Eduard Focke-Wulf 190 1/48 Scale Red 19 - JG 300

[73north]

 

Red 19 was the regular aircraft of Unteroffizier Ernst Schroeder. Configured as an A-8, it was fitted with the nose machine guns but not the extra armour of the Sturm-Jagers . This made it a lot more lively in the handling department than many of the aircraft in the Jagdgeschwader 300 Gruppe .  This Red 19 FW190 machine was 'lost' on 27 November 1944 when Schröeder was forced to belly land after a dogfight at low altitude with a P-51. The aircraft was eventually repaired and returned to service with JG 301. The machine was scrapped post-war .   I have been wanting to build a Model of Red 19 for quite some time. This was due to the fact when I was a teenager I loved the centrefold illustration used in Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft Volume 3 Issue Number 27 where there is a picture of the left side and upper plan view of this aircraft which clearly has both Kolle Alaaf markings on both sides of the fuselage - This is the markings and camouflage pattern that I went for my model   This shows a rather unique style of mottling that I thought might make an interesting challenge. Rather than the usual "spot" style of mottling, this is more like "strings". This picture also shows the early JG300 RVD band (in rust/primer red) and II Gruppe bar, with bilateral ‘ Kolle Alaaf ‘ inscriptions and Cologne city coat of arms shield. It seems that Red 19 started off with a fairly standard mid war paint scheme, the previous tactical number had been painted out (possibly with RLM 75) and the "19" applied.  This scheme also carried the II Gruppe bar but no RVD band.  Sometime in November 1944, the aircraft was partially repainted and the "string" mottling was applied.  The RVD band was also applied at this time as was the bilateral inscription "Kolle Alaaf ! " The inscription "Kolle Alaaf!" has been identified in several sources, including Bernd Barbas' book, as carnival shout and it is a carnival cry meaning "Cologne is Alive!" in a local dialect. This seems to make sense. It also seems an appropriate inscription for a young fighter pilot defending the skies over his home. This aircraft was lost while trying to evade several Mustangs during a bomber raid. Ernest Schroeder luckily survived the war.   I used the Eduard 1/48 8175 version of the Focke-Wulf 190 A8/R2 but used the fuselage parts which didn’t have the added cockpit armour and used the canopy with no added side armour glass. The other aftermarket additions I used were the out-of-production Moskit hollow metal exhausts ( specially designed for the Focke-Wulf 190 ) and the excellent Air Master brass barrels by the Polish company Master Model ( order ref AM-48-019 ). These made a huge improvement to the look of the model, and I highly recommend them to any modeller.   Markings for this aircraft were covered on the aftermarket Aeromaster decal sheet, 48-696 " RammJager part 4 " which I specially purchased. The decal instructions show the left side of this aircraft with the earlier, simpler paint scheme and the II Gruppe bar. The instructions were followed for the wing and tail, as these appear to have been similar even after the repaint. The squiggle mottling on the fuselage is essential, as I wanted to get it right and look the way I wanted it. Before you paint it check it against the references. Some of the mottling is so unique and distinctive that, in the end, I ended up cutting masks for it (around the 19 on the starboard side). The problem is that the mottling has a very soft edge that requires that the paint be applied very thinly, almost transparently. This means repeated applications to get the right colour density. The first shot isn't so bad; it's trying to make the follow-on squiggles go exactly the same place that gets tricky. The Attention to detail in the best seller FW190 Model by Eduard is very impressive. For example, in every Focke-Wulf Fw 190 kit produced to date, the access hatch for the inboard wing cannon has a big seam line running in line with the wing root. This is usually tricky to eliminate. Eduard's kit addresses this challenge with separate hatches. Not only does this avoid the seam line, but Eduard also provides gun bay interior detail to permit the hatch to be posed open. The cowl gun bay is comprehensively detailed.   This was a superbly detailed kit which is nevertheless a bit hung up on its BMW engine and weapons. It's designed to have everything on show via appropriate panels and an open cowling. It no doubt looks great displayed in this way as Eduard intended for the kit. However with my model , I wanted to keep the panels closed. It was not too problematic; I just needed to sand the interior detail off the wing root gun panels or the panels won‘t close properly otherwise ( test fit it yourself to see what I mean ). But the fuselage gun cowling was different; The gun tray and bulkhead needed to be eliminated. The over-wide fuselage then needed to be braced around the gun cover and carefully super glued into place. Finally, the instrument bezel had to be secured to something as the gun bulkhead was gone. Once this little procedure had been performed, I was able to proceed with the rest of the build. (I had previously added the brass nose machine guns from the inside of the gun cowling for them to just protrude as in the real aircraft ) It was a positive experience, and I was left with a model to be proud of and a feeling of accomplishment. The base and accessories are from the Verlinden resin Luftwaffe Service Platform , and I think they set off the model beautifully. I normally have the Model inside a special Glass Display Case - which keeps the dust away !   hopefully , you like the Model ? regards David

Edited August 25, 2017 by 73north

[stevej60]

Superb job David,looks great with the accesories and base.

[73north]

Thank you very much , I was actually very lucky  that I built the Eduard 190 much later as I was able to avoid pit-falls that happened when others were building it when it was first released -

These include the following:

Check the position of the completed cockpit interior to the fuselage halves. Especially the back (upper) part of the cockpit tub must be aligned exactly with line on the fuselage halves. Also the weapon bay must be carefully positioned.

Another important point is the wing spar (part I16) installation. In this step (page 5 of the instructions), first glue part K20 into the wing, and then add part I16. This sequence will guarantee that the wing spar will be exactly vertical to the wing bottom.

This is crucial for wheel well assembly and the whole wing geometry.

 

Another sensitive point is the engine mount installation. In this point, find the exact position of the part K18 on the reverse (inside of the fuselage) side of the part H12 (wheel well). K18 fits exactly to the notch in the H12. If you glue K18 carefully to the given position, the engine block will easily assume the correct position when it is glued to the engine mount.

The locating holes for the main wheels are quite large. This is because the wheel fits to the axle at an angle. Use the instruction picture (page 10) to determine the exact angle of the wheel to the undercarriage leg.

While we are talking about the undercarriage, when you will assembly the K7 (u/c leg) to the H1 (u/c cover), the location pins on the leg will give you exact position of the hatch (H1) to the leg. This is similar to the assembly of the u/c to the wing – glue the leg to the fine locating position in the wheel well, and immediately add J30/J37 to the position in the wheel well and on the u/c leg (there is a fine location pin on the leg which fits to the small hole on the end of the tow bar). It will give you exact position of the undercarriage to the wing. This is a different system compared to other manufacturers' kits, but it delivers surprisingly good result.

Edited August 27, 2017 by 73north

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

You've done well here. I'm building the A-5 version at the moment and to be honest I'm fairly unimpressed. As is usual with Eduard the surface detail is very nice - the trick is sledge-hammering the thing together in such a manner than any surface detail remains. Some aspects are just over-complication without the production tolerances to pull it off frankly - and those cannon bays in the wing roots really are poor.

 

I'm struggling to get the wing to close up around the wheel wells, and I have omitted the wingroot cannon bay internal parts, thinned the covers a lot and sawn out the fuselage parts of the bays so far. It's also had plastic braces glued under the covers so they can't collapse under the fuselage.

 

 

If I didn't particularly want the specific aircraft I'm building I would probably have given up on it by now!

 

 

I hope I can G-clamp / superglue / 20Te hydraulic press it into submission to a similar standard as yours.

[73north]

see my last post - it details the areas to avoid making a mistake

 

and also to make clear , you are not alone in having problems -- I have added another photo ( this one shows the cockpit better )

and above all , the lovely ,  hollow MOSKIT Exhausts

 

 

https://modelingmadness.com/review/axis/luft/190/lee190a8.htm

 

When the Eduard series of '190s were first released, all reviews and build reviews, were 100% positive and that it was the finest FW 190 ever produced in 1/48 scale

I also was of the opinion that the Eduard kit was great for (and designed for ) a model with open panels, especially the wing root gun hatches .

. From what I've seen, and read, all build attempting to have closed panels run into fit problems. I spent a lot of time researching the Eduard kits, and what to avoid having a fit nightmare .

Unfortunately , this kit must be built with patience and above all , dry fitted repeatedly .

Edited August 25, 2017 by 73north

[Tbolt]

Superb work. Love your painting and weathering.

[giemme]

 David, impressive job!  I have the same kit in my stash, but I absolutely plan to do it with as many open panels as possible...    

 

Ciao

[Darby]

Looks fine from here. I found the trick to get everything lined up was the firewall. Get that right and you'll nail the rest of it. Mind you, can't remember which A version I made but I did spill a lot of blood at the time which resulted in Devon and Cornwall Police knocking on my door but that's another story.

[73north]

Thanks - I forgot to add , I always use synthetic , ultra-fine fishing line for my rigging of the antenna radio lines ( strong and very resistant to damage )

 

and ..........

 

I completely forgot to say that the Name Plate Identification - is a home-built - bespoke item made for me by AMTECH Resin of St Boswells

http://www.resincasting.co.uk/

I call it the id block - and its angled for easier viewing , and its got a space for a name plate ( made by TIMPSON  )

and for a laugh , when I had a name plate to be made for my Spitfire - they sent it to me as .. " SUB marine Spitfire "  !!

 

needless to say , I got it sent back and the proper one made !

Edited August 25, 2017 by 73north

[mostrich]

Yes David, I hear you on all those issues you battled so successfully. Finished my A-5 in 2014 and it wasn't a walk in the park. Luckily like you I learned from other's mistakes and listened to Eduard's additional remarks. But nonetheless I managed to glue the cockpit tub in a tenth of a mm to far to the front. That ended in a lot of fun with the weapons bay and engine alignment. Learned to curse in seven different languages back then.

 

But back to your work. I think you can be proud on what you've achieved with that demanding kit. I also like the unusual hybrid version you've chosen. Pretty cool!

 

 

[73north]

9 hours ago, mostrich said:

Yes David, I hear you on all those issues you battled so successfully. Finished my A-5 in 2014 and it wasn't a walk in the park. Luckily like you I learned from other's mistakes and listened to Eduard's additional remarks. But nonetheless I managed to glue the cockpit tub in a tenth of a mm to far to the front. That ended in a lot of fun with the weapons bay and engine alignment. Learned to curse in seven different languages back then.

 

But back to your work. I think you can be proud on what you've achieved with that demanding kit. I also like the unusual hybrid version you've chosen. Pretty cool!

 

 

thanks - can you post a photo of your Focke-Wulf A5 - or a link to it , I would love to see it , please ?

[WildeSau75]

Another winner - looks perfect together with the Me109 & Me110 a few posts above.

 

Cheers,

Michael

 

[mostrich]

2 hours ago, 73north said:

thanks - can you post a photo of your Focke-Wulf A5 - or a link to it , I would love to see it , please ?

When I read your post I realised that I didn't posted it here on BM. I just changed that:

 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Excellent work on this FW 👍 I have 3 sets of these markings and someday i will build one considering its one of my Favorite Focke Wulfs. 

[73north]

The Ramm Jager markings - from the aftermarket decals really help , as then you can select an aircraft that is ' unique ' ( or very rarely decaled )

 

thanks for the kind comment

[cybershed]

That's a lovely job you've done there. Inspiring stuff, albeit that there are a number of pitfalls one could encounter.

 

The first time I've seen this subject and I'm loving the whole camo and red insignia finish.

[73north]

23 minutes ago, cybershed said:

That's a lovely job you've done there. Inspiring stuff, albeit that there are a number of pitfalls one could encounter.

 

The first time I've seen this subject and I'm loving the whole camo and red insignia finish.

Thank you !

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Illustrated-Encyclopedia-of-Aircraft-Issue-27-Fock-Wulf-Fw-190-cutaway-drawing-/132300416238?hash=item1ecdb824ee:g:qIIAAOxyONBSV6Ma

 

This is the exact issue , for sale

I actually highly recommend the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Issue 27 - as its a great issue to read , and the centrefold ( pictured in that listing - its just glorious )

 

thanks for the kind comments ............... up to you , but I would recommend you buy it ( its not dear at all )

regards David

[cybershed]

Well, due to your inspiring Fw190 model, this kit has been been added to my 'must build' plans.

 

I'm currently building the new tool 1/48 Stuka from Airfix and I am really, really enjoying it.  I can report back that it is fitting together rather nicely so far, requiring of only a tiny amount of plastic filler on one joint.

 

Masking the canopy was a wee bit tiresome.  But it is so satisfying to remove the mask and see that you have actually done a real good job on it.

 

I'll be entering into what is 'virgin territory' for me with the exposed engine and gun bay wells, but am thoroughly looking forward to the challenge.

 

All the best.

[73north]

Thank you - good luck !

[Rod bettencourt]

Really nicely done, I like your presentation. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

Rod

[mick]

excellent work

[73north]

4 hours ago, Rod bettencourt said:

Really nicely done, I like your presentation. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

Rod

Thank you very much -

M y Wife's New Camera on her Phone - it does take a great photo

2 hours ago, mick said:

excellent work

Thank you very much , I appreciate that kind comment .

[skyradial51]

thats a nice Focke !

[73north]

8 minutes ago, skyradial51 said:

thats a nice Focke !

Thank you very much , the Eduard Basic Kit plus the extras I added , really make a lovely model ..........

[BerndM]

A bit late to the party but better than never

The best rendition i have seen from Ernst Schröders red 19 ! 

Especially the faded but not "over weathered" camo scheme looks very convincing.