order it just let me know and I'll do it. Either way you'll like building in a group build.

Joe Rix:Stink eye??? Holee shmokes!! Ha Ha. Woo hoo! I thought I was raised in rednecksville! Thats a good one pal. I'll have to remember that one. Fortunately my wife doesn't give me that look too much. She did not long ago because I ordered that Aires double throw down detail/ update set for my Tamiya D-9 only because it was 60 bucks from Lucky Model. Here in the states it was going for 80 or better. If I plan a purchase out like that she doesn't give me that much grief. She's really supportive of the hobby. I dunno how she's gonna act when Eduard releases their G model of the 109 next year though. I've gotta have a Royal Class version of that one!

Always funny when somebody else knows more about a purchase of mine than I do. :) That's what happens with new guys! Interesting to know about the Brassin sets. I was initially confused, I had thought the 'brass' in Brassin meant the kits were brass. :)

If the Eduard Mig 29aftermarket stuff works and fits as well as the same on my TBM, I'll be a happy camper!

Thanks for the additional insight, Clemens.

That Mig should be a "Limited Edition". I have one of those as well: Academy P-38 with Brassin cockpit, wheels and loads of PE. The seem to be great kits because Academy makes some good kits, but they lack some details. Eduard seems to be able to fix that pretty well: The Academy kit has terrible gear bays for example. Eduard provided PE plates with extremely fine detail to glue to the bare kit parts, as well as new PE hinges to make the doors look appropiate... That Brassin stuff seems to be produced by Aires for Eduard BTW... (and Aires is awesome)

Joe, "Stink Eye"?!?! That's a new one to me and quite fitting. Yes, that is what I got! Came as quite a surprise as we've been together a couple years now and it's the first time I've seen it. I shall assume more to come.

Clemens, whatever 'sith-tricks' are, they worked indeed. :) And thanks for your comments on a good kit for me. I have the Mig-29 Academy kit, with all sort of Eduard accessories for it. What caught my eye was the Brassin cockpit. This was my first "stash" purchase, BTW. :) Hope your travels are going well!

Doug, was a good idea clearing the air about your modeling up front. Good for you! Unfortunately, I had no way to do that as my return to modeling came as a big surprise to me, ......and her. :)

Mustang, OMG, I'm on the list without a kit yet. Now I AM committed. :) Thanks for adding me. And it's comforting to know that my six is well-covered as you said.

Rigidrider: Ive got you entered in on the intro post. Man it's really good to have you back buddy.

Greg: I'll put you down at about lunchtime. Going to church and when I get back I'll handle it. Its really good to have you here as well. Don't worry about you skills. We've got you covered, Joe

LOLOL... "The stink eye" , I haven't heard that one in a while! I told my wife before we married, that my hobby of building models was NON NEGOTIABLE, and if she couldnt accept it, "Put the skunk on the table" for there wasn't going to be an issue later. Actually she kind of likes them and even helps with some good research at times, I also get her a simple kit to do from time to time (she likes to use the air brush). Her one weakness is collecting Betty Boop dolls, and I try to off set my indulgance with a Betty every now and then, that way when a box arrives it might be for her! LOL...

Take care all!

Doug