Andrew's 1/72 Airfix FW190 A-8 and F-8 'Double bill'

[hasenpfeffer]

Apr 13, 2024 2:36:46 GMT -5 adt70hk said:

Jan 6, 2024 8:32:42 GMT -5 hasenpfeffer said:

LOL. That's the problem we modelers face. It is very - very difficult to paint it realistically messy and have it look "good". I've often thought that about winter white-washes on armor. Everyone seems to chip the paint using hairspray or whatever, but I am pretty certain it doesn't come off that way. It washes off or wears off. I don't think there is much chipping. Anyway, great info you presented. I love the pic of the actual plane. I suppose that is why I have stayed to planes that probably were but a pic doesn't exist - because then there really isn't much to debate. To each his own. Take as much or as little artistic license as you like.

Page 2 is a little blurry. I took pics with my phone as scanning wasn't really an option without destroying the spine. Let me know if you would like any retakes. I apologize that there is some glare on some of the photos too. I tried to avoid this as much as possible. Cover included to give credit where credit is due. (Also note that this does not represent the entire article.



I also had no idea that Aldi stocks model kits...

Dave

I have VERY belatedly realised that I did not say thank you for the above that really is very kind of you.....so very sorry but it has been a trying start to the year, plus I wanted to get my Jagdpanthers over the line.

As for Aldi stocking kits, it's only a few times a year and for a short period, so you have to get in quick.

Thanks again.

Andrew

Hey, no worries Andrew. Glad you are able to find some time again.

[stuart]

Great start!

It's a nice little kit this, I picked one up from Aldi a few years ago too - so far it's the only Luftwaffe aircraft I've completed.

[406 Silverado]

Continuing to watch for the amazement to begin......

[adt70hk]

OK chaps....so cockpits finished...despite Airfix instructions doing there best to confuse things by saying you should add the two final parts almost right at the end of the build, when there is no logical reason why the offending part could not put on at the start - especially as I had already sprayed the cockpits before I discovered the error.

Also pilot's are done.  I managed to lose one after I cut him off the sprue for a test dry fit, so had to nick one from another kit.....he's quite a bit larger and had his legs spread out, so I had to dip him in boiling water for a bit before bending them in a bit.  I have not spent a lot of time on them, as I know not much will be seen once the canopy is on.

Frustratingly though, a huge amount of work on the cockpit is wasted - even for a plane at this scale it is REALLY bad.  A test fit of the cockpit shows that absolutely nothing of the IP etc. will be at all visible.

Finally, what never ceases to amaze me is how many paints you need to even do a simple figure.....it's truly bonkers sometimes....

ACW as usual.

Andrew


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These were all the paints I used for just three simple figures....and two have the same uniforms!  (2x FW 190 and 1x Japanese pilot)






Not my best work but the figures really aren't that good.....plus not much of them will be seen.

[deafpanzer]

NICEEE!! It would be great if you can modify the figures to make them hold hands.

[handiabled]

I'm not sure how your update made it past me but that is some great progress getting both pits done with the pilots!

[kyledehart5]

That’s all looking really great Andrew!!

[406 Silverado]

Progress is looking good on these pits and pilots Andrew. It's a shame that not much of the cockpit will be visible in the finished build but hey.......YOU know the detail is in there. 

[cbaltrin]

Your wittle wurger is wooking wunderful.  Ok, all nonsense aside.  I like your choice! 

I have a few 1977 Airfix 190A/F's in the stash. Fine kits for their day and would build up into a nice representation even today. Tempted to build one...

[adt70hk]

May 6, 2024 8:10:33 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

NICEEE!! It would be great if you can modify the figures to make them hold hands.

May 6, 2024 16:26:29 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

That’s all looking really great Andrew!!

May 6, 2024 8:13:18 GMT -5 handiabled said:

I'm not sure how your update made it past me but that is some great progress getting both pits done with the pilots!

May 7, 2024 4:26:32 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Progress is looking good on these pits and pilots Andrew. It's a shame that not much of the cockpit will be visible in the finished build but hey.......YOU know the detail is in there. 

May 11, 2024 19:35:22 GMT -5 cbaltrin said:

Your wittle wurger is wooking wunderful.  Ok, all nonsense aside.  I like your choice! 

I have a few 1977 Airfix 190A/F's in the stash. Fine kits for their day and would build up into a nice representation even today. Tempted to build one...

Gents, an extremely belated thank you for all the positive feedback.  As you will see an update will follow shortly!

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Good afternoon chaps!

So, seven weeks after the last update, at long last some movement.

The old work situation was sapping it out of me although I had been looking at this in fits and starts

Now that is sorted in the form of a new job the mojo has been returning, although the stop/start nature of the process did cause quite a few problems. Also, I was trying some things for the first time – and so most of the issues were of my doing.

So, here’s a summary of what’s what:

• The pilot I had nicked from an Airfix 109 kit to replace the one I lost turned out to be much bigger and so caused fit issues when tyring to join the fuselage halves together.

• After gluing in the cockpit tubs, as per the instructions, I discovered they weren’t at all level when it came to joining the fuselage halves and so caused some problems – but that may be my fault.

• There were some fit issues around the engine covers, whilst it may have been my fault, the issue was in exactly the same place on both kits and so can’t rule out a kit issue.

• One of the wings on one of the kits also seemed slightly more bent than the others and so needed encouragement to glue in place at the correct angle.

• On one of them I forgot to put in the piece that includes the exhausts, which you have to do before you join the two halves…DOH!

• The holes I drilled in the bottom for the flight stands were too far forward, causing problems with the fit of the centre-line ordinance/drop tank – I’ve never done this before, so I’ll put that down as a learning experience.

• With the second plane I also found a better way to attach the magnet I am using for mounting on the flight stand.

However…..worst of all though and unusually, at least in my experience, the top wing halves were a solid piece and not separate parts that slot alongside the side of the fuselage.

I got it ok on the first one but given the long time-lag, on the second one, by the time I realised it was far too late. Fortunately though, I am doing these wheels up in flight and so not having the wheel wells is an issue, so I just cut out the mid-sections and slotted them in……next time I’ll read the instructions!!!

And yesterday morning they received a nice coat of black primer. They just need a few more hours for it to cure properly.

ACW as usual.

ATB

Andrew

PS sorry about all the pics……



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You can just see the wonky alignment of the cockpit!







The stupid wing error on the second plane and - in my opinion - my remarkably elegant solution!
















Encouraging the bent wing to glue at correct angle!







The ‘in flight’ solution….

One of the holes…both are too far forward….





Solution 1 to mount the magnet was a block of styrene cut to the appropriate length….








The better solution was to lay thick-ish strips of styrene across the hole…..







An example of what one of the magnets looks like in place.  This is one mounted on a block.  The one mounted on the styrene strips is far more flush.










They will actually be mounted on these, with the small washers going over the stubs on the stands.










A quick test flight!











And finally on with the primer!

[handiabled]

A double build is ambitious enough. Putting a job change on top of it and time away from a build doesn't make it easier. I think these are shaping up great! I'm looking forward to the paint schemes you put on them both! I like the magnet modification vs the regular slot to display them in flight

[kyledehart5]

Some great work going on here Andrew!! Looking really nice.

[TJ]

Great idea with the magnets

[adt70hk]

Jun 19, 2024 2:19:54 GMT -5 handiabled said:

A double build is ambitious enough. Putting a job change on top of it and time away from a build doesn't make it easier. I think these are shaping up great! I'm looking forward to the paint schemes you put on them both! I like the magnet modification vs the regular slot to display them in flight

Jun 19, 2024 2:53:29 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Some great work going on here Andrew!! Looking really nice.

Jun 19, 2024 4:40:19 GMT -5 TJ said:

Great idea with the magnets

Thanks chaps glad you're liking the progress so far!


Brent, Johnny - glad you like the magnet idea.  As they're nominally for wargaming, I wanted a way of mounting them securely 'in flight' whilst having a way of more easily storing them.  Although I didn't buy them on purpose these are neodymium magnets, which are much stronger than the 'traditional' magnets I used as a kid, so hopefully they should not have problem holding the planes in position.

Thanks again.

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Afternoon all

So I'm off work this week and have finally managed to get some paint on in the form of the the mottling over the top of the black basing - see the quickly taken shots below.

After I took these, I used the leftover paint to start to put them main RLM coat on.  I'm jut waiting for it to dry to see if it needs any more, as I have found Vallejo goes more opaque as it dries.

ACW as usual.

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Evening chaps

So RLM 76 undersides are done as per the quick shots below....couldn't get proper shots of the sides showing the effect but you get the idea.

Next up the RLM 74 and 75 top side camo.

ACW as usual.

ATB

Andrew

[TJ]

Very nice work on the paint

[adt70hk]

Jun 20, 2024 20:18:44 GMT -5 TJ said:

Very nice work on the paint

Thanks Johnny!

[Leon]

Paint looks good Andrew!

[handiabled]

Great work on the pre shading! I really like the modulated look with the RLM paint on

[adt70hk]

Jun 21, 2024 6:18:30 GMT -5 Leon said:

Paint looks good Andrew!

Jun 21, 2024 8:57:48 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Great work on the pre shading! I really like the modulated look with the RLM paint on

Leon, Brent

Thanks very much for the support.  I know others prefer pre-shading but at this scale I always found it very tricky to get the black lines just right.  But when I saw black-basing demonstrated, I thought I have to give it a try and I have been hooked ever since.

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Hi all

So top coat has now started.  I'm trying to this freehand for the first time rather than using masking putty.

So first up is the RLM 75 'Grey violet'.  I'll let this dry before doing the RLM 74.

ACW as usual.

ATB

Andrew

[thug626]

These are looking great! I especially like how you have used the preshade mottling to good effect. Well done indeed.

Cheers
Dave

[kyledehart5]

Those are absolutely looking wonderful!!

[handiabled]

Interested to see the paint schemes you put on each of them

[406 Silverado]

I can't get over the paint work going on with these things!   Truly masterful work going on in here Andrew and I can't wait to see what else you've got in store for these. You've been one busy guy over the last few days that's for sure. 

[adt70hk]

thug626, kyledehart5, handiabled, 406 Silverado

Chaps sincerest apologies  for the very late thank you...the final weeks of work with my old employer and our holiday meant I completely forgot to reply.

Anyway a short update will follow shortly!

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Morning all

So just before we went away I managed to get the final paintwork job finished, with the topside green and then some other markings.  Not easy trying to do the green freehand at this scale and so it's a bit blotchy in places......

There are also a paint chips where I was testing the magnet idea before I put a varnish coat on, so I'll need to touch those up.....

Although the pics aren't perfect, you can hopefully see that I've kept the red and yellow faded to tie in with the faded camo jobs....I think it would look a bot odd to have nice bright markings when the rest of the paintwork is faded.

I've also hand painted the lines on the spinners for change....thought I'd give it a go.....not super neat and I obviously need a lot more practice but as you'll see below not entirely unrealistic.

Bombs have also been painted.  As usual there is quite a lot of semi-conflicting information about what colours and when but a seemingly well researched in-depth blog on the topic suggests that by the end of the war they would probably have been painted grey-beige RAL 7027; I've certainly seen another article stating that the AB250 should be that colour.....and so in for a penny, in for a pound.

ACW as usual.

Andrew



















As you can see the real things were not always the nice neat markings we portray....


Source a friend on another forum.

[handiabled]

Your modulated pre-shade has a nice worn effect with the paintwork. Spinners look great!