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

I'm not dead yet, guys! Just was extremely busy with no bench time whatsoever. I just finished reading through all the posts and damn, you guys are building some fantastic models here! I hope there's still some extra time for me to finish my 109s, because I'm still right where I was 4 weeks ago .

BTW: Yes Mike, I really am proud! The 190s aren't the biggest pile in my stash though. That one is reserved for my Thunderbolts...

Good to hear from you, Clemens. Have been wondering where you went.

Glad just busy and all is well.

HES BACK!!! Yeaaaa! Glad your back with us Clemens!!!

Hey guys my ta-152 is at primer stage but my house burnt down it just didn't mater this was a lot of fun for me. My stash survived but kinda a pain to build in a motel.

Plus didn't realize time was up so sorry for that MUSTANG it's not fun when I can't post pics. Thanks for the offer I just didn't want over load you it's hard enough to get time for are own projects. But I do thank you for the offer.

Yikes!!! No way blackdog! I hate to hear that news man. I'm glad you YOU are ok out of all that mess and didn't get hurt. I can see where building is definitely a second place contestant right now. When you do get up on your feet don't hesitate to PM me and I'll get your pics posted dude.

Good grief, blackdog   ...... are you ok, I mean emotionally? When did this happen?

I guess from time to time in our lives some rain must fall....... 

.....but better times are around the corner. 

You take care of yourself, my friend.

Damn, Blackdog, that's terrible! So sorry to hear it..

At last, a bit of progress (work has been intruding, plus a weekend away...) Final small parts are onto the Ta 152, bringing it up to the painting stage. The canopy is engineered to slide but the fit is atrocious, so I'll see what I decide to do at a later stage. if it's to be displayed open to show off the harness, I might disengage the slide and just glue it open.

And here's the Staffel at the moment (excluding the big A-8, which I couldn't fit into the picture, and including a 109 G-6 I couldn't help putting together because it shares common colours through the AB):

Next up, masking, then some more 66 for canopy interiors. I'm going to do my best to complete the whole flock by midyear, so I better get busy!

M/TB379

Lookin' great Thunder. Man what a size difference! Is that an Eduard 109?

Holy Cow Blackdog! I am truly sorry for your unfortunate loss. Just absolutely grateful that you are safe and sound. I do hope you able to rebuild and I am certain you will rebound. I know I speak for all of us when I say, and mean, that we are all here for you to lend the support and assistance you may need. And see, I keep preaching that there is a God of Styrene as he protected your stash from certain calamity. Thus sayeth Rev. Joe. Bless You and yours Blackdog.

BD sorry too hear man,, I feel your pain , been thru it too. Best wishes to you to get back to some kind of "normal" again.

Mustang -- the 109 is a plain old Hasegawa G-6 I picked up off eBay a way back -- bagged, most bits off their trees, but that's okay as I have two more of these in original packaging (I fancy all three marking options) and I seem to recall I grabbed it for a song. It's one of those kits that just about falls together, so I picked up the Eduard masks and fed it in to the roster alongside the big guys...

M/TB379

Today I got most of the masks onto the 152, just two pieces to go on the canopy, then I can look at the wheel wells. I also masked the instrument shroud for the big A-8, so I'll be applying some 66 to them all tomorrow, and maybe even pre-shading the 152. I've given up on trying to get hold of the missing Acryls in this country, certainly by the end of the month, and will be homebrewing the RLMs from Tamiya. I searched on some recommended mixing ratios and am happy to work with them, so I'll be pressing on with main paint on the 152 when I get a gas bottle change next week.

The Italeri plans quote FS paints which pretty clearly are meant to be RLMs 81, 82 and 83 for the top surface and mottle, but they list a pale grey for the underside. I can do a pale grey, but which RLM would this relate to? I would have assumed RLM 76 would have been standard, but that is not really a grey. Does anyone have any thoughts? I've checked some colour references in books but given the vagaries of printing, they could represent a grey or the pale grey-blue of 76.

I got a package yesterday from China, Hobby Boss's Ta 152 C-1, complete with torpedo and a most unusual maritime scheme. Not for this GB, but it'll be a beauty!

M/TB379

Got some masks on today -- an Eduard set on the canopy, and stuffed the wheel wells with tissue, locked into place with Maskol:

It would have been nice to get the 66 on, then load up and preshade the airframe, but it didn't happen...

M/TB379

I wouldn't sweat missing out on the pre-shading too much there Thunder. I have mixed feelings about it really especially when there's more than one color of camo and especially if there are more than two upper camo colors. Coming along nicely! What is this Maskol you speak of?

Hi Mustang,

Maskol is a rubber solution masking medium made by Humbrol, you brush it on, it dries fast and you can peel it off easily when you're done. I use it mostly to protect gluing areas, like sockets and tabs.

I know what you mean about the preshade -- it can look great but is very subtle, and when working with more than one top colour it can easily become lost. Some preshade each colour, which is a lot of work, but can be worth it in the effect achieved, so long as you have a light hand and know when enough final colour is juuust enough.

I may be able to get to it tomorrow, but I have a busy weekend and it might be Monday before I can... Days are ticking by, I want these planes done!

M/TB379

TB379, good progress. Nice clean build so far.

Finally got my engine mounted, more or less. This is my first Eduard kit, mounting the engine took some talking to myself just to try it.

I'm posting this cuz the neat engine detail will never be seen again. I had aspirations of building this with engine cowlings open, but turns out that is above my pay grade as my third kit back from my 30+ yr hiatus. Sigh.

No particular need to comment as there really isn't anything to comment on. I just feel bad about dropping the ball on my second build in this GB, and wanted to show that I'm trying even though no way will I finish before the end of this GB.

Greg, You've done well tackling an Eduard kit and making it look as good as you have after the extended leave... ha... You've done very well! Some people after signing up for what ever reason never returned to try...

Doug

Thanks, Doug.

It looks great so far Greg! Just keep plugging away and don't worry about the end date. Just concentrate on the finish.

You got it, Joe. Thanks!

Greg, That is some marvelous work. I am very proud of you. Not for simply taking on the Eduard kit but also for the perseverance you are demonstrating to complete it. Now, just bring 'er home Greg.

P.S. I've been missing you.

Thanks, Joe. :)

Today's action on the bench was to get some spot spraying done - the interior canopy colour is applied, the airframe is preshaded, and I've primed in white the area of the DOR bands, which will be painted in 04 and a homebrew 25.

Target for tomorrow is to spray the 04 and hopefully mask it and go for the 25 as well, bracketed around work on the big A-8 (cockpit and canopy stuff) and masking on the teensy Bf 109. All being well, I'm hoping to finish the Ta-152 before the end of the calendar month, while pushing along the A-8 to the painting stage. I hope there'll be some some permissible overrun, as I'd like to finish the A-8 and D-9 as well.

M/TB379

Mike: Nice work on the preshading! I can'T wait to see her with some paint on!

Greg: Now that's one very nice looking 190 you got there, mate! It really is a shame that none of the engine detail will be visible.

I won't get any building time untill Sunday because my workbench is getting an upgrade, but once everything is done I'll try to get some nice 190 build updates for you guys...

Hi guys, today's work was detailing and prep. I got the DOR band painted in the 152, yesterday I sprayed four coats of Acryl 04, then masked the yellow band, and today I sprayed three coats of Tamiya's equivalent of 23. I'll mask that tomorrow. I didn't take a picture as she looks like a real shaggy dog at this stage.

Then I moved on to the big Hasegawa A-8 and finished up the cockpit details by assembling and mounting the gunsight, painting the behind-head armour plate with padding and decal, fitting the under-canopy hardware, and installing the windscreen. The leather surround of the instrument shroud was also painted. Here's the evidence:

Here's a last look, without the hood, into the cockpit:

And here's a size check against the 1:72 109:

This is one big birdie!

I'm just about out of air in my cylinder, there may be enough to do the 66 canopy interior colour on the A-8, and possibly also the RLM 24 DOR band, but that would be it, so I'm hoping to pick up a fresh tank soon and rip into the 152's main camo. Target for tomorrow is the canopy masks on the A-8, mount the main canopy section (possibly non-permanently so I can refix it open), then spray those last elements. Masking the 23 on the 152 is also a target, and continuing with masking the 109 as well, so I can get into the 76 undersides as soon as the new tank is on.

Cheers, M/TB379

Looking great, Mike! That A-8 sure is one huge model!

Progress is looking good so far Thunder! There's a reason I don't do 32nd scale stuff as far as display space but if I could , I would! Great looking build buddy and am looking forward to the camo on these models.

Today's progress -- targets achieved on the A-8. I applied the Eduard masks and attached the canopy:

Then filled in with Tamiya tape:

And used up the last air in my tank applying the cockpit interior 66 and the DOR band 24:

The cowl lip is now attached and the fan push-fit, and there are some belly rack parts to add, plus masking the gear bays and flaps. There is a patch of 04 under the nose that I had not spotted, so when I'm satisfied the engine putty work is as good as I can get it, I'll prime that area in white and lay on a few coats of 04. Then with that and the 24 masked, I can proceed to the camo.

Fresh cylinder in the morning, all being well...

M/TB379

Looking good Thunder. I'm going to have to start temporarily installing my canopies and painting them while I paint the mode like you are doingl. Right now I have "sacrificial"  spare canopies I use as mask off devices to keep the cockpits from getting painted. So wasteful! lol