Jump to content

FW190-A3 by PCM - My Christmas Raffle Build- FINISHED


Recommended Posts

It’s finally time to get started on this. I’m really looking forward to it based on all the reviews I’ve read, here on LSP as well as other sites. This is going to be out of the box. I’ve spent too many months on single builds lately. This seems the perfect candidate as there really isn’t too much on the tweak list for the A3 and given it’s mixed media has PE and resin parts to really make it look sharp.

Here’s the only Eastern Front option in the kit

IMG_8022-L.jpg

I did just the IP the other night...then found a build review that said the PE and panel is too wide and needs trimmed. Boy they were right, I spent 30-40 minutes trying to make it fit!

Heres the kit for you guys that haven’t seen these

image-L.jpg
27BBFD1E-F4D5-4937-AFEB-FC0783A39162-L.j

 

Last night and Tonight I got started in earnest. Primed some parts, built the cockpit and added some alignment tabs to the fuselage.

 The IP has a purple tinge to it but it’s all supposed to be RLM66 which is a deep grey. Since this is OOB I mixed my 66 with PRU blue and got a decent match yet still maintaining the grey base color. I have not build a prop plane, let alone a German fighter in a long time (1 Corsair in the last 20 yrs) so I know nothing about these planes except that there seems to be a really strong following of these German fighters. Please don’t judge me on my ability to replicate these aircraft :evil_laugh:

IMG_8033-XL.jpg
IMG_8036-L.jpg

Ive left the seat out. I’m going to build it toward the end so it’s easier to cover up the cockpit for painting. I also noted the gun sight should be kept off till putting the halves together. I’d have broken it off a half dozen times already if it was on there.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Moving right along [ap] Today started with alignment of the fuselage halves. After reading a couple build logs I decided to glue in the cockpit before putting the fuselage together. Yes, it would go in afterward but the struggles i had getting it to fit made me wary, plus i figured I'd break something. Lord knows I've done that a couple times already on this build.

3BFC4506-444B-4463-8182-CEA04D34E81B-L.j
 

Here's what I learned. Always work 2 steps ahead on this one. With no alignment pins, by nature of being a multimedia resin kit, there's alot of alignment that impacts other parts. Sometimes it's not what it seems. For instance the glazing putty in the below pic. I was going to close that gap...and some of the cockpit fit work i did was to get it to close as the instructions show...BUT if it's closed the front upper cowling doesn't fit haha what a discovery. I was 2 steps ahead though so nothing lost here. 

66CFEBAA-B464-4E16-AA7B-89E645319271-L.j

check out that wing root. Very tight i think and it's only taped together in 1 spot. All the build logs said this was a problem. I think it has to do with multiple parts going together too soon if you follow the instructions to the letter. 
Overall this is a well designed kit! It really looks sharp. Almost no cleanup on the fuselage seams. I just started from the tail and worked forward an inch at a time. Then i put a dark wash on it to check out the seam and fill anything remaining with CA. The more I can clean up before primer the smoother the paint is going to look.

Doing some traveling this week so there will probably be an extended absence before more progress can be made [:(]

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I kinda held off on any updates till this round of dry fitting was thru. This set of shots shows the detail and fine engraved lines in the PCM kit.

first off the wing profile seemed to benefit from some support on the back half of the cord. This brought the profile up to match the fuselage and if you grab it by the wings won’t stress the glue joint in the future.

IMG_8072-XL.jpg
This is the wing with no weathering in the wells followed by some weathering. 

IMG_3054-L.jpg

IMG_3055-L.jpg
Could it benefit from a dark wash to tie it all together?

 

Under a satin black primer the thin panel lines seem to POP. Before primer it seemed you could hardly see them. Something tells me to really go easy on the coats of paint to keep these strong.

IMG_3057-L.jpg

Fuselage is an easy assembly

IMG_3048-L.jpg

Now the engine is nice, unfortunately it is almost completely hidden on this model behind the fan blades and props. For that reason it’s simple dry brushing and some grease stains.

IMG_3052-L.jpg

So that brings this week’s session to a close. Off for a poker weekend with my buddies. Back again next week!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Shawn M said:

nice to see a build of this, I won one in the raffle as well this year :)

Oh you’re gonna love the build. So much of it has gone together so easily. Almost now extra work on the fuselage seams. Spend some extra time on the wing fuselage alignment and you get a very minimal seam there. Cowl and nose are nearly perfect out of the box. Can you tell I’m excited about the fit and quality of this kit!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/22/2020 at 1:57 AM, Gazzas said:

Nice work so far.  It's amazing how well that motor is hidden.

Oh yeah, I hope they didn’t make it just for this plane as it would never be seen if you didn’t do a maintenance scene.

 

Nearly all the major assembly done so far. Got somewhat ahead of myself and threw on the primer before I realized I forgot to add the horizontal stabilizers...I’ve come to believe the value of a WIP is to discover what you left off after looking at a picture of your work :wub:

IMG_8094-L.jpg
These are out of the box seems

IMG_8095-L.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok paint has started! This is a totally new experience for me. I picked up a ton of MM enamels at an estate sale recently for about 10 cents ea. This gave me all except RLM71 for this build and I need to keep the cost down. Already had enamel thinner so one of my club friends is giving me advice on how to paint with them. I’ve thinned this down to the consistency of milk. It sprayed pretty well i think given no details have been lost in the application :D A little hard to see it given the satin primer but hopefully it’s good enough for you guys to see how it looks. Any advice or tips is highly appreciated...

IMG_3082-L.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots more painting happening today. All the major parts are done. The markings are all airbrushed. Just the red 8 and squadron markings will be decals. 
IMG_8107-XL.jpg

IMG_8111-XL.jpg
IMG_8112-XL.jpg

That Model Master paint must last forever. I truly wonder how old these are :blink: they spray nice and that’s what matters. Later tonight I’ll dullcoat the whole thing and get ready for decaling.

now lunch and some outdoor projects on this beautiful day in southern Ohio!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...