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

Hey JJ I've got your build posted on the front page here. Sorry it took a day or two longer than what I had expected. Thank you for being a valuable part of this GB as you have added to the many fine builds and good commentary and techniques that all of us here enjoy.

Thanks for the vote of confidence on my Tamiya birdie guys. Its Friday and I'm winding up for another three day streak here to see if I can get this thing mostly finished this weekend. Build time has all but ceased throughout the week but I try to make up for lost time with the long weekends. With that........................it's benchtime!

Ok guys. All modeling efforts this weekend have hinged on this panel in particular to include paint and fit. Getting it painted, glossed, washed and dull coated wasn't a problem at all. My apprehension was in the fit of the panel onto the engine while installing the guns at the same time and getting everything to lay properly in place.ALOT of time went in to modifiying the panel underneath to attain proper angle as well as a thinned ledge for the hinged panels to rest on for installation purposes.  Well needless to say as shown here, when it came time to install the gun trough panel,  the prop had to come back off. I just couldn't install the panel with that thing in the way so off it came. I used 5 minute epoxy on the guns to have enough time to play with the alignment and proper positioning of the panel and gel super glue on the panel to nose and engine. It worked! The guns protrude through the cowl in the proper place and the guns aren't at a weird angle. I've been working on the other panels too but this was my main focus this weekend. So far and can breathe a sigh of releif!

That's great news, Joe! The nose section is looking truly awesome!

I'm still working on my P-47 (finishing the decalling right now), so I'll probably neede another week or so untill I can come back to my 190s...

Thanks Clemens! This is the whole nose section as of right now. I still have to apply a gloss coat to the side panels, give them a light wash and dull coat them. Will try to apply the gloss today hopefully!

Very nicely executed Joe. I often wonder why exactly I love this hobby while trying to restore oxygen to my brain after having held my breath trying to align 4 different parts that requires 7 hands all the while timing the setting of the glue while attempting not to impair any damage to parts or paint.

That was very well put Joe because I was wondering the same exact thing this morning while trying to line all of that stuff up and make it work in a 5 minute window!  lol

You guys are not alone. I am thinking the same right now. I have to apply the fuselage crosses on my P-47 right on top of the turbocharger air outlets on the tail. They are recessed quite a bit and the decals are extremely fragile, so I have to be very careful not to ruin them. After that I have to put even bigger ones (they are really huge) to the lower surfaces of the wings. They go right on top of several raised details and I have no clue on how I'm going to tackle that. I'll post a pic when I get to it and hope you guys can help me out...

HALLELUJAH!!!!! I am finally done!! My Gawd, I thought I would never get this bugger completed. Especially when the whole paint debacle occurred. But, I am sure glad I stuck with it and saw her through. Not necessarily my best paint finish and some panel lines suffered from multiple coats of paint but otherwise I am pleased. So, some updates on the finishing touches. The SC 50 bombs were painted MM Schwarzgrau (German Gray) and the SC 250 painted Gunze Khaki Green. They were given an oil wash and then weathered with pastels and a silver pencil. The antenna is EZ Line. I must note here that this the first time I have used EZ Line and the stuff is the Bomb! Thanks Joe. It's hard to see in my sub standard pics but I applied some chipping along the upper wing roots with a silver pencil to simulate foot traffic wear. Overall, the 1/72 Hasegawa kit is a sweet build. My biggest complaint is mounting the gear doors. There is a single guide pin/hole on the lower end of the gear and door and the upper gear door is to wide to fit in the wheel well thus making the gear door too long. I had to cut a small bit off the top and glue the door right to the landing gear making lining things straight a bit challenging.

 I just want to extend my heart felt gratitude to you all for the great fun, learning and overall comaraderie I have experienced here. Thank You Joe for hosting what has to be considered one the epic GBs in FSM history. I will be hanging around to the finish. I am also sure that I will be to seein' you Mugs around on other GBs. For me, I will be moving on to my 1/72 Eduard F6F-3 Hellcat for the Pacific Carrier and 1944 GBs. So, without further adieu here is pics of the 30th completed Butcher Bird for this GB.

And here is prelim pic of the base I will finish up for my Lil' 190

In closing:

  "Remain strong and resolute in your faith of the styrene my Brothers. Yield not to the temptation of responsibility. For this is merely an evil ploy commonly employed by wives, family and employers. Wander not from the path destined upon you by the Group Build. For to do so is..Sacrilege!"

                                                                             The Reverend Joe

Joe I have to say that is one heckuva build there! A true 1/72nd scale masterpiece! The camo scheme is definitely a one of its kind here in the GB and you pulled it off well. I am really glad to have had you in this GB with us and look forward to more of your commentary and look forward to seeing you in the Stuka GB in April or so. I'll have the completed pic up on the "billboard" soon pal!

Mustang Joe, the master of the front end (and everything else) is moving right along. Looking terrific! You guys are scaring me, thinking of these fit issues I've  never dealt with coming up.

No worries, you're all here to guide me.

JR, Wow. I say, Wow. If I didn't watch this being built and someone told me it was 1/72 I'd say "No way". I know from watching this masterpiece being built there is more to it than the camo job and finish, but man, did you nail it.

Thats a sweet little Butcher Bird Joe. Excellent work on the antenna line. I like your subtle weathering on the wing tops, looks real nice. I know the real bird was actually pretty clean in real life too. I'm glad you stuck with it.

Joe,

Great looking Bird.  Love the camo, glad to see that you were able to stick with it and pull it off.  Hard to believe that it is really 1/72 scale.  Great job and awesome details.

Oh and the closing remarks are classic!  Thanks for sharing your work with all of us twisted gents here.

matt

Hey there Joe! Got your beauty posted on the front page! Man it really looks good there too! You are right about the EZ line. That stuff IS da bomb!!! I want to again thank you for being and continue to be a part of this GB Joe. Your presence here has not only helped but also to lighten things up at times as this hobby does have its frustrating moments. It's folks like you that lighten things up some and allow us to enjoy the hobby amidst its frustrations.

Wow, Joe. Just wow... Your 190 looks very impressive. I can't believe she's 1/72. What a great addition to this GB!

Hey guys, my new FSM issue arrived today and that EZ-line is mentioned in there as well. I'm going to order me some, but I'm not sure what caolor is best for those antenna wires. Black?

I think it only comes smoke colored? A dark brown/black.

You can choose between several colors afaik. I want to arder a roll of it at HLJ (together with some other stuff) and they sell it in black, green and rust color. I suppose the black one is the best color in this case. HLJ doesn't sell the white and charcoal colored rolls. Is the "fine version the right one or is it too thin for my needs (1/48 and 1/32 aircraft)

Why green I wonder? The fine size should be right for those scales. Its what I use for antenna wires. To represent rigging for WWI aeroplanes I'd get the larger size.

Joe - what a beaut!! Fine work on that camo scheme. Well done indeed sir.

I ordered EZ-line for antenna wires, I've used it on 1/72 and 1/48, I'm not sure about how appropriate it would be for the larger scale... My supplier only had rust-red in stock, so when I rig a plane, one of the very last jobs is to paint the wire black using acrylic.

M/TB379

FWIW I have used thin black EZ line twice now, so I am the world's foremost expert.

I agree, fine seems right for 1/48 and I think it would be fine (no pun intended) for 1/32 too.

I read somewhere the reason for the green is model railroaders use it to run power lines. For some reason, the green seems to stand out a bit more on the layout, whereas the other colors seem to blend in and become invisible. Not sure where I read this, might have been on the EZ line website.

Thanks a lot for the info, guys! I just placed an order for some fine black line.

Clemens:I think you'll be happy with the EZ line. I was introduced to that stuff several years back (2006) and it works out really well.

Everybody:I had some problems with the look of my resin cowl gun cover. It looked too thick and a little on the deformed side. So my replacement panel made it in yesterday in the form of an Eduard Fw190 D9 kit that I ordered last Thursday. I'll hit Libor up for a replacment panel so that this new beauty of a kit that I recieved doesn't go to waste. I have used ALOT  of Eduard A8 parts for this build to include all of the main landing gear, alot of the cockpit parts, the sliding Galland hood canopy and now this gun cover in addition to all the Aires stuff. What a mix! Well it should be finished up in a week or so. Trying not to rush this close to the end.

Gentlemen, Thank you all very much for the kind and positive feedback. Rest assured that there is a bit of each of you in my 190 as it was your encouragement and amazing tips that brought her through to completion. I'll post some additional pics when I get my meager base completed.

Looking forward to the pics Joe and thank YOU for YOUR encouragement along the way.

Morning Joe... Yes sir, I love the "Frankenstien" builds, but thats the mark of a good modeler. I think it was Greg (and I truley mean it when I say that Greg was a great addition to our "little family" here) that said, that he was amazed how blips in a build dont phase us , we just adapt, over come and move forward. (sorry, I had to paraphrase from my old Marine days being I couldnt remember the exact quote)when problems arise. None the less, Thats why we all keep "spare parts "boxes. Plenty of time Joe... No need to rush... BUT ... cmon on darn it! Anxious to see the end results!!!LOL...

Doug

PS, Didnt mean to single out Greg, but we had a few "Newbies" that joined us in this build and all have been a welcome addition! I remember my first GB (Me109) how I was welcomed and accepted into the group, At first I was a bit apprehensive about building with these seasoned old vets, but soon overcome that with their encouragement and support.

And Greg is still amazed by the resilience of you guys. Nothing seems to phase you.  Something to aspire towards.

I better get off my slump and do something before y'all fire me (or I run out of time to complete this thing on time!) I did paint some brass gun barrels the other day, felt good to be down there.

Here's where she's at now guys! Have a couple of gaps to fill, some touch up and the rest of the engine panels in the open position to install, and a change in shades of paint here and there but she's close!!

OH Man Joe! That is looking fantastic. Your skill at being able retrofit a lot of parts from varying sources is exemplary.