I
sometimes like to try new topics and the Luftwaffe is one of them. I seldom
build aircraft of the Luftwaffe and when I do, I generally build late war
aircraft, mostly FW190 and Me109s so far as I get more and more interested in
their camouflages that seem to vary from aircraft construction batch to aircraft
construction batch.
I
had tried the very same “Blue 12” FW190D-9 previously. It was built from the
Hasegawa 1/72nd scale Dora and was featured some time back on ARC.
Unfortunately at the very time I finished the model I knew it probably was not
accurate as I found newer information on the aircraft.
http://www.arcair.com/Gal4/3001-3100/Gal3018_Fw190_Bade/00.shtm
“Blue
12” might be one of the best documented FW190 D as many photographs were taken
when its pilot surrendered at the very end of World War 2. It was photographed
from several angles including in color photographs. From a modeler’s point of
view it provides the opportunity of an intricate late war camouflage with plenty
of different hues.
This
time I wanted to base my Dora on the Tamiya model. I searched my decal sheets
for an interesting machine. After some searches, both for available decals and
available information I decided that I should try “Blue 12” again, using
available information from both the Japo and Crandall books on FW190 Ds.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The
Tamiya model was used and virtually no aftermarket details were added. I built
it almost straight from the box, following instructions.
As
it turned out, a very good modeler and friend of mine was building a FW190 D in
1/48th scale and pointed out the fact that the rear most part of the engine
should be visible from the outside, though the landing gear well. I therefore
decided I should correct the Tamiya little kit. The landing gear well center
section ceiling was deleted, and the rear part of the engine and related
accessories were built from plastic bits and stretched sprue.
The
Tamiya model contains a remarkably small number of parts for such a quality
model and construction is straightforward and easy. Virtually no filling or
sanding is necessary.
The
major part of this project is painting. Due to color photographs being available
for the real late war machine I would have thought that camouflage colors were
easy to determine. Although I own both the very well documented Crandall-Eagle and
Japo books about FW190 D-9s, several essays and decal sheet about this aircraft
I found out that no do source information agreed on colors. I first determined
that the best decal source would probably be the Eagle Cal sheet.
For
camo colors I mixed the Japo and Crandall - Eagle explanations. Wings and most
rear fuselage are based on the Japo book, while front fuselage rather is from
Crandall data. Most colors are from the Gunze acrylic range, some colors being
mixes. Metallic shades that are from the Xtracolour range. Decaling and
weathering quickly followed.
Some
details were added later. These are antennas which are photo etched parts for
fineness. Pitot tube is a metal part. Some other details are stretches sprue
while brake lines are thin metal wire.
These
details are added to complete the model. I finished this model with the strange
feeling that some questions still remain in camouflage details but with the
satisfaction of deeper research and a better model than my first try with
“blue 12”.
Eric BADE
Click on
images below to see larger images
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