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

Good looking build there dflu. I have just had a look in the Squadron walk around and it looks like a weld seam, and the caption calls it that. But its so fine, from any further away than right in front of you, its hardly noticeable.

dflu78

QUESTION for the experts....should the supercharger scoop have a weld seam or panel line down it like on the 109? Seems to me one or the other is correct because there is the beginnings of an engraved line on the fuselage leading up to where the scoop will attach. It'd be easy enough to scribe, or recreate with a piece of stretched sprue; I just want to make sure it's correct first.

blackdog62

Dflu78  that's what I'm doing getting back into it after 20+ yr break so I have bin working on the older one before I take on some of the new high-end ones.

It just so happens 2 of  Edwards are  the 190a8 .

I have seen a few of the builders here in the GB and how they have handled those open / closed panels

Thank you for taking the time put all the info down for me.

No problem. Overall I think Eduards kits are really nice. You shouldn't have any problems once you get comfortable again. I've not had a 20 year break...but 4-5 years I got as rusty as I can imagine is possible. :D

The Build:

Wow this one really progressed quickly. I guess I was doing a lot more in between stages while finishing up the P-40 because here I am already with main body assembly complete.

This is the point where I feel I can evaluate a kit and I have to say WOW....what an absolute delight.There is ZERO filler on this kit that's a result of fit. The only filler I did have to use was where I got overzealous with the xacto removing some sprue nubs and had to do a repair. EVER SINGLE JOIN of the main assembly in on a panel line, and they all fit perfectly. This kit didn't fall together like a Tamiya Uber kit, but it didn't fight one bit. I'll be doing another one before I know it since I really like a lot of the late war schemes found on Doras

Anyway, here she is. I just need to finish up a couple of detail painting issues after my typical black primer dries and it will be time for some surface primer.

QUESTION for the experts....should the supercharger scoop have a weld seam or panel line down it like on the 109? Seems to me one or the other is correct because there is the beginnings of an engraved line on the fuselage leading up to where the scoop will attach. It'd be easy enough to scribe, or recreate with a piece of stretched sprue; I just want to make sure it's correct first.

Dflu78  that's what I'm doing getting back into it after 20+ yr break so I have bin working on the older one before I take on some of the new high-end ones.

It just so happens 2 of  Edwards are  the 190a8 .

I have seen a few of the builders here in the GB and how they have handled those open / closed panels

Thank you for taking the time put all the info down for me.

Sorry Ive been under the radar for a while, working too hard -- I teach three classes and essays are due along with homework, so it's work, work, work -- I try to squeeze in some styrene distraction every day but yesterday was a no-show... Awesome work happening here in every way! Joe, your airbrushing is jaw-dropping! I only wish I could spray that well! Dflu78, you have me hankering for the painting stage so I can give masks a whirl! My primary concern was to avoid issues with big areas of carrier film when doing late war open crosses, but they all look so good I find myself thinking of being more extensive!

I'm working on shimming the fit of the engine on my A-8, and I think I'm getting close to mounting the engine. I'll try to get a pic up later today.

Cheers, M/TB379 (also hoping to squeeze in an extra build before the end, a ex-Trimaster D-9 )

Ok I get it now. Thank you ss

blackdog62

I have several Edward kits in my stash a couple biplanes and 4 190s are all Edward kits difficult  ?

those grey mask that you showed above are exactly the 1s I have they came in top color reference books with no instructions.

but there all for 1/32 and I have no kits in that size.

Well............lol........they ones I've built have had some kinks to work out...I wouldn't say they are difficult necessarily. I also wouldn't recommend every one of them that I've built to you if you wanted one. I feel like the issues I had with the ones I've got experience with are all things that a competent modeler should be able to overcome, or need to learn to if they haven't yet...so they can be a learning experience. I'll outline my experience:

1/48 Hellcat (F4F5): Easy and great build I had zero problems with it...went together effortlessly

1/48 FW 190 A8: Trashed it. Like most their other kits it seems you're going to have to do some serious fiddling to close up hatches they intend to be open. The problem here was the gun covers wouldn't cooperate, but bigger still was the whole assembly aft of the fuselage. Poorly engineered and like was said above it seems like the lack of location aids means its a crap shoot as the whether you're going to end up being able to align everything if you want it closed up.

1/48 Bf110 C: Huge problems with the fitting of the engine nacelles to the wings. Major steps on topside and serious gaps requiring shims on underside. Easily solved with the buildup of a good putty. The nose gun hatch is also meant to be open, so closing in results in some necessary shimming because the top half is actually a couple milimeters shorter than it needs to be.

1/32 BF 109: First my fuselage was warped....one half was twisted around it's axis. I bought this kit second had at a show, so it could have been a storage issue (garage + Texas summer = :() This took some work heating with a hair dryer and shaping it to align with other half, but no biggie. The big issues AGAIN came with fitting the cowl cover having opted not to display the engine. The piece was too wide so the nose had to be spread a bit with a piece of sprue.

I'd like to have another go at the FW...it was a build early on in returning to the hobby and I think I got frustrated and let it beat me. The others were nice builds and I'd build them again if the mood stuck me. None of the issues with the were not something that could be handled like I said.

Don't fear any of the ones you have.Just be ready for the challenge should you run into something. Their new kits are getting better and better.the Mig 21s are loved and the Spitfire is supposed to be even better. I have it but haven't built it yet.

The problem with most Eduard kits is that they normally don't have a lot of (if any) locator pins. The kits themselves are designed to go together without too many problems only if you get every part perfectly in place though. If you get one single part or subassembly out of alignment you can end up having a lot of fit issues. The 190s are perfect examples for this. Eduard's Hellcat kits are way easier to build though. They don't have locating pins either, but they consist of a lot less parts and you don't have to align them that well in order to make things fit. I also heard great things about their Spitfires, but I don't have any of those in my stash (not a huge Spit fan)

I have several Edward kits in my stash a couple biplanes and 4 190s are all Edward kits difficult  ?

those grey mask that you showed above are exactly the 1s I have they came in top color reference books with no instructions.

but there all for 1/32 and I have no kits in that size.

blackdog62

Greg.   Howdy how's the Edward kit coming along ?

I'm going to do 1 more build with you guys it's going to be a another hobby boss this time TA-152 c-1

There's not enough time to take on a nice Edward kit.

Haha...there's plenty of time to do an Eduard 190....if anything like my attempt...work on it a couple of nights until you get to the nose and gun cover assembly and throw it in the trash.

Props to all those who can and have finished an Eduard 190!!

Lawdog Joe, I am drooling over your exterior. Awesome work. You guys make it look so easy.

blackdog62

Greg.   Howdy how's the Edward kit coming along ?

I'm going to do 1 more build with you guys it's going to be a another hobby boss this time TA-152 c-1

There's not enough time to take on a nice Edward kit.

Welcome back, BD. Progress slow at my end, but progress nonetheless. Want to finish by deadline, we shall see.

JOE RIX

dflu: Thanks for the bonus pics. Certainly lends some clarification. As far as the RAF roundels go, I'd be afraid that I'd get them off center.

Ha. That's  the absolute biggest issue with the masks for me....I'm obsessive about symmetry so I spend a good bit of time aligning things. When we get to that stage on my 190 I'll outline some tips for trying to line things up.

Joe: Your 190 is looking superb. I am definitely in high anticipation for your weathering process. By the way, what do you use as a gloss cote?

Blackdog: It is nice to see you jumping in with another entry. And a nice subject to boot. I've eyeballed that kit a few times when I have visited my near by LHS and I'm certainly curious to watch you build that up.

dflu: Thanks for the bonus pics. Certainly lends some clarification. As far as the RAF roundels go, I'd be afraid that I'd get them off center.

dflu: You really don't have to apologize for posting such wonderful models in here! I have a set of Scale Precision masks for a special P-47, but it's going to take a while untill I'm at the painting stage... It actually looks easier than handling decals...

Joe: She's just perfect! Fantastic work all around! I'm sorry to hear that your LHS is closing. That Tamiya P-47M is an awesome little kit. I have one of them on it's way to me as well (I ordered it at HLJ a month ago, but they were out of stock). You can build an early D (like the normal Bubbletop kit), any other D (with the dive brakes and fin) or an M out of that beuty of a kit which kinda makes the D kit obsolete (they both cost the same)...

The paint looks killer on that A-5 Joe. And your right about the early on schemes as they were more straight forward camo patterns. Takes most of the work right out of it. Gloss is nice and shiny on this one!

dflu78: I've got a mask set like that for my 1/24 109 that I build a couple of years ago. I believe I got those from Poland.

Yes sir.

I was just browsing thorough my PB account and saw I still had some pics up...this is what they look like:

As you can see you just build up layers in the case of multicolored items.

First layer for insignia on Spitfire:

All done...this is all masking

Sweet looking A-5 Joe. I agree, the earlier Luftwaffe schemes are a nice and simple break from all the dense, cluster-#$%^ed mottling schemes out there. The weathering you added looks right on.

Blackdog, good to have you back, and with a nice Tank this time. Looking forward to seeing it.

Greg.   Howdy how's the Edward kit coming along ?

I'm going to do 1 more build with you guys it's going to be a another hobby boss this time TA-152 c-1

There's not enough time to take on a nice Edward kit.

So the mask you refer to are mask that you use to paint on markings instead of decals. ?

I have some german mask that came in a book with no instructions so I think this is what they are.

That's great looking work. Did you add extra to the motor or is that all kit. I haven't had a kit with that much.

Thanks for the compliments all.  I'm in for a quick update.  I'm slowly but sure making a little bit of progress now that the little black tinkle machine is sleeping through the night.  I added a bit more postshading since Mayer's 190 didn't have much mottling.  I also added some at the demarcation lines.  I think this is about right. 

I then hit it with a few coats of Alclad Gloss and after a few hours, I applied the Eagle Strike Decals with Mayer's JG 2 mount, #48-230 In Defense of the Reich Part 1.  I had no issues.  I did use the "rooster head" from my Eduard A-5 because I thought it looked a tad better than Eagle Strike's example.  Once the decals dried, I sealed them with more gloss. 

I must say I'm digging the early 190 scheme.  Onward to the fiddly bits...it shouldn't be long now. 

On a sad note, one of my Local Hobby Store haunts is closing up after 67 years in business and the owner has had everything 30% off lately.  The guy was (is) kind of a curmudgeon, but he always had a good selection of decals and aftermarket stuff on hand.  I will miss them.  If there's an ever so slight silver lining, I managed to pick up a Tamiya P-47M cheap the other day and I'm going to dive into that with a 56th FG bird after this guy.     

Joe

dflu78

JOE RIX

Wow dflu, those look awesome. Thank You for sharing the pics of your sweet P-40 and Spit.

I do apologize...I don't mean to be that guy who somehow always finds a reason to post pics of my past builds in threads...I know a couple of those guys are around the forums and I don't like them....However, the discovery of vinyl masking was really revolutionary for me. I hate decals, and have a tendency to fudge them a lot, so not having to worry about large ones really has made me a happy camper.

Oh Man, do not apologize! I have absolutely no issue what so ever with folks posting pics of their other builds. Especially when it comes to demonstrating a technique, effect, method or product. Heck, I encourage it. Can't say as I have encountered anyone who posts past builds as a means to "strut their stuff". On the other hand can't say as I am an active cruiser of all parts of the forum and thus I just simply missed them.

Hey dflu78. Really nice job on your P-40 and Spitfire man. I've got you jotted down in the intro post and am looking forward to seeing more of your build. Welcome to the GB dude!

JOE RIX

Wow dflu, those look awesome. Thank You for sharing the pics of your sweet P-40 and Spit.

I do apologize...I don't mean to be that guy who somehow always finds a reason to post pics of my past builds in threads...I know a couple of those guys are around the forums and I don't like them....However, the discovery of vinyl masking was really revolutionary for me. I hate decals, and have a tendency to fudge them a lot, so not having to worry about large ones really has made me a happy camper.

Wow dflu, those look awesome. Thank You for sharing the pics of your sweet P-40 and Spit.

Handi, that interior tail detail is really cool! I'm having a blast watching your scratch building skills.

Thunderbolt, hope you post some pics showing how you deal with the fit issues. I know you'll have no trouble with your skill level. (I'd have fits)

Lawdog Joe, your exterior paint work never ceases to be a source of inspiration. Looks awesome!

John, love the decals and everything else. Looking fantastic, mate.

dflu, wow, when you start something you don't mess around! Great looking cockpit and I echo the others, I think the PE belts look great. You managed some natural looking bends and folds that have so far eluded me.

Thanks everyone. I had been jacking with the belts to try to get them a little "better" to my eye, but like was said...I felt like I was tempting the modeling gods, so I left well enough alone. They aren't too bad.

JOE RIX

Everything looks absolutely fantastico from here dflu. Nicely done. I'm rather excited to see how those Montex masks work out. I've considered them and I would like to see them in action.

The mask are fantastic. They are vinyl and just a tad bit finicky, but so worth it. I used the Montex variety on the insignia on this P-40:

Every marking (just about) on this one is from vinyl mask (Scale Precision Masks)....they are exactly the same material as Montex, so work very similarly.

John, that looks awesome, even with then gloss.

dflu, that looks really nice, great work on the cockpit. And those belts look good to me.

Everything looks absolutely fantastico from here dflu. Nicely done. I'm rather excited to see how those Montex masks work out. I've considered them and I would like to see them in action.