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

Thanks Guys... appreciate the comments as always. Reasoned, Nothing wrong with "Frugal" (Me too) I feel it makes us better modelers! Your pit looking good!

That pit is looking good Reasoned! I have yet to attempt scratchbuilt belts but I think your effort turned our pretty good!

Well its sure good to see you back on here again Joe. Man I gotta see this little jewel D-9 you are talking about. The chance to judge must have been a definite educational experience for you. Wow! Can't wait to see the pics buddy, Joe

Doug - Good to see you making excellent progress. Looks fantastic.

Reasoned - Nice! Whether those seatbelts look a bit large or not, you did an excellent job scratching them.

 I'm back from WestFest and unfortunately the weather seems to have kept some of the regular particpants from Denver and Albuquerque from making it so the number of entries was down a good bit this year. But, certainly some very nice stuff was there. Being as they were short handed this year I asked them if there was anything I could do to help out. They said "Yeah. you can help judge." Judge? Heck, I've only entered one contest before this one. But, help judge I did and man did I ever learn a lot. Not to mention I am a bit more humble about my current modeling skills. Yet, the experience helped me understand that should I honestly want to build a contest competitor that I need to pay a lot more attention to the small stuff. I'll try and post a few pics of the FW 190s that were there. Especially the 1/144 FW 190 D-9 that won the 1/72 and smaller division. Itsa very nice. 

What you did was something alot of us don't do anymore and shows the talent that I for one don't hardly use any longer because of photoetch. I certainly can remember the days of "if you wanted seat belts you built them" days. I've gotten a little lazy with scratch building stuff but put my concentration on the weak area that I had and that's paint. If you ask me, you did a great job with the belts.

Thanks Mustang, it would be easier and look much better to just buy the PE version but..... we are modelers after all.   These were the smallest Tamiya tape strips I could find and the smallest  styrene rod I could find to wrap the tiny wire around for the "latches", still looks huge in the pic.

Reasoned: That looks pretty dang good!! I'm liking the scratch seat belts! Lately to add that worn/dirty look I've been using ground up black pastel brushed onto the seat belt and then wisked away a little to get rid of the excess powder. It seems to work for me and just adds that final touch. Thats some good detail in there too. I'm really looking forward to this Tamiya D-9 more and more.

Okay experten modelers (that's serious after looking at you guys work!), finally got the office done on the 190. There's not much to do on this one and looks like it's pretty tight in there so not much will be seen.  Since I'm rather frugal I didn't spring for belts so I scratched my own....... and it looks like it.

Looking good RR!!

Nice work Doug. Thats one of my favorite parts of building. Really gives the aircraft character and makes the paint job really come to life.

Nice decal and stencil work Doug.

Well I got some of the decal work done today, The gloss coat was set enough after painting the Campaign and staffle markings. Not quite through yet but getting closer. Maybe tomorrow I can finish the decals and gloss coat again. I'm using strike eagle decals and as always, micro-sol and micro set. Dont know how I ever got along without them, Good Stuff!

Nathan T

Rix-stop eyin and start buyin! I'm building the La-5fn right now, along with Zvezda's Yak 3. Nice kit. Fiddley for sure, but lots of nice detail, and minimal putty so far. The price is just too good to pass up. Leaves room in the budget for aftermarket details such as decals, or resin wheels and stuff like that.

Indeed Nathan. I'm going to WestFest 2013 in Grand Junction, Colo. this weekend and being as my birthday is just over a week away my wife told me that if I found something I liked to go ahead and get it for my b-day present. The Zvezda La-5N may very well fit the bill, as will dozens of other kits. By the way, have I mentioned that my wife Rules!

Rix-stop eyin and start buyin! I'm building the La-5fn right now, along with Zvezda's Yak 3. Nice kit. Fiddley for sure, but lots of nice detail, and minimal putty so far. The price is just too good to pass up. Leaves room in the budget for aftermarket details such as decals, or resin wheels and stuff like that.

Reasoned

I have the Zvezda F2 in my stash.  I recall it cost about $25 +/-, so a real bargain given what's in there.... a LOT of fiddly bits but fantastic detail.

I have the Zvezda F2 in my stash.  I recall it cost about $25 +/-, so a real bargain given what's in there.... a LOT of fiddly bits but fantastic detail.

It is indeed unfortunate that Hasegawa charges so much for their kits. I sure like them but, like you Nathan I'll grab one off ebay if the deal pops up. How are the Zvezda kits anyway? Has anyone here built one? I've had my eye on one of their Lavochkin La-5Ns for quite some time.

As far as 1/48 scale kits the Zvezda 109s are my favorite as far as 109's go. For the price you can't go wrong!! I guess the resin pieces and crew members help the Hasegawa kit out but like you said 50 bucks is the stopping point.

Joe, that boxing comes with a few resin parts as well as some luftwaffe figures. Not that its justification for the 89 dollars. I bet if you check ebay you'd find it for around 50? Still, over-priced, especially compared to the new Zvezda F-4 which includes bombs and a few different ETC racks, for only 25 bucks!! I get all my Hase kits on ebay nowdays...

From my experience Hasegawa isn't just overly wild about their detail on weapons. Don't know what the deal is there.

Speaking of Hasegawa.....have you seen their prices???? I was looking at a 1/48 scale Bf 109 F-4 "Jabo" in the Squadron flyer and it was going for 89 bucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean its a 48th scale! What tha hell is that all about? No mention of photo etch, resin............GOLD! Something has to be in that kit to make it worth that much or is it just simply overpriced???

Hey Joe...

Well I dont know about fast but I am able to get alot of time in to build. No most all wiring and such is scratch built. Kinda like you, I've been a technician most all of my working life and I apply alot of what I know and see to my building. Every since I was in my mid twenties I've worked around and with material handling equip, (Hydraulics, Pneumatics and Fluidics) and a butt load of forklifts of any sort including robotic, so I get alot of ideas!

Yeah not sure when the guns will get here, but I intend to go on with the project till they do then cut the kit guns off, That has almost been a drawback to kits.  S***y looking armorment! Oh well,,, looking forward to some of these builds here being completed, and man... how Bish packs so much into the 72nds...Any body really, but shoot, I can hardly see em any more!(LOL) Take care guys!

Doug

Thanks everybody for the comments on the D-9 and accompanying update. Really looking forward to this one. Still shopping around for the Alley cat conversion on the tail. May still get a Dragon Ta152 donor (if I'm not mistaken it is a Tamiya mold) to rob the tail from.

Rigidrider: That engine bay is looking sweet!!!! Love the wiring! Did all of that come with the kit or is that fabricated? Glad you are getting the AM guns. Looks like you did all you could for the kit guns though! That whole build is looking really great. I cant seem to build anywhere near as fast as you though. Man youre quick!!

Bish: I only wished I could do what you do with 72nd scale. It takes alot of patience (and eyesight) to do what you do. Looking forward to seeing that D-9 you have being built though.

Joe Rix: Thanks for the kudos. One of these days I will get around to building a kit thats not opened up but right now I'm having too much fun with all of this. You too are worthy of praise for the 72nd scale stuff. Hats off to you and all that build that teeeny stuff.

Nathan T: Thanks man! Looking forward to seeing those pictures of Brown 4!!!!!!

Here is a bit more... I will be starting decals soon...

Doug

Oh Man Joe, That is going to be spectacular. You are worthy of many a kudos for tackling the level of detail you put into your models Joe.

Well, indeed 1/48 is my preferred it's just that my 1/72 candidate is what happen to be available for this GB. Yet, I am taking quit a fancy to this scale. Hey! Wait. I believe I can see the dark side. Yes, Yes, it is indeed because there is Darth Bish calling to me.

Hey Nathan... Good to hear fron you... I'm again not 100% sure if that was "Pepi's" actual camo pattern but I think it was, As I stated earlier, I found so many variations for II/Jg52 that some of it was Guesstamation. Thanks for the kind words, She wont be heavily weathered but some wear and tear as always.Sorry, I just cant bring myself to do factory fresh. I like to do the war weary "vet" look.

Joe, you will love that kit, it (at least the one I did) goes together superbly! And the aires super detail set is going to look Bad Azz if I know you! The cowl guns are on the way... I like the look but just couldnt stomach the OOB guns. Take care brothers!

Doug

Holy cow Joe. Alot of modeling fun to be had in those 2 boxes. Looking forward to drooling over that Aires stuff. Have fun with Brown 4. My fav large tail scheme. Look out for pics of the real brown 4 later tonite for you to decifer.

I don't mind what scale you build in mate, as long as you build it. Not all of us can be so blessed to build in 72nd

I have an Aires set for the Academy 72nd 190D-9 and it looks like it has all the same features. So will be looking forward to seeing how yours works.

Still working on my paint scheme and decals. Been talking to Nathan on this. Found the Ta-152 tail section and decal set to build Brown 4 but its for an Eduard kit. Also have been eyeing a site or two that Nathan T has provided me for this transformation.

Doug: That is looking great! Are you going to replace the cowl guns with resin or wing guns? Either way it's going to look good. Master makes a great set of metal gun barrels dude.

Joe Rix:Good to hear your paint is coming along good. Looking forward to the pictures.

Reasoned: Well lets roll out the red carpet!!! Cant wait to have you in here with us pal. Really good to see you around again and looking forward to seeing you build a 190. Lots of new faces and lots of good talent.

Everybody: Well yesterday I received my Aires update set for my Tamiya D-9 that I will start after this A-8. It has 43 resin and 48 photoetch parts to open the kit up and display the engine, gun bays and so forth. All I have to say is WOW!! There are some folks like Joe Rix and Bish who will enjoy the fact that this will be in their favorite scale.....1/48th . Sorry guys..just had to. Any how here are the pictures:

Doug I like that camo scheme, can't wait to see you weather it up. Those MGs sticking out look killer. Rix, glad you like the Gunze paints. And yeah, the more thinner the merrier with them.