1/48 Italeri Fw 190A-5

[Vic Balshaw]

Thought I'd slot this on in before the next GB.

An annoying trait that is still going on, you will note no Swastikas on the box art and also the decal. obviously there is still some sensitivity around so I can understand the box art, but come on italeri, no swastika decals, not even broken up..................................

So improvisation, lucky I had some.

Have decided to do the Major Hermann Graf aircraft while he was in command of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost in April 1943.

As is my want I do have a few extras to incorporate.
A set of CMK resin wheels, some Eduards cockpit detail and masks, and Master MG17 barrels and pitot.

 

[rochie]

this should be good

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Pressures on then.

 

[Wayne Little]

You will do it justice Vic....

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

One of the more colourful FW schemes. Looking forward to it.

 

[Ralph Haus]

Looks like it will be yet another interesting (I'll say challenging?) build? If Scalemates has it correct the molds are late 80's Dragon ones. Decals should be fresh enough though. Like Andy, a very colorful scheme.

 

[fubar57]

Love it

 

[Crimea_River]

The Dragon kit works OK but has some accuracy issues, depending on what A model you want to build. **** DONE: GB-36 1/48 FW190A-5 - Axis Manufactured Aircraft of WWII

 

[Grant Barr]

Nice choice of finish for this one Vic. Looking forward to seeing it completed. Hoping you won't have some of the weird fit issues that have slowed me down on my Italeri Ju-87.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Nice choice of finish for this one Vic. Looking forward to seeing it completed. Hoping you won't have some of the weird fit issues that have slowed me down on my Italeri Ju-87.

Not saying anything, don't want to tempt fate.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks for calling in gents and thanks for the kind words. Progress has been slow, household duties and other factors plus the fact I've been trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. This kit provides etched steel parts for the instrument panel and cockpit side shelves so I decided to do a bit of mix and match by using up scraps of etched detail to make up the cockpit. I had some bits of Eduard PE for a Fw 190A Eduards kit and though slightly bigger than the Italeri PE I have managed to get them fitted with a reasonably good outcome. Judge for yourselves.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

I have a question. My Italeri instruction give two colours for the three propeller blades (see below) Is this normal for a Fw 190A!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Forging ahead today..............................................
Old cannon blister and expended shell chute removed unwanted panel lines filled and hardening. Will score new lines tomorrow.

New underwing blisters being made. Left almost finished but had to stop as my fingers were starting to cramp up. Right one still to have the shape finished and then both polished.

Eh Th-Th-Th That's all folks.

 

[Wurger]

I have a question. My Italeri instruction give two colours for the three propeller blades (see below) Is this normal for a Fw 190A!

View attachment 718259

IMHO that's the misinterpretation of the colour tone. The Anthon prop was of the schwrzgrun overal usually. Certainly it can't be excluded that the maintenece crew repainted the inner sides of the prop blades for some reason.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks Wojtek. I did have my suspicions that it could relate to shading interpretation and I could find nothing to clarify it.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Airframes]

Nice work Vic.

 

[le_steph40]

Very nice cockpit Vic

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Many thanks Gents.

Well she looks like an airplane now with its wings on but it was not without issues.

Had I followed the instructions, I could almost guarantee that this build would be in the garbage bin after a couple of size 13 boots had trampled it. To fit the wings I had to put in a couple of wedges to ease out the side walls and the add a bit of card to fill the now smaller but still remaining gap on the port side. The starboard just needed some filler to finish it off.

The instructions said to construct the engine housings and fit to the fuselage. Test fits showed that if I had done this, I would not have been able to fit the wing assembly. As it was, fitting the nose assembly proved frustrating and as you can see a wa*ker of a fit. But we prevailed and with the aid of thick Zap and some Kicker them holes have been filled and the sticky out bits filed back.

As you can also see, the underwing work has been completed and I've also opened the ejector chutes for the inboard guns.

Looking at the photos, I think a bit of a clean-up is required before start masking.