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

Lookin good Dre. It'll be nice to see an early Anton here.

I admit to being guilty of not following this GB as closely as I should, mea maxima culpa.

But, here's a little work that I've begun on the PCM early A series kit-  the resin engine is pretty sweet and has enough detail to look good hidden behind the cooling fan and the resin cockpit is OK.   I've added some kit-supplied PE (by Eduard) for the switch panels, rudder pedals and what-not.   There's still a bit of work left in the office as I haven't yet begun to do the seat or IP.

So, that's where this stands...

Nice work on such a tiny 190 Joe!!

Thank You Very Much Doug and Joe.

Thanks for the tips Nathan. I will do a quick search for an AM gunsight. My intentions were to simply carve the appropriate hole in the shroud and simply afix a small piece of thin clear plastic or acetate to it to give the representation of a gun sight rather than go whole hog on dials and wiring. I credit myself with a good degree of patience but attempting to detail out a 1/72 gunsight may be pushing it for me.

This talk of PE & resin has led me to realize that I failed to mention something. I got the True Details resin cockpit along with the Eduard PE detail set with the thought that I would utilize the PE to enhance the resin cockpit. Yet, upon opening the PE set I found that it is a complete cockpit. Tub, seat, the works including flap and landing gear detail. Well, now I did not wish to pick parts out of this and waste the set. My solution. Why, buy another kit kit for it of course. Went on ebay and managed to snag another kit just like this one for a reasonable price. Besides, I also have this magnificant decal sheet with still more F8 options and I would further hate to see those go to waste. Thusly, if time allows I may end up building a second F8 for the GB. The sweet thing about this kit is that it is an A8 kit that comes with instructions and parts to modify it into an F8. So, I could go the A8 route also.  

You know Joe I have to give my hats off to you. I have a high degree of respect for anybody that can pull a  72nd scale fighter off with the detail of a 48th scale or higher. I think its just astounding the amount of detail that is available for that scale these days. I'll never attempt it but I sure do like it. Good paint work on that Joe.......really good!

Looking great Joe. Aside from your good looking paint work, can you imagine making those barrels on a lathe? Or being the tool maker that makes the dies to stamp out the PE sheets? I mean ...Just darn... Hope to see more soon.

Doug

PS, a new camera is high on my "really want" list too,

...I wonder If Quickboost makes some in 1/72. I know I've seen 'em, just not sure what scales. I'm sure you can wip something up though, maybe start with a square then add some punched styrene discs and stretched sprue, and an acetate sheet for glass?

Thanks Nathan. The seatbelts are molded on as part of the resin seat. Working with this 1/72 bird isn't as bad as I initially thought. That may change when I try to scratchbuild a tiny gunsight.

Nice Joe. Man I just cringe at the thought of 1/72 scale fighters. I like that seat, are the belts pe?

Alright Gents, Here is my best attempts at capturing my progress so far. The cockpit is painted with MM enamels. The tub is RLM 66, the seat Rust and the harnesses with Panzer Interior Buff. Although it does not show up in the photos I used black and light gray pastels to create a depth effect in the recesses. The floor was given a worn effect using a silver pencil and a brown/black pastel mix. The instuments are painted black and the dials marked with a white chalk pencil. The dials were then touched with a drop of testors clear cement to represent the glass.

Bish - Yeah, My birthday is coming up soon and a new camera will most likely be at the top of my wish list.

Here a couple of before and after pics of the work to install the brass guns in the cowling. The first is the process of carving out the molded in gun barrels. The second (not so good pic) of the barrels set in place.

Thanks for checking these out and as always I am open to critique as well as questions.

I'm actually enjoying this little foray into 1/72 scale. Just Thank God for a magnifying lenses. Overall so far the fit of the kit is quite nice. Joe

Joe, i know what you mean. It has taken me ages to learn how to get decent close up pics of 72nd pits and other small areas. But the problem i find is that it highlights stuff you can't see with the naked eye. Its amazing how paint on a 72nd pit looks so rough when i imagine it wouldn't look anywhere as bad in larger scales. I have been taking a few tips from guys on here about taking photo's and it really helps.

For the close up's, you really need a camera with Macro settings.

Guys - thanks for all the comments. I have the wings on now and will attempt to get some pictures in the next few days.  I  will be focusing on getting the seams sanded flush and then rescribing any of the damaged panel lines.  I was able to use my rivet tool and add some rivets to the fuselage and upper wings.  The will end up being very subtle I think.  will attempt to capture some in the pics.

Matt

Well Joe I can sure identify with you. I was mistaken on the camera. It is a Nikon Cool Pix camera. It doesn't do half bad. I traded a guy in the shop some auto parts for it so the price was really good. Just short of free. It sure beat my phone to pieces though. Looking forward to seeing some pictures anyhow.

I hear you Joe, I have a Z712 and I find that my iPhone takes better close up detail shots than it does.

Yargh! Finding that my Kodak Easy Share camera does OK with taking pics of 1/48 and wider angle 1/72 stuff. But, trying to capture detail in a 1/72 cockpit is proving challenging. I will endeavor though to make something work. Needless to say I have completed my cockpit and I am currently working on making the modifications to install my brass gun barrels. Which I might add are nice and tiny and thus prime candidates to be lost to carpet limbo. Pics to come soon in some form or another.

Matt... looking good!

Joe (mustang) thanks Bud... other then a few snags shes going great. Thats from having time to get all the parts ordered and on hand and building and studying over and over books and info in my head for months before we started. Another grteat thing is 1 no kids 2 wife works on the weekend and 3 no dogs! (ha) that equals build time!.

Jester , Thanks! cant wait to see your D-9 I like the "As" but love the "Ds".

Doug

blkhwkmatt: That interior is looking great! I like the engine as well.  You guys that are building these D-9s and 152's are really giving me the itch. I've got a hankerin' for a ZM 152. I may try that one in the distant future.

hutchdh: I TOTALLY understand! I've had kits like that before and did like you. Put em away for a short while to regain a sensible frame of mind and re-approach. It's sometimes the only way! We'll leave the light on.

Doug: Good Grief Charlie Brown! You're coming along really nicely and fast on this one. Weathering looks great. Shoot I'm still building the wings for cryin out loud!!

Update today: Attempted assembling the spars in the wings. I must have glued the main wing spar in just a smidgen (and I mean a smidgen!!!) too far forward. The spars from the main spar to the front of the landing gear opening go too far forward interfering with the fit of the upper wing to the lower wing. I ended up filing and sanding each spar in an attempt to attain proper fit and it ended up looking like what it was when I was done with the mods-hacked up plastic! This kit comes with two complete kits so I am probably going to start over with the wing( and this is after I straightened it from the warped state it was in.) totally. If that fails then I'll get a weekend edition A8/R2. I am stubborn if anybody didn't know and this thing will be built right one way or the other! I'm still having fun with it just a little frustrated with the precision of this kit.  It'll end up being a plane in the end. You can take that to the bank. Will see how it goes in the morning and let you guys know.

Oh and Joe, Sorry, forgot about the prop, Again, an alclhol (brushed) wash on the prop will streak it and dull it, and the spinner was many attempts trying to get a thin strip of tape wrapped around it then spraying black (painted prop spinner white to start) then again washing with alcohol.

Doug

Nathan... Well there you go then(lol)  I love airplanes always have, always will.But, I am only at the slightest side of operational knowledge. It really helps to have someone like yourself to give tips and hints! Thanks...

Joe...

Depending on the paint used, isopropol rubbing alcohol will do an amazing job dulling the finish. Now, that being said, some paints will not thin with alcohol and will make a right nasty mess if tried. You have to just experament to see. Most all Tamiya acrylics and Model master acrylics work very well with alcohol and even better with denatured alcohol as a thinner.

Pollysol and I think Mr Color will not. The almost act like enamels accidently dipped in water. With them its water only or their brand of thinner. I almost never use enamel any more, The odor and clean up is the reason. Next time you have a bit to experament, Spray or brush some alcohol on the finish and allow to dry, Careful not to over do, It could remove paint if applied to harshly, You just have to play around with it to get the results you desire.

Your friend

Doug

Builds are looking great Doug and Matt!! Got to get this 38t off the bench then I can hit the ground running on my D-9!!

Thanks Doug. Being a Commercial pilot and aircraft mechanic for a living does help in the Aircraft modeling world...

Doug, Man you are definitely coming along impressively. Really a superb build. The light mist of rubbing alcohol to achieve a dead flat finish is a new one on me. thanks for sharing that. Also, how did you create the interesting effect on the props? Now, Bring 'er Home.

Hey Nathan... I bought a set of RB vented  barrels for the upper twins and a set of RB 20mm Mg151 auto cannon barrels in the wings, The actions are the resin (minus the barrels) that came with the Verlinden Kit I bought to dress her up with. They are coming up next... I wont be doing any thing more this weekend due to a death in the family. And Nathan, by the way, I didnt ignore your advise about the wing flaps... They were just so well Glued, that I feared breaking the wing or the resin flap trying to remove. The next build will reflect your welcome tip. I've never really studied indepth like you obviously have, and I do really appreciate the advise. Thanks loads! Take care my friend!

Doug

Wow Doug, You're rollin right along with this one! What are you doing for for the MG 131s? Kit parts? Resin? or metal?

Well, Got a bit more done... Finished up the decals Friday after work, Applied the final gloss top coat to blend it all together. Saturday morning, shot two good coats of dull coat , then just misted on a coat(very thin mist) of straight rubbing alcohol, That always seems to make the finish dead flat dull. I retouched yhe exhaust so it didnt look painted oved, actually looks like its sooty now. Then I started fitting and installing the canopy. Suprisingly there were no gaps. I know we try to pre fit before, but it always seems that gaps suddenly appear after paint. Got the prop assy., painted and installed, next is the armorment and covers and least we forget the antana wire.

Doug

Not going far....just letting the cooties wear off of this kit :)

Hutch

blkhwkmatt - Looking very nice there. You have cetainlny put in some fine work on the detailing. Well done.

Hutchdh - Looking forward to when you get back to us.

Sorry for not checking in for a while on my Ta152 build.  I have a couple other works on the bench...most are going together like clock work.  But did you ever have a kit that seems to be cursed for some reason?  Talk about Murphy's Law with this one.  I decided to instead of just giving up, I think I will shelve it for a short while, until I get a few of my other builds out of the way.

Nice work on the pit and Jumo. I just finished this kit, and was pretty impressed with a 24 year old kit. I did find the parts to build up the engine and gear bays not fitting that well, and with Dragon's awesome instructions, it only made it worse. Looks like you got a handle on it though.

Got some time to build the other day, truth be told the jumo 213 was already assembled. Nothing too problematic yet, although the engine mount is a bit finicky.  We will see how everything lines up when it comes time to attach the wings.

Thanks for looking.