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

Got 'em. Printed them, which I should have done 6 months ago. Thank you, sir.

That base blue looks a lot brighter, more white, and perhaps more blue than my Vallejo RLM 76 as called out.

Hi guys, I made some progress on a number of fronts today. I re-preshaded the A-8 over the MM 75, and will homebrew the 74 and 75 on the formulas I used a few years back. I finished soft-masking the fuselage of the 152 and sprayed the 82 and 83 -- there's more than likely plenty of touching up to do, I'll unmask tomorrow and see what we are.

I found a service centre with a technician who knows his way around the Paasche VLS, and I can courier the unit to them along with the spares and a description of the problem. Hopefully a new needle and centre seal will solve the splattering problem, which I would have to say was persistent today. If not working with masks the issue would be severe, and if I'm going to freehand the mottle (is there any other way, really?) then I need to be sure it's not going to be a spot of camo in the midst of a constellation of paint dots...

I should be getting it away this week, maybe even tomorrow, and fingers crossed the problem is resolved.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Jeez! You turn your head for a day in here and BAM! There's a ton of posts to catch up on. Greg, your camo looks great so far on the wings. The mottle technique (and I use Vallejo almost exclusively) is good for somebody who's never attempted it buddy. What I do now is crank up the air pressure to about 30 psi and barely open the needle of the AB to where a very small amount of paint is let through and get in fairly close. The paint/ thinner ratio has to be mixed on the thin side for this to work so keep that in mind here. The trick is to keep the AB moving. Rigidrider is a pro with this technique and that's who I picked it up from. PM him for additional details that I may be lacking here but I was in the same boat you were concerning mottle patterns. This technique does work.

 Your progress is looking great and I'm looking forward to more pics.

 Thunder it's good to hear about  your progress as well. Looking forward to the pics.

Clemens I can't wait to see your progress as well brother.

Joe, thanks.

Oops, I now remember you and Doug mentioning the 30PSI technique. And AI forgot to thin the Vallejo Air too. Probably a re-try in order.

I have read some recipes here for Vallejo to all but eliminate dry-tip. All involve Liquitex Flo-Aid, I think. Do you have any magic recipes, Joe? I'd forgotten you use Vallejo too, mate.

Oh Yeah, There certainly is some dynamite work still going on here. I love it.

Mike: Your A-8 and 152 are looking excellent. Great work. Man, I regret that you are having issues with your AB. Hope you get it back quickly. That's why I keep a couple of my older airbrushes (Aztek & Binks) around. Just in case I need to send the Badger in I can at least keep making progress.

Greg: It's just outright wonderful to see you building. Your progress so far appears awesome to me. Can't say as I can offer much assistance as far making mottling. I haven't ventured into that arena yet. But, yours sure looks rather nice to me. Always seems to me that one can drive themselves batty trying to get that RLM color just right. So many interpretations and opinions.

Clemens: I'm greatly anticipating seeing some of your fine modeling. Seems like forever since I've had the opportunity to feast my eyes on some of your work. Good to have you back in here keeping at it.

Joe, your encouragement is always mucho appreciated, my friend. Am surprised to hear that your, one of my mentors here, hasn't mottled? Find that hard to believe, but if you say so, mate.

I am beginning to understand what you mean about RLM colors. Been doing some online reading past couple days. Early war, mid war, late war, interpretations, no actual chips still in existence, etc. Mind-boggling for a wacky perfectionist wanna-be like me. 

I'm afraid it is so Greg. Heck, My FW 190 was the first Luftwaffe aircraft I've built. Greg, I really like the book  "The Official Monogram Painting Guide to German Aircraft 1935-1945" by Kenneth Merrick & Thomas Hitchcock. It appears extensively researched and comes with color plates. I find it to be my go to reference. It's rather difficult to find and can be rather pricey. I consider it and Merrick's 3 volume series "Luftwaffe Colors" to be quite excellent.

Wow, learn something every day. Never would have guessed that was your first Luftwaffe build. Certainly not from your results!

That book looks like quite the gem. I found some online, color me sticker-shocked. Maybe someday though......   <------ Me, after seeing the price of the 'used' volumes of the aforementioned book.

Yes indeed Greg. The price some folks are asking definitely inspire a "Gulp" effect. I put the Monogram book on my X-mas wish list and my mom got it for me. As for the 3 vol. set, I just monitored Ebay and Amazon and, coupled with a good bit of patience, managed to snag one of each for about $20.00 a piece. Merrick also has some other excellent books out there on Luftwaffe camouflage.

Thanks for the additional info, Joe. I guess at this point I 'd like to get more accurate, but am too cheap to spend the $ on the reference matl. This may change in time, however. :)

Stick with ol' Joe there and he'll get you EVERYTHING for cheap!

Serioulsy,Joe, that 190 was your first Luftwaffe build. I would not have guessed it.

Those books certainly do go for damn silly prices. I was able to get hold of Vol 2 of Luftwaffe camo and markings, but getting hold of Vol 1 and the cockpit colours books. Same goes for a lot of the Classic publications range of Luftwaffe colours. I just don't understand why they don't re print them.

Thanks Bish and Greg. Those are indeed high praise coming fron you all. You see, since I started building again back in 2009 I have only completed 5 models. 4 aircraft (2 RAF, 1 IJN and 1 Luftwaffe) and a U.S. sub. There are 3 that I have started but have yet to finish. More surprising to me is that I have yet to build anything in my favorite subject: USN aircraft. Thus, the Hellcat. Like I've said before I just don't get a lot of bench time so it takes me on average 1 year to complete a build. But, I really wanted to hone my skills before I jumped into the aircraft I really have a passion for.

I completely agree Bish. I've been rather curious why the hesitance to put these magnificent books back into print. Although the demand may not be overwhelming there is a demand nonetheless.

There certainly is. Occasionally, some will come up on e-bay and they do always go for silly prices. I have seen the Nightfighter books priced at over $1,000. What really makes me mad is I would bet a lot of these are bought by collectors who will put them into a plastic sleeve and never open them.

The funny thing is that certain ones go for silly prices while other go at reasonable ones. Its as though they produced more of some books than others. And of course the ones I am missing are the ones that go for high prices.

Bish

The funny thing is that certain ones go for silly prices while other go at reasonable ones. Its as though they produced more of some books than others. And of course the ones I am missing are the ones that go for high prices.

Oh Man, can I relate to that. I can find the Aero Detail books for the P-38, P-51, Zero, FW190 D-9 etc.. for about $30.00 no prob. But, do you think I can find the one for the Corsair for under $95.00. Not even. Heck, It's difficult to find one in the first place.

Man I hear that. Last time I checked that 109 E series AD book was "up there" too. I did manage to download the 110 book for free though and have it all printed and in a nice binder!

Same story here. I'm still looking for Volume 1-3 of Kagero's P-47 books. 1 and 2 are impossible to find and 3 always costs at least 3 times as much as the original retail price was....

Well, well, well, just color me fortuitous. No sooner do I mention the travails of trying to get an AD Corsair book then some bloke in the UK puts one up on ebay for auction starting at 0.99 pounds/12.00 pounds shipping. Now, I have a 9 day wait to see if my bid holds up.

I saw that one!!!

Already outbid!!#%!!@#!!!!

Dude come on! You KNEW that was gonna happen! lol

Happens every time!    Just... well damn!

mustang1989

Dude come on! You KNEW that was gonna happen! lol

So in the meantime, will there be an award for the last completion 2 months past the already extended finish date, Joe?

Progressing, but so is time..........

Hanging head in shame too -- between work and family crisis (illness) I've not had a chance to touch anything lately, even if the AB was all fixed up and ready to go...

M/Tb379

Watching you has helped incent me to get moving, Mike.

At least it's more fun with two of us Johnie-come-latelies, or is it just Johnie-come-late. :)

And another bow to Joe for letting us finish.

Well, Greg, I'd sure like to get 'em done. This is the second GB the S-8 has been in!

M/TB379

Mike and Greg, Keep pluggin'! I'm definitely hanging in there with you guys cheering you on to the finish line. I love watching your builds regardless.

In that case, I'll stick with it! I sure want to see these birds in the display case!

M/TB379

Keep pluggin' away guys. This thing aint shut down until the last entered buiild is finished.