Jump to content

1/48 FW-190s...Done 2/27


ghodges

Recommended Posts

I haven't done a "full build" here in a while, and these two won't be too extensive, so I thought I'd post this from start to finish....follow along if you like!

I'm building these two FW-190s to try to do some Lufwaffe camo schemes. I got a new Iwata airbrush for Christmas with a .2 needle that should finally allow me to do free hand work, mottling, and squiggles; all of which were used on German schemes in WWII. I'm sorely out of practice, and thus these two relatively "quick" builds are meant to give me a chance to do some of that. One is the old 1/48 Monogram FW-190A-5, and the other is the much newer Tamiya FW-190A-3. This will give me two different types that I can also do in two different color schemes.

001.thumb.JPG.bca6780b27a1f468e289d531ae7dbfe6.JPG

002.thumb.JPG.3e4ee24c530c9c5b531abacc35b6a2a3.JPG

The first two pics show the basic builds of each kit...the Monogram kit in green plastic and the Tamiya in gray. The Tamiya kit is strictly OOTB. The much older Monogram kit needed a bit of help since it had no wheel wells. I used an old Medallion Models resin update set to add those, and also sanded off the rivets and rescribed it a bit to bring it more "up to date". The old Monogram kit actually has a good cockpit for its day. But, only a main panel decal was originally provided, and since it was eaten by silverfish (you should see the instruction sheet!), I had to build a new main IP for it.

004.thumb.JPG.364a8ccc380bbbd456d9425efbc9f37e.JPG

This shows both of them after their initial priming...

005.thumb.JPG.b62873a24dacb6026d802e6815613e2f.JPG

This shows the main Tamiya components with the front cowl (a separate part) set in place on the fuselage. This one is pretty much ready to start painting.

715699129_001(2).thumb.JPG.afb7689e302a26f0ef84d13239dcd952.JPG

This shows the Monogram components at the same time, though as you can see, it has taken and will need more work to be ready for painting. Note the the kit engine fan has been cut back so it can be slid into the front of the cowling after painting. Also note the main gear has been assembled and altered to be fit into the wings later...the original Monogram plan was to trap them in place when the wing was built; and they'd be in the way. The Monogram kit molds all the guns and pitots in place on the wing and then tells you which ones to cut off for the version you choose. I chose to cut them ALL off and substitute steel tubing for the barrels and the pitot. The original Monogram main canopy come with a frame and separate clear piece, making for seams. Long ago I put one together and sanded it smooth to make a vac mold. You can see one of my older vac canopies from an old build masked off to be repainted. I also vacked a new copy to go over the kit frame to make a new one. I'll use whichever comes out best in the end. You can also see that the cockpit IP cowling has been painted. It needs the gunsight glass added, and then the windshield can be added and blended in. Once that's done, this one should be ready for painting. The resin wheels are from the update set.

The earlier Tamiya A-3 version will be in the earlier Black Green/Dark Green/65 Hellblua scheme using kit decals. The Monogram A-5 will be in the later 74/75/76 (gray/dark gray/light blue) scheme with some aftermarket bright, Eastern Front markings.

More pics after the camo has been done! Questions, comments, and critiques welcome, as always!

 

Gil :smiley16:

Edited by ghodges
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Shouldn’t the A-3 also be in the 74/75/76 scheme, just like the A-5? Unless you’re doing one of JG-54’s green schemes...?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Oughta" be? The kit instructions show the kit A-3 I'm doing in green/green AND the top color profile in one of my FW-190 "In Action" books (which shows the same plane/markings) is done in the earlier green/green scheme. Perhaps both are mistaken (and I'm betting Tamiya based their decals on THAT color profile), but since I'm not an accuracy Nazi, I don't care. This way I'm following my references, I'm able to use the kit decals, and getting 2 different schemes at the same time.

That's one of the cool things about Luftwaffe schemes...while there was a lot of German consistency, there were also a LOT of variations and mods depending on time period, front, and squadron; so you can't say "THIS" is the way it was with ABSOLUTE certainty.

Gil :smiley16:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was just going off time frames as a color scheme guideline. The 74/75/76 scheme was was introduced and became standard early in 1941 on fighters from the factory, aside from those bound for North Africa. The A-3 was introduced in 1942, so it should come from the factory in 74/75/76. But like I said in my first post, JG-54, amongst other eastern front units, field applied the 70/71 scheme on their aircraft to better match the prevailing conditions in Russia. And yes, like you said, there was plenty of variety within the Luftwaffe for camouflage schemes away from the standards. I’m not too keen myself on model company instruction sheets as the last word in references, but a photo of the actual subject aircraft is always golden. Even if it is in B&W and needs our own interpretation/analysis for best estimate of colors. Don’t get me started on those guys who computer colorize WWII B&W photos... lol!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Progressed to the pre-shading and first color stage....and I already really like the new Iwata MUCH better! I can tell that I'M going to have to practice making my hand steadier, because the brush will do what I need to, but I'm VERY out of practice being so "precise". It seems to be atomizing ALL of my paints much better too, making for smoother applications overall!

21066756_002(2).thumb.JPG.a44f9dc643fe399792a52ec90306a66f.JPG

GIL :smiley16:

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got the underside Blues applied today......

147014767_001(3).thumb.JPG.b825b0d278b24a7cb45be3021711866a.JPG

Though hard to tell the difference here, the left one is RLM-65 (early war) and the right one is the later war RLM-76. The 65 is bluer and the 76 is grayer, as far as the bottom colors go. It took more time than I thought it would to sufficiently cover the pre-shading, which means (I think) the airbrush was applying a much finer coat of paint than my old one.

Tomorrow I'll try getting the top colors and mottling done all at the same time! We'll see........

 

Gil :smiley16:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The undersides look great Gil. The difference in tones is visible in the photo. Looking forward to seeing what you did with the topsides.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got the camo done on both of them......had to do more touch ups than I'd hoped for, but as I said earlier, part of this is ME having to relearn things like formulating thinner paint ratios, use lower air pressure, and get used to being "dainty" when painting! Overall, I'm happy and it'll do for these models!

464601846_001(4).thumb.JPG.8575803fd6346fe4d3df97274d756290.JPG

003.thumb.JPG.5d2a503c1762c6a47355489c7d5b8f8a.JPG

451520588_005(2).thumb.JPG.467872630623c075648299ab6016622d.JPG

Still have some trim colors to add, but overall they're almost ready for the gloss coat to prep for decalling.

 

Gil :smiley16:

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looking real good Gil. Those mottles are nice and tight! 

Edited by Stikpusher
Link to comment
Share on other sites

As the Brits say, I got the models "deckled" today........

112785015_001(5).thumb.JPG.6dd4abdca89cb54837fe21145034ce55.JPG

Tamiya kit decals were used on the green one, while the gray one got markings from Aeromaster. I used hot water to help the Tamiya decals soften up and go down easier and they worked well. The Aeormaster decals needed more care in handling since they were thinner, but also went down well. I was actually quite impressed with how they snuggled down around the nose with a copius application of Champ decal solvent.

The models have had all but the seats, props, and rear canopies added and have been flat coated so I can take them to my meeting tomorrow "done". This should be finished up tomorrow evening!

 

Gil :smiley16:

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

And they're fini!

The Tamiya short nosed FW-190A3, OOTB, and in kit markings...

009.thumb.JPG.f30e26cd5eb08abb02be1ed8cf901610.JPG

011.thumb.JPG.23315f444a770c1f481a6e2eda760345.JPG

012.thumb.JPG.48dee938d911e3fd087a1b437e179223.JPG

015.thumb.JPG.4f5920d380132577dfa6ef9eeb5b464a.JPG

013.thumb.JPG.4509839320ebfb95588a656bd74f2ee2.JPG

And the classic Monogram FW-190A6 (with a few enhancements) using Aeromaster decals for Hermann Graf's Butcher Bird....

671434853_001(6).thumb.JPG.8ed02042cdb01a1a002d574c8927f0ba.JPG

1065916242_004(2).thumb.JPG.4aba2c6d9bde951f98afacea10b8b149.JPG

006.thumb.JPG.c573328c9d65393b50a84e2cd539c8e8.JPG

008.thumb.JPG.0b2c4946b3c75c148d01a8f073812da3.JPG

007.thumb.JPG.3ef6817182907b52c0f3dda084803d07.JPG

I'm satisfied with my initial attempt to shake off the rust and do some "real" airbrush camo, though it also taught me I have a ways to go before I can get the most from my new airbrush. Questions, comments, and critiques welcome as always. Thanks for playing along!

 

Gil :smiley16:

Edited by ghodges
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice job on the two Butcher Birds! They came out looking mighty fine!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • ghodges changed the title to 1/48 FW-190s...Done 2/27
  • 4 months later...

I really enjoyed looking at these builds.  Of course the Monogram is my favorite!  Don't you remember back in 1960s that model companies all had dark green and green for the top color and light blue for the underside for German aircraft?  Boy was I surprised to learn that there were indeed other colors.  What did you add to the Monogram kit besides the wheel well?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The resin wheel is the only real "aftermarket". I had to replace the main panel...Monogram only gives you a decal and it was eaten by silverfish, so I had to build a new one with spare decals. Other than that, the Monogram tub, stick, and seat are excellent. I also reworked the canopy because the kit one has the glass and frame separate...making for tough gluing without making a bad seam or glue smear. I created a one-piece vacuform mold years ago from those parts and I vacked the rear canopy and put the kit frame under it.

 

Gil :cool:

Edited by ghodges
Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...