**** DONE: Academy 1/72 Fw 190A-4 of 1./JG 51, Russia, 1943 VVS/Eastern Front GB

[imalko]

Well, with Me 262 build temporary on hiatus it's a good time as any to start this one rolling me thinks...

As discussed in previous posts Academy's kit has some inaccuracies which I'll try to rectify using Wojtek's thread as a reference, but not to such level of detail as he did. Here's the extent of modifications I planned - forward fuselage to be shortened for 3,5mm, tail fin to be sanded into more correct shape, rudder to be enlarged and aft fuselage lengthened. When wings are concerned I planned only modifications regarding the main armament. As A-4 was armed with MG FF canons in outer wings and not with MG 151s as later variants, upper wing canon covers should be removed and under wing "bulges" characteristic for MG FF added. Though this particular machine didn't have MG FFs installed these changes needs to be made. Also the pitot tube should be moved inward I believe.

I started the work with the fuselage halves and here's the first progress photos...

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Major surgery me thinks a good start two, am looking forward to more.

 

[Wayne Little]

Nice start Igor...Wojtek will be proud...

 

[Airframes]

Impressive stuff Igor, well done my friend.

 

[T Bolt]

Major surgery is right! Nice work correcting that kit Igor!

 

[Crimea_River]

Scalpel....suction.....

You're in deep now!

 

[rochie]

Deep breath Igor no going back now !!!!!

looks great

 

[magnu]

Nice cut and shut job Igor

 

[Wurger]

With all here Igor. A nice job so far.

 

[imalko]

Cheers mates! Thanks a lot. I cut it to peaces, all I have to do is to put it together again...

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Just pretend you're playing with Lego..........

 

[imalko]

Update on the build...

 

[Wayne Little]

 

[rochie]

looks like its gone together rather well Igor

 

[Crimea_River]

I agree!

 

[Airframes]

Neat work there Igor !

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Sterling bit of modelling Igor.

 

[Wurger]

 

[imalko]

Cheers mates! Thanks for your comments.
Well, after a lot of gluing, filling and sanding here's the current state of the build... Apart from obvious proportional inaccuracies this kit leaves a lot to be desired when fitting is concerned too. This is especially noticable on upper wing-fuselage joint where I had to fill 1-1.5 mm gaps. I changed the upper fuselage machine guns as they were over sized (unfortunately I didn't took "before" shots, but those who have this kit know how that looked like). I also rescribed some of the panel lines especially on the upper wings where MG151 covers were removed. On the underside wings I added "bulges" characteristic for MG FF cannons (these were taken from Italery Bf 109F kit). I still need to sand these a little so they better blend to the wing surface. What also remains to be done is more sanding on the wing-fuselage joints and of course the tail surfaces. Apart from the new rudder, the horizontal tail also needs to be modified (it has to large span and the shape is wrong as it's not wide enough in the root). As almost everything about this kit is out of proportion the main landing gear legs are not exception. They are too long and need to be modified...

 

[Wayne Little]

Doin' a good job so far Igor!