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

Nice work Doug. Thats one of my favorite parts of building. Really gives the aircraft character and makes the paint job really come to life.

Looking good RR!!

Okay experten modelers (that's serious after looking at you guys work!), finally got the office done on the 190. There's not much to do on this one and looks like it's pretty tight in there so not much will be seen.  Since I'm rather frugal I didn't spring for belts so I scratched my own....... and it looks like it.

Reasoned: That looks pretty dang good!! I'm liking the scratch seat belts! Lately to add that worn/dirty look I've been using ground up black pastel brushed onto the seat belt and then wisked away a little to get rid of the excess powder. It seems to work for me and just adds that final touch. Thats some good detail in there too. I'm really looking forward to this Tamiya D-9 more and more.

Thanks Mustang, it would be easier and look much better to just buy the PE version but..... we are modelers after all.   These were the smallest Tamiya tape strips I could find and the smallest  styrene rod I could find to wrap the tiny wire around for the "latches", still looks huge in the pic.

What you did was something alot of us don't do anymore and shows the talent that I for one don't hardly use any longer because of photoetch. I certainly can remember the days of "if you wanted seat belts you built them" days. I've gotten a little lazy with scratch building stuff but put my concentration on the weak area that I had and that's paint. If you ask me, you did a great job with the belts.

Doug - Good to see you making excellent progress. Looks fantastic.

Reasoned - Nice! Whether those seatbelts look a bit large or not, you did an excellent job scratching them.

 I'm back from WestFest and unfortunately the weather seems to have kept some of the regular particpants from Denver and Albuquerque from making it so the number of entries was down a good bit this year. But, certainly some very nice stuff was there. Being as they were short handed this year I asked them if there was anything I could do to help out. They said "Yeah. you can help judge." Judge? Heck, I've only entered one contest before this one. But, help judge I did and man did I ever learn a lot. Not to mention I am a bit more humble about my current modeling skills. Yet, the experience helped me understand that should I honestly want to build a contest competitor that I need to pay a lot more attention to the small stuff. I'll try and post a few pics of the FW 190s that were there. Especially the 1/144 FW 190 D-9 that won the 1/72 and smaller division. Itsa very nice. 

Well its sure good to see you back on here again Joe. Man I gotta see this little jewel D-9 you are talking about. The chance to judge must have been a definite educational experience for you. Wow! Can't wait to see the pics buddy, Joe

That pit is looking good Reasoned! I have yet to attempt scratchbuilt belts but I think your effort turned our pretty good!

Thanks Guys... appreciate the comments as always. Reasoned, Nothing wrong with "Frugal" (Me too) I feel it makes us better modelers! Your pit looking good!

 Here be an update on my current progress. RLM 76 on the bottom followed by masking off the wheel wells and getting the RLM 02 on there. Also got the 02 on the landing gear and doors. My bench time is going to take a hit here lately as my wife has developed a problem with her shoulder that has her in a good deal of pain and the inability to use her arm. Thusly I'll be taking on more of the house husband role until she gets some relief. I'll get some time in but, I've got to take of things around the house.

Thought I'd share some FW 190 pics from the WestFest contest. Here is the 1/144 FW 190 D-9 that won the 1/72 and smaller division. Very impressive work, especially the mottling for the scale. I'll be posting more entries later.

Thats amazing! I've built a few 1/144 scale planes with my son around 4 years ago that were already painted and I was thinking to myself while building them that I would hate to have to be the one to decal and paint that sucker! Then here comes a hotshot here that does just that! Good stuff Joe. Thanks for sharing that!

Well here is todays contribution to the build. Assembled some more of the engine. Still have alot of photo etch parts and the exhaust to go but so far this is where it stands.

Good to see you making excellent progress Joe. And excellent it is. Nice work.

Joe 1 Looking good, I've always loved dressing up the engine, yours is looking good!

Joe 2, Sorry to hear about your wife, hope things work out for her... Man you guys and your 72nds... How go you pack so much into them??? (lol) I could barely see em! (ha) (parts that is)

Mustang- Found those pics of brown 4:

Note the smaller "4" on the gear cover. Hope it helps man.

Friggin nice pics Nathan! Good to hear from you again pal. Will be sticking these with my reference photos!

Those are some good pics! I always love seeing wartime photos of the machines we build!

That small scale Dora is just crazy!

Mustang, that engine looks pretty sweet!

I am hoping to get back to the bench this weekend. I have sacrificed (read grilled) a chicken (read ***) to appease the bench time gods and the sacrifice went well (read tasted good).

You are very wise to appease the Gods of Styrene... They will surely now grant you favor, and smile on your efforts!

Doug (RR)

Lol,  the nanny bot filtered the b word used to represent a female mammary gland...

Bout time Jester. How long has that Dora been waiting for a flat coat? Haha, I suppose you gotta clear the bench soon for that sweet new Eduard spit.

This is true Nathan! Totally have the 95% syndrome going on here...

Got the underside painted, working on taping for one of the several color variations in the camo (kind of a PIA).  This project confirmed at least one thing, Testors primer STINKS!  Hope to post some pics by Sunday evening.

Reasoned, great work on the pit. Those belts looks pretty good.

JOE, now your just taking the micky. That 144th build is just stunning.

mustang1989

Bish: I only wished I could do what you do with 72nd scale. It takes alot of patience (and eyesight) to do what you do. Looking forward to seeing that D-9 you have being built though.

Well as i often say, its all i am used to. After seeing that 144th build, my kits are a breeze.

The D-9 won't be for a while yet. Its part of a Rudel 4some, maybe the end of next year if things go to plan.

Heres some more... Getting close now, Guns finally arrived but I'm waiting now until I finish before replacing, I ordered them from a site on Ebay and what a joke that was. The seller was in Calif. and was called "GameWise". The posting picture showed 4 MG131 guns in resin. I received 2. I raised sand with the seller and his deceptive posting and all I got was "Send them back". Why didn't he just send 2 more? Any way, avoid that Jackazz at all cost...

Any way, I'm well into decals and weathering now...

Hey Reasoned. You are right about Testors primer. Are you using enamel or acrylic? If its acrylic the Tamiya rattle can gray primer is your friend! Joe Rix turned me on to that stuff last year and I haven't used anything else since for primer! Come to think of it that same primer might just work for the enamels too. Really good stuff!!

Rigid, that is looking awesome!  Are you planning to show it open or closed?  I've heard others say the 190 looks "best" buttoned up but if one puts lots of work in the office.....

Yeah Mustang, I should have known better about the Testors primer.  It is an enamel (since I shoot MM enamels) and it just seemed to stay tacky for way too long.  Being the cheap @ss I am, I just decided to use up the balance of this primer before opening the Tamiya rattle can, boy what a mistake.  Oh well, you live and learn.

Rigid - Oh yeah. that is getting better and better. Very stunning work. I do hope that you gave "Gamewise" a more than unfavorable feedback in hopes that nobody else gives him anymore business.