adey m Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) Well after all this talking about FROG kits I have decided to finally get on and build one. This is the one that I have chosen to get the ball rolling, a 1970 vintage Fw Ta152 which I bought at the recent model show at Huddersfield with the intention of building it. At last a small model that can be built quickly without it taking up all my modelling desk like the Stratojet did. This model is what I would have bought on a Sunday morning at the Whitby Parade post office when I was thirteen, and I would have had it built and painted and possibly decalled by bed time. If only ............ I wonder which one I will do ? Beautifully crisp and cleanly moulded parts are making me excited with anticipation. I wonder if I can have it built in a week .......... or a fortnight Okay, I have the references, spares bits and the paints, there are no excuses now Edited April 3, 2018 by adey m 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted March 14, 2018 Author Share Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) On 14/03/2018 at 09:43, Britman said: Good to see this getting built. Will you enhance it with bits from the spares box? Looking at those kit lists, theirs not many "monsters" in there . If I were describe most of the FROG range, I would suggest that they were high class vacforms without the need to cut and sand. Hi Britman, I am indeed using some bits from the spares box, a control column, gunsight and possibly a spinner. I have cut away the moulded cockpit surround, removed the seat's side tabs and built a cockpit tub. I am enjoying the small size of the model and the amount of space that I have on my table. Trial fitting of the cockpit tub. The upper wing parts incorporate the trailing edges and wing tips which allows them to be scale thickness .......... very clever for 1970. Edited April 4, 2018 by adey m 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAMAN Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Don't use the Airfix artwork for any reference as it's wrong, not the only thing though, the Stammkennzeichen code (factory radio code ) on the side "TD+X1" does not exist, "TD+XI" may but there is no record of this call sign issued by Focke Wulf. AdeyM there were no Luftwaffe pilot bone domes as they did not exist until the late 1940's. Luftwaffe head gear was leather and fabric or all leather. This is my 1/72 civilian test pilot for a prototype Fw 190 I've been building for the past few years, he's a modified Matchbox figure with the correct Hi-altitude headgear and oxygen mask, hope it helps, 185. Pilot by Neil, on Flickr Enjoy your build, I'll be watching, you've got me carefully going over my "wreck" to access what needs to be done. If you'd like I can send you some info for correct paint schemes used by Ta 152's Cheers Neil 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 FROG Ta 152 build continued Scratchbuilt cockpit tub taking shape. A bit of fettling was required until it fitted ( snugly ) Instrument panel ready for painting. Cockpit tub glued in position. Firewall in front of cockpit installed ( should prevent one from seeing down into the wheel wells from the cockpit ) Checking instrument panel positioning. cheers, adey 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAMAN Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 Fantastic cockpit Adey, don't forget correct colours (more on that). Thanks for the kind comment on my '190 driver and his cockpit, also I hope my old Airfix Dora does not give any little ones viewing this thread nightmares I hope I'm not going too off thread with this . . . . . . . I'll quote you from above; " Regarding Ta152 colour schemes there are loads of varieties to choose from on the web. But the question I have is how do we know what all these colours were when all the photos of operational machines are black and white. There are photos of a preserved fuselage which appears to be painted in shades of green. " There really should not be loads of varieties to choose from, the Frog colour call outs are completely wrong (apart from attributing Ta 152's to II/JG3, also wrong), they've used mid war greys for the schemes not the late war colours used. Don't listen to some who believe there was an RLM-83 Grun (Green) used. Ta 152 camos were all close to a Focke Wulf document from November 1944 on the intended colours to be used on all Ta 152's Numbered 8-152.000-4500 stating that the upper camouflage colours were RLM-81 and RLM-82 with undersides RLM-76. Colours for the Ta 152H, H-0, H-1 and H-2 Cockpit - (mainly) RLM-66 Schwarzgrau (Blackgrey), Cockpit - Odd panels, Wheel Wells, Landing Gear RLM-02 Grau (Grey) the standard Luftwaffe undercoat throughout the war. Some wheel wells were unpainted and left natural metal, a dull aluminum colour, Prop Blades and uncoloured Spinners - RLM-70 Schwarzgrun (Black Green), Note on camouflage colours, the fuselage was undercoated RLM-02 Grau, not including the engine access panels etc as these were not undercoated at all along with Ta 152's fitted with wooden tails and the full wing also not undercoated. This leads to some real colour variation in hue due to the paint sprayed over undercoat or natural metal. Top Camouflage colours - (dark) RLM-81 Braun-violett (Brown Violet) and (light) RLM-82 Hellgrun (Light Green). The lightest colour was sprayed first (RLM-82) complete with the fuse side mottle followed by the darker colour completing the upper camouflage scheme and fuselage side mottle. Fuselage Sides/Undersides - RLM-76 Hellblau (Light Blue), must be lightened as latewar shortages of certain pigments forced a change to the accepted colour significantly lightening it to a whiteish blue/grey. Add to this the variation induced by having undercoat or no undercoat and you'll have some real interest in your Ta 152's camo. Also of note is the wavy demarcation line seen on many TA 152's between the upper and lower camouflage colours along the wing's leading edge. When first assigned to III/JG301 the fuselage side numbers were yellow but when reassigned to the Geschwader Stab (Headquarters Unit ie Stab/JG301) the numbers were most likely repainted in green. The only other unit to operate the Ta 152 was Stab/JG11 who received from four to six TA 152's, all in different mod states and slightly differing camos, these were possibly test aircraft being pressed into service. Some schemes I've scanned, Image1S by Neil, on Flickr Image2S by Neil, on Flickr Image3S by Neil, on Flickr Hope this all helps, regards, FAA 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted March 16, 2018 Author Share Posted March 16, 2018 (edited) Reply to FAAMAN ref TA 152 colours Hi Neil, thank you very much for clearing up so much confusion for me regarding Ta 152 colours. I am not an authority on German wartime colour schemes and have never attempted a mottled colour scheme properly but your explanation as to how it was applied on the real aircraft has helped me work out how to tackle it on my model. I see that photos of a preserved Ta 152 cockpit on the web appear to show a greenish colour. Also black and white photos of a Ta 152 appear to show the cockpit being quite light in colour. Another thing that is confusing me is that there are photos showing the intake on the side of the nose being on the left on some and on the right on others. Did they do left and right hand drive versions ............ Thank you for those wonderful colour scheme views too. You commented about whether we are going off thread. I think that all this is relevant as we are referring to the subject and build of an original FROG model kit here and how to improve on it. FROG were after all the first to produce a model of the Ta 152 and they did a pretty clever job with the plastic. I think of this thread as being an internet magazine about the joy that a very British model kit manufacturer gave to generations of model makers and still continues to do. So why not have the odd FROG work in progress and relevant information about the real aircraft amongst the Bleriots, Beauforts and Wyverns. regards adey Edited March 17, 2018 by adey m 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted March 17, 2018 Author Share Posted March 17, 2018 (edited) FROG TA 152 build continued Let's try the 48 year old canopy transparency for fit ......... mmmm it fits where it touches. But it is lovely and clear, credit to the quality plastic FROG used. Apparently the engine was visible from the wheel wells on the real ones so I have added something to represent this. FROG designed the intake in two halves which allows it to be the correct oval shape ........ the FROG guy had some good ideas quite ahead of the time back in 1969. We must be ready for painting the cockpit now. Just need to decide on a pilot. I have decided not to use the FROG man on the left but to use the AIRFIX pilot of the same kit vintage on the right. He has been well fettled to get him to fit the cockpit and allow the canopy to go on. I have boxed in the wheel wells and added the cannon gun barrels. Spacers added to the wheel axles to create a gap between the wheels and the oleo legs. Edited March 17, 2018 by adey m 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAMAN Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Very nice so far, here's some landing gear pics to help, painted in Vallejo RLM-02, all '190/Ta 152 versions had the same gear, This is the correct angles for the gear, 121a. Fw 190V-18 by Neil, on Flickr Landing gear components under way, 0063. MLG2sml by Neil, on Flickr Finished ready for final assembly, 160. GearFinish by Neil, on Flickr Hope this helps, FAA 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted March 18, 2018 Author Share Posted March 18, 2018 FROG TA 152 build continued Thank you again Neil, you foresaw what information I was going to need in the build by posting that front view showing the main undercarriage geometry. FROG have actually done a good job of moulding in the correct angle of the main undercarriage legs. But what they did not do a good job with is the representation of the undercarriage legs, These are moulded as part of the doors and are woefully thin. So I have sanded them away and replaced them with some suitable legs from my spares box. My intention is still to use as much original kit as I can. Here are my replacement undercarriage legs. I have retained the moulded on axles which are at the correct angle. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 On 16/03/2018 at 19:35, adey m said: Hi Neil, thank you very much for clearing up so much confusion for me regarding Ta 152 colours. I am not an authority on German wartime colour schemes and have never attempted a mottled colour scheme properly but your explanation as to how it was applied on the real aircraft has helped me work out how to tackle it on my model. Hi Adey you might find this interesting....or confusing or maddening.. it does have a colour shot of the NASM Ta152 in the US with a fair amount of German paint. Quote Here are color photos of a captured Ta 152 with most of its original paint intact. and there is the infamous red-orange Ta152 see http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/towards-perfection-tank-ta-152-reschke.html for some pros and cons and http://www.hyperscale.com/2014/reviews/decals/ec134reviewbf_1.htm Just in case you want a realdouble take model. cheers T 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 FROG Ta 152 build continued Cockpit and instrument panel now painted using Humbrol 92 Iron Grey. AIRFIX pilot coming along nicely. That is the control column the pilot is holding............. stop sniggering at the back, please......... Instrument panel and sides of panel shield now in place. 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted March 29, 2018 Author Share Posted March 29, 2018 (edited) FROG TA 152 build continued .......... Fuselage joined up and Humbrol filler applied to seams. Wing to fuselage fit was very tight, modern Hornby Airfix tollerance on a 1969 FROG kit .............. Cockpit details complete. A more scale attempt has been made at replacing the undercarriage legs. The propeller spinner is such a strange shape that I think I will need to find a replacement. Paint applied to the joins to check that they are flush. Cockpit panel shroud and offset gun sight in place. Edited March 31, 2018 by adey m 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted March 30, 2018 Author Share Posted March 30, 2018 (edited) FROG TA 152 build continued .............. Not having to go to work today meant that I had a good couple of hours to move the model on this afternoon I have found a replacement propeller spinner from my spares which is a more convincing shape than the peculiar FROG beak. I like my propellers to spin freely so I have a plastic rod glued into the prop hub which runs freely through a plastic tube glued to the cowling. Canopy is fixed with White PVA wood glue. This glue can be used to fill the gaps, smoothed with a wet finger, dries clear and the canopy can be removed if necessary without any damage. Undercarriage set at the correct angles. Under wing aerial moved to the correct side as FROG had the hole under the wrong side ( they must have seen that photograph that is the wrong way round ) . Brake hose on wheel hub made from fuse wire Cannon barrel drilled out with very fine drill Nearly ready for painting As I do not have an airbrush this is a clue as to what I may have to do ................... adey Edited April 1, 2018 by adey m 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted March 31, 2018 Author Share Posted March 31, 2018 FROG Ta 152 build continued .............. Tail navigation light added. Replacement spinner, fuse wire pitot tube, wing tip navigation lights made from small blob of glue applied with pin, and aerial wire from stretched sprue. I think we are about ready for the paint shop. Engine test runs completed. Time for painting. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAMAN Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 WhooHoo!!! Looks like a Ta !!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Looking good Adey, you're making me want one now. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephLalor Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 (edited) On 3/30/2018 at 9:17 PM, adey m said: FROG TA 152 build continued .............. Nearly ready for painting As I do not have an airbrush this is a clue as to what I may have to do ................... adey Worked for me, even using Xtracrylics, though the effect of stippling's best I think over matt paint. Edited April 1, 2018 by JosephLalor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ventora3300 Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 11 hours ago, adey m said: FROG Ta 152 build continued .............. Tail navigation light added. Replacement spinner, fuse wire pitot tube, wing tip navigation lights made from small blob of glue applied with pin, and aerial wire from stretched sprue. I think we are about ready for the paint shop. Engine test runs completed. Time for painting. Looking fantastic and the engine must be running really smoothly as it looks like the kit didn't need any anchoring to stop it blowing away in the slipstream! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polo1112 Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 Super interesting work !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 Fascinating! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted April 3, 2018 Author Share Posted April 3, 2018 (edited) FROG Ta 152 progress report ................ I have finally reached the stage I always dread with a build...........the painting. I had some real concerns with the painting of this model as I do not have an airbrush so I knew I would have to try and make a convincing job of the mottle with a paint brush. First coat was Xtracolor X208 RLM 76 enamel applied with a flat brush to the undersurfaces and fuselage sides. It took three or four coats and is glossy in appearance. Tonight I excitedly applied the first coat of Humbrol Matt 252 RLM 82 enamel with a brush to the upper surfaces and had a bit of fun experimenting with the mottle finish. I have shortened the tail wheel leg and made it steerable with a bit of brass rod drilled into the leg which fits tightly into a small hole under the tail. I have also filed some slight flats under the main tyres. I have painted the propellers and spinner with an old tin of Humbrol authentic colour HU7 Green. This model is fun. Edited April 3, 2018 by adey m 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAMAN Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 Hmmm, nice Certainly coming along mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 (edited) On 1/04/2018 at 12:13 PM, stevehnz said: Looking good Adey, you're making me want one now. Steve. The sprue shots did that for me, and then the engine run shots took my breath away! Like a 1:1 restoration project nearing the maiden flight! Edited April 3, 2018 by k5054nz 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 Liking this more & more Adey, your mottle has a convincingly scruffy random look to it, just as the real deals appeared to have too. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polo1112 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Your Ta-152 looks every day a little more convincing and exciting. Super work on it Adey ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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