Model Build: Focke-Wulf Fw190A-6/8

I have just finished building a Academy's 1:72 scale Focke-Wulf 190A-6/8. What a beautiful plane!

The build was a challenge with inaccuracies in paint scheme and color, missing antennae, poor painting and some obvious impatience in several of the joins. For Academy's part, the cockpit is utterly devoid of detail and I am pretty sure that the seat is way too deep in the cockpit. If there was a pilot sitting in it, eye-level would still be BELOW the instruments!! Aside from the cockpit however the recessed panel lines and rivet detail is exciting to see on such a small scale, and this finished plane fits easily in the palm of even the smallest of hands!! I don't know why but I love how tiny this model is.

The kit comes with decals for a couple of schemes.

I chose to model my project after a color call-out I found online (I think it's from Eduard), although as I post this I realize that I did  not get all the decals on, painted the spinner the wrong colors, and forgot to "mottle" the vertical stabilizer  ... Oh Well ... can't wait to start the next one!!

As a  modeler, my skill level is probably middling at best and maybe even less than most on average. While my Fw190A would never win, or probably even be allowed admission into competition, it represents some encouraging progress on my part as a modeler. For those reasons I am quite pleased with the results, also it's just a beautiful plane!

I tried a few new techniques for this build. Probably the one I was looking most forward to, was my first attempt at an oil wash. After watching David Damak (PLASMO) apply oil washes, it seemed to add a smooth almost texture that I really liked; not satin but not entirely flat either. I have some UBER cheap oils and "odorless" thinner I purchased at Michael's a while back. What I noticed when mixing the wash however, was that the oil seemed to almost "flake"; so much so that you could actually see the pigment suspended in the thinner. Regardless, I applied it anyway and hit it with a hair dryer. It actually worked better than I expected, considering the flaking. The one thing I noticed however, is that when I applied varnish the next day, there appears to be some areas where the varnish either did not settle or was chipped off. Nothing HUGE, but you could notice them under even a cursory examination. I am not sure if this was because I did not wait long enough to apply the varnish. I know oils take longer to set up so, next time maybe I'll give it a week.

I also attempted a chipping effect using the sponge method. I did not have much luck with this as it looked like exactly what it was ... paint applied with a sponge. It seemed to recede a bit though when the oil wash was applied. I was going to re-apply it but decided against making it worse, since I was pretty happy with the results thus far, the payoff wasn't worth the risk.

And the final "new" technique I tried was trying to add "dirt" to the wheels. Typically I see folks using some AK or Vallejo earth effects or something. Being on a budget however, I discovered that my pastels did the trick reasonably well. I was happy with the "dirt" effect it created on the tires so ...

One lesson that finally sank in during this build is that for weathering to be successful it needs to have a legitimate source. Simply putting dark streaks on a wing doesn't read properly if it doesn't have a logical source. The machine guns for example, provide a source for smoke and powder streaks stretching out behind them on the wing. Oil leaks, weeping panel lines are other possible sources, but be sure to understand where they come from before putting weathering on. If you're putting "random" streaking on the plane then what you're doing will probably not communicate well to the viewer.

Anyway ... there is so much about this project that I would like to take another crack at, I think I will have to find another. I really enjoyed working on this one though and look forward to the next. The biggest improvement I want to make I think, is to clean up and create more accurate camouflage; more distinctive greens so that you can actually see the pattern and the underside should be more blue. Plus the shape of the camo was a little hacky and strayed from the reference. Also, perhaps, to find a way to incorporate more detail into the cockpit and generally clean up some of the construction flaws.

Anyway ... here are some pics of the final result.

One final note on the kit ...

I know that lots of kit manufacturers do not include Swastikas in their kits and I understand that in many countries the sale of or distribution of Swastikas is illegal but I also find it disappointing to be "missing" parts as important as that. Academy, like many others does NOT include the Swastikas for the vertical stabilizer in the kit so I had to purchase third party decals to complete the kit.

Principal Project: T-38A Talon Pt. 2 - Cockpit

I know I have been remiss in my updates and general posting activity but between basement flooding, more deaths in the family, summer vacation, bathroom remodeling and kids going off to college ... it's been a busy summer. Besides, my oldest daughter got me all into Skyrim (the video game) and so I am always having to beat back that distraction. 

Skyrim ... distraction factory.

Since this blog has no followers though, you can imagine that my concern is pretty low. Perfect ... Not disappointing anyone today. 

Anyway ... I digress.

Despite my long pause I have been making progress on the Trumpeter T-38A Talon "Principal Project". I had actually finished the cockpit several months ago. I must have mis-aligned when putting it in the fuselage however. The sides seemed to bow outward, leaving a considerable gap on either side of the coaming. Anyway that was enough to derail me for a several months. In the interim I took some really crappy photos with my phone of the cockpit fully painted and assembled (but not in the fuselage) and thought I would share them here.

The instrument panel decals actually turned out pretty nice. In the forward seat I attempted to put them on as a single decal, and it turned out OK, but for the back seat I carefully separated the decals into smaller sections using my Exacto and everything lined up much more nicely. Micro-Sol really helped snug the decals into the details of the instrument panel and I was pleased with the results.

Cockpit Detail before wash and weathering applied. I tried to add "scuff" marks to the floor but it turned out looking like what it was ... someone scratching at the paint with a sharp tool. I'll have to figure out another way to do this convincingly. 

This was also my first time working with PE (photoetch) and was encouraged with my progress. While I placed and configured the seat belts in all the wrong places, I suspect that unless you've ever strapped into one of these yourself, you probably wouldn't know the difference. 

The interior was painted largely in gull gray with a wash of Nato black (I think that's what it was). Combined with dry-brushing gull-gray I was pleased with the results. Of course, according to what I hear on forums and various online resources, these are fairly "old-school" and basic techniques, designed to make the inexperienced modeler feel better about their inexperience ... IT WORKED ... I loved the results!! :) 

Rear Cockpit Detail - wash applied and PE in place.

Well ... I have started assembling the remainder of the aircraft. A fair amount of putty on the seams which makes me nervous as I am afraid of losing the fantastic detail included on the model. I am using tape to limit the impact of the putty and purchased dental picks to help me replace any lost panel lines ... I HATE SCRIBING ... so we'll see how that goes. 

If you're waiting for the next installment, I'd be  shocked as no one even knows this blog exists! Regardless it will be here when my time and motivation converge. 

See you then.