FW190A, basic techniques-advanced results

[Drewe Manton]

So, let's build something fromt he start and see how we get on using some of the basics that any modeller looking to up his game could aspire to, and easily achieve. My intent isn't to build something competition worthy, just something using techniques that many thnk of as "advanced" but are actually simple, and yield great results. So pull up a chair and join me!

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/Dmanton300/airfix%20190a/01_zpsv54oqud0.jpg

So let's pick a starting point, and where better than one of the recent Airfix series 1 new tools? I picked the FW 190A-8. For six quid you get a new tool model with engraved detail, and a good starting point for this most well known of types

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/Dmanton300/airfix%20190a/02_zps5jhmdfcs.jpg

Only one colour option in series one kits, but this is an attrractive one, look at that snake!

 

So let's start with some basic initial assembly and the wings. There are gun inserts for the lower wings (and bulges for the topside). Simply checked for fit and the tabs lightly sanded until they were level with the underside, and then some CA was run around the joins from thje inside and accelerated to set instantly.

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/Dmanton300/airfix%20190a/03_zpsvw6exx0k.jpg

And this is the result:-

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/Dmanton300/airfix%20190a/04_zpszimnbox5.jpg

It may need some slight clean up but we have basically good joins already.

Cheacking around the edges I detected some flash on areas like the wheel bay edges - take care to gently remove this, I used a fresh #11 blade and scraped it away, a few minutes now will enhance your model and raise it above the rest, time well spent!

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/Dmanton300/airfix%20190a/05_zpskur401yo.jpg

The wing root gnd have open shell ejection ports ion the underside. I simply used some small pieces of black plastic card to block them off from being see through:-

 

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/Dmanton300/airfix%20190a/06_zpsu7cavqog.jpg

The wing and flap trailing edges are wuite thick on this model, so a couple minutes spent thinning them will pay dividends. The first step was to use some black paint or surfacer on the flaps, this will give a good guide to sanding - you don't went to sand away plastic at the forward edge and leave a poor fit with a step to the upper wing, and this will help visualise it easily while you work.

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/Dmanton300/airfix%20190a/07_zpsulozjjhd.jpg

Finally for this session, the way the flaps have been ,moulded results in some very minor sinkage on the topside. . you could ignore it, but this isn'tr why we're here, right? And we have the surfacert out anyway, so let's add a drop to  their and send it back when dry:-

 

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/Dmanton300/airfix%20190a/08_zpswa5hi6ma.jpg

More soon!

 

[Drewe Manton]

I'm afaid there will be no more. When bringing the kit together it became quickly obvious that it simply isn't all that great a model. Nothing inherently wrong per se, but when you have Hasegawa and latterly Eduard examples in your stash, spending time on this just seemed like a waste of such a valuable resource. So I boxed it back up and moved on to something that will reward me more. Sorry!

[Pretty Mediocre Modeller]

Sorry to here that Drewe, I was looking forward to this 

[Drewe Manton]

I kind of place a value on my time. Generally I try to pick the best, rather than the cheapest route to what I want. The small amount extra I'll pay for the alternatives to this model will more than pay for itself in the finished product. Other choose a different  route, which is also fine. 

[DavidJC]

And there, folks, in a nutshell, is my argument about poor kits vs better quality ones and purchasers potentially being put off, right?

 

I don't know this model (actually I thought it was a new-tool), but if even an experieced modeller such as Drewe is giving up, not bothering and going off to buy the same kit elsewhere, where does that leave an inexperienced modeller who might well be put off?

[peebeep]

And there, folks, in a nutshell, is my argument about poor kits vs better quality ones and purchasers potentially being put off, right?

 

I don't know this model (actually I thought it was a new-tool), but if even an experieced modeller such as Drewe is giving up, not bothering and going off to buy the same kit elsewhere, where does that leave an inexperienced modeller who might well be put off?

I'd suggest that Drewe has looked at alternatives that for him are less hassle, that's the advantage of being an experienced modeller. In my experience a newbie wouldn't necessarily be put off, because they wouldn't know any better. In the sum of things this is one release amongst what must now be a couple of dozen that doesn't quite hit the spot, but nontheless I've seen several examples that have been put together successfully and it looks quite OK when completed. I think slating it as poor quality is over stating the case and regardless, Airfix have sold/will sell lots of them.

[DavidJC]

Perhaps Paul, and though I fully take your points, I don't think it robs me of my points.

 

As I say I don't know the model but thought it was a new-tool. Whichever way you look at it, I must admit it's a shame that Drewe feels unable to finish it off for us. Though 1/72 is not my scale, I would like to have seen it through to conclusion.

[Ratch]

 Perhaps Drewe could tell us if this is a bad kit that will put newbies off for life

[Drewe Manton]

And there, folks, in a nutshell, is my argument about poor kits vs better quality ones and purchasers potentially being put off, right?

 

I don't know this model (actually I thought it was a new-tool), but if even an experieced modeller such as Drewe is giving up, not bothering and going off to buy the same kit elsewhere, where does that leave an inexperienced modeller who might well be put off?

Ah, I think we need to seperate why *I* am not proceeding. The kit is okay, it will make up into a perfectly presentable, passable (yes, nice) FW 190. Now, without wishing to sound elitist or superior, the issue is with *my* requirements from a kit. I simply have better options available to me, now, on my stash, looking at me. Those options are, generally, not going to be found on a local store's shelves. I picked that 190 up in Hobbycraft. Hobbycraft don't stock Hasegawa, and they CERTAINLY don't stock Eduard!

Had I been supplied with the kit for review, I would happily have proceeded to completion. But it was my money, a personal project, for me. And so I decided that one of the better options available on the enthusiast market was more suitable for my requirements.

 

The kit, whilst not their best work, is certainly not *BAD* per se. Buy, build, enjoy. I just had other options and have decided to pursue them.

 

[DavidJC]

OK, all accepted. I thought you were saying it was a bad kit overall.

 

Whilst accepting your reasons, I still would have liked to have seen you finish it off for us though :-)

[paul-muc]

A build tread and pics of some fantastic builds of this specific kit are shown on the ATF site. And photos of an Eduard FW 190 A-8 (Priller's Black 13) beyond all skills (Petr Zatrepalek) are shown in the actual Eduard info, that you can download from their site.

[Jonathan Mock]

Be nice to see this one revived and finished off as encountering and dealing with problems is part of basic techniques.

[DavidJC]

That's true, Jonathan.