They're not sheep, they are Nuns in disguise. Nice job in this little scale Steve. I find 1:72 quite satisfying. It must be the 'quick result' generally possible in 1:72 models.
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Another great looking build with some intresting history thanks Steve!Comment
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Awesome work Steve. This is the other version of the kit http://www.airfix.com/focke-wulf-fw190-f-8-a-8-1-72.html which has extra bits and pieces and two options, and A-8 or an F-8. I have this one, so your experiences with the landing gear and canopy have been noted as I suspect they are the exact same mould. Nicely photographed and posed, I like the scene a lot. As for the sheep, surely they are German Paratroopers exercising. The story about the He177 target aircraft could almost be comical.Comment
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Thanks everyone for the positive responses!
It's a very nice little kit and goes together very well. Airfix deserves some credit for successfully raising the bar on these newer kits. Coming from the generation that first slapped together the old kits (remember the bags?) quite happily but then later struggled to do them 'properly' I can tell the difference
Joe, the undercarriage disaster was largely self inflicted! With careful cutting of the oleo and scissor links it would be possible to make the adjustment, I'd be reluctant to take the length out of the top, though this is what I did with my replacement set (which was also too long).
The attachment of undercarriage legs on just about every Fw190 model in every scale is different, error prone and fraught with problems. The system on this kit is actually okay and gives resulting angles close to what they should be, which is more than can be said for some of the others.
The sliding part of the canopy just didn't line up perfectly with the windscreen. The windscreen looks right to me, so I don't think I fitted that wrongly. I started to gently sand the hood to fit, but got nervous about breaking it and also having to move it forward far enough that the fit at the back would become an issue, so I chickened out.
Seeing those options explains why the kit is built with drop in panels the lower wings to model the different armament/ordnance options. Again, well done Airfix.
Here's the full account of the He177 incident, as told by Uffz. Karl Rossmann of 2./JGr.10.
"...a war weary He 177 was used as a target aircraft for the SG-116 system mounted on one of the units two Fw 190 F-8s. A pilot flew the He 177 to a safe distance out over the Baltic sea then parachuted near a waiting pick up boat. Our Staffelkapitan Oblt. Richard Heller would fly this F-8 with the SG-116 cannon system with high hopes that it would be successful. He was escorted by several other pilots flying standard Fw 190 A-8s. After several passes, under the bomber, expecting the electric eye to fire the cannons, nothing happened! This system was a total failure. In the meantime, the bomber gradually, on its own, turned back towards land so the pilots using their standard armament of machine guns and cannons shot down the bomber while it was still over the water. Needless to say, this system was abandoned."
You couldn't make it up.....a 'schwarm' of Fw 190s shooting down an He 177, I'd love to have seen that.
Cheers
SteveComment
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Top drawer build Steve, a nice simple diorama and history too boot.
It looks like Len Goodman has given his score too.......SEVEN!Comment
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If I were to build mine wheels up would that alleviate the undercarriage issue? I was thinking of maybe making a stand with a few 1/72 models on brass or acetate rods as flying models? Just curious really if the issue is only apparent wheels down - though you may not have looked wheels up anyway.
NeilComment
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Hi Neil, there are alternative parts to build the model 'wheels up' in the box. This is a good thing as I myself am somewhat unusually a big fan of posing models in flight and sometimes adapting wheels which are designed to be down to fit into wheel wells and getting the doors to fit can take some work. A lot (most?) aircraft look their best with wheels up and the Fw 190 is no exception. When I messed up my U/C I came very close to going for a wheels up option myself.
The only decision would be what to do with the propeller. I don't fit the blades to inflight models, preferring to fill the spinner and do away with them altogether but other options are available.
Cheers
SteveComment
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I thought I had commented on this Steve, obviously not, so apologies.
Very nice work, as I would expect from you, nice history and the sheep give a more human side to the dio. I like it, very much.
Si
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Excellent looking build Steve , top class finish and photos. Its been great to watch the build not to mention very useful for anyone considering building this kit , as youve shown with a bit of tweaking it can be made into a superb looking little model , great job , cheers tonyComment
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Very nice Steve, paintwork looks immaculate.Comment
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Beautiful Butcher Bird Steve.
The little Airfix kit turned out to be a real cracker.
Cheers
PComment
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Very nice pieces of work Steve.
Any chance of a photo closer I am intrigued to see the camo. dots. Do you do this just with an airbrush or use a template. ?
LaurieComment
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