Tamiya 1/48 Fw 190A-8

[VegasAWACER13]

Just got done with this, my second build since my return to modeling. I did several Bf 109s back in the day but this is my first Butcher Bird. It's also my first Tamiya kit. For the most part it was everything good I've heard about Tamiya. If I built it again I'd upgrade the cockpit and the cannon barrels. Both were pretty lacking. The rest of it was pretty nice and very well engineered. I didn't use any filler at all. I used a set of PE seatbelts but otherwise it was out of the box. I drilled out the tips of the cannon barrels but they're pretty thin and I didn't want to ruin them using a bit that was too large.

I had higher hopes for this build but the mottled camouflage just didn't turn out as I'd hoped. It's only my second kit with an airbrush and I probably should have stuck to something simpler. I was dealing with some technical issues along with learning to airbrush. I'm using a .38 needle and I feel like a .2 is probably needed for this kind of camo. Even holding the nozzle super close there was too much overspray. I realize there are also considerations of pressure and thinner ratio. If anyone has any tips on how I could've done it better I'd really appreciate it.

I had planned to do some light weathering but the paint took so long to finish I decided to stop at factory fresh. I have a minimum standard but I was ready to call this one done. It was taking too long. I will probably go back and add some light exhaust staining to the black fuselage panels though. They look too pristine.

Overall, not where I wanted it to be but not awful either. The 190 sure is a pretty aircraft. I'll look forward to doing another one. Maybe Eduard next time.

 

[BarleyBop]

a pretty aircraft

Yes indeed!
...and not using an airbrush myself, pretty astonished at the admirable paint job you pulled off.
Nicely done.

 

[VegasAWACER13]

Thank you so much! It turned out better than I thought it would when I was struggling with the painting!

 

[urumomo]

have you ever used liquid mask ?
You can employ it either in blobs to produce the camo splotches or paint the borders of the splotches -- whichever way you want to run the paint layers .

 

[Tommergun]

Beautiful work.

 

[VegasAWACER13]

Thank you!

have you ever used liquid mask ?
You can employ it either in blobs to produce the camo splotches or paint the borders of the splotches -- whichever way you want to run the paint layers .

I do have masking fluid and I've never thought of trying it on camo. I might have to give it a whirl! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Edbert]

Well done, VERY well done!

This is an older kit from Mr. T (RIP) not he equal of their newest offerings, but still top-rate.

 

[Holz44]

Very nice Butcher Bird. I had an RC model (56" wingspan) almost identical to yours that "terrorized" my Buddys who always went for P-51s and Thunderbolts. Please check out website: TTA.aero if you're interested in the best RC and Full Scale aircraft flying site in the country. No Joke.
Again, congratulations on a beautiful build!

 

[Werner Voss]

Nice job. I like the canopy and cockpit details.

 

[VegasAWACER13]

Well done, VERY well done!

This is an older kit from Mr. T (RIP) not he equal of their newest offerings, but still top-rate.

Thank you! I figured it was a repackaging of their old A-3 kit. Do you happen to know what WW2 kits are in their newer releases? I have their Bf 109E-3 in my stash as well, but I'm guessing that's one of their old ones too.

Please check out website: TTA.aero if you're interested in the best RC and Full Scale aircraft flying site in the country. No Joke.
Again, congratulations on a beautiful build!

Thanks so much! I'll check that out.

 

[Edbert]

It looks like Tamiya's E3 was retooled in 1996...

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya-61050-messerschmitt-bf109-e3--129903

 

[Wig41]

Holly mackerel … you've done more builds in a few months than I've done in a year!
And very well done to boot. Seriously, a great job!

 

[Napali]

Wow. Nice job. Congrats

 

[VegasAWACER13]

Holly mackerel … you've done more builds in a few months than I've done in a year!
And very well done to boot. Seriously, a great job!

Thanks so much!

The Spitfire IX has been done for a couple of months now. And the 190 took me about 6+ weeks. Still, I have jumped back into the hobby on the deep end!

 

[Edbert]

Thanks so much!

The Spitfire IX has been done for a couple of months now. And the 190 took me about 6+ weeks. Still, I have jumped back into the hobby on the deep end!

I think that is part of the pattern I have seen. Folks like you and I "come back" to a hobby of our youth after 10-40 years off with a vengeance, and more important, a budget

I fall asleep thinking about models, dream about them, and wake up with plans for the day.

 

[BarleyBop]

I fall asleep thinking about models, dream about them

Golly Ed, I think we were talking about styrene kits from the hobby shop!

 

[Edbert]

Golly Ed, I think we were talking about styrene kits from the hobby shop!

Yup!

That is how old I am. Hot woman in a bikini? Nah, look at that dude's F-18 SuperHornet!

 

[VegasAWACER13]

I think that is part of the pattern I have seen. Folks like you and I "come back" to a hobby of our youth after 10-40 years off with a vengeance, and more important, a budget.

Yes, the budget is very important. When I built kits as a kid, I made do with whatever paint colors I could get. Now I spend an hour researching the right color and pay more in shipping than the paint pot costs itself.

 

[mustang1989]

Can't go wrong with a Tammy kit for aircraft and this one turned out nicely man. I do love me some 190's!!!

 

[TimM63]

Thank you!


I do have masking fluid and I've never thought of trying it on camo. I might have to give it a whirl! Thanks for the suggestion.

You can try the masking fluid pen. I use it for canopies occasionally and I've used it on dashboards as well. It works great for small areas.

 

[Rockin' Rob]

More like this

 

[Pantherman]

Just got done with this, my second build since my return to modeling. I did several Bf 109s back in the day but this is my first Butcher Bird. It's also my first Tamiya kit. For the most part it was everything good I've heard about Tamiya. If I built it again I'd upgrade the cockpit and the cannon barrels. Both were pretty lacking. The rest of it was pretty nice and very well engineered. I didn't use any filler at all. I used a set of PE seatbelts but otherwise it was out of the box. I drilled out the tips of the cannon barrels but they're pretty thin and I didn't want to ruin them using a bit that was too large.

I had higher hopes for this build but the mottled camouflage just didn't turn out as I'd hoped. It's only my second kit with an airbrush and I probably should have stuck to something simpler. I was dealing with some technical issues along with learning to airbrush. I'm using a .38 needle and I feel like a .2 is probably needed for this kind of camo. Even holding the nozzle super close there was too much overspray. I realize there are also considerations of pressure and thinner ratio. If anyone has any tips on how I could've done it better I'd really appreciate it.

I had planned to do some light weathering but the paint took so long to finish I decided to stop at factory fresh. I have a minimum standard but I was ready to call this one done. It was taking too long. I will probably go back and add some light exhaust staining to the black fuselage panels though. They look too pristine.

Overall, not where I wanted it to be but not awful either. The 190 sure is a pretty aircraft. I'll look forward to doing another one. Maybe Eduard next time.

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Nice build. Pantherman