jean Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 Hi everyone, I haven't built a Matchbox kit for centuries, and I only have 3 oldies in the stash. For starter I have chosen the kit PK-6 of the FW 190 A-3 or A-4. Here are a few photos to show this plastic from another age. The tasteful plastic: Notice, decals and transparencies: This kit has always been described as one of the best models of the A-3/A-4... in its time. Ergo it is still a good kit and I want to do it justice. Therefore I will jazz up the cockpit, using a Reheat PE seat, pedals and seat belts. Te wheels are very much under par and will be replaced by a True Details set. I plan to finish it as a FW 190 A-2 of JG 26, using decals found in a Kagero booklet about JG 26. The kit's decals are for a FW 190 G, so... It will be fun!!! JR 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 Great stuff JR You can't have enough butcher birds in a GB, good luck with this one. Cheers Pat 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Nice to see you on here Jean and will look forward to a fun filled, slow paced and typically exotic wildlife enhanced WIP thread. Looks like you have a few goodies to improve the base kit and its nice to know that (back in the day) these Fw 190 moulds we’re generally highly regarded. Cheers, welcome aboard and best of luck.. Dave 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Nice one the more 190's the better! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 (edited) Great choice Jean, I remember building this one way back. Compared to the Airfix equivalent kit in its day I always preferred the the Matchbox kit. Looking forward to seeing you progress this one. Cheers Greg 👍 Edited January 6, 2022 by GREG DESTEC Text 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 8 hours ago, GREG DESTEC said: Great choice Jean, I remember building this one way back. Compared to the Airfix equivalent kit in its day I always preferred the the Matchbox kit. Looking forward to seeing you progress this one. Cheers Greg 👍 Hi Greg, this FW 190 is a first for me as a Matchbox kit. I have only built 2 long noses in my life: the antediluvian one from Airfix, which I remember building with a ridiculous dihedral and weird green colors. And I was so proud of this build! Then I built the Italeri D-9 when it came out.... A great kit, but so long ago! I want to build this 190 and go to town with it (OK, within reason!). It won't take much scratch to bring this kit several levels up. Looking forward to this GB. Cheers JR 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 Hi all, I shouldn't have, but I started this kit in between putting the finishing touches to my A-4B. By rummaging through my spares' box, I found the spare canopy from the Italeri FW 190 D-9, built eons ago with the blown canopy. The canopy on the Matchbox kit s one of the most contentious parts, so I took the gamble that the Italeri canopy would fit and I removed the canopy frame from the Matchbox fuselage. Lucky, as I think I can make it fit! Rather than scratchbuild a whole cockpit, I decided to try and fit the interior of the Revell FW 190 A-8. Again after a quick check, it should fit nicely. I will try and get an A.M. cockpit when I decide to build the Revell kit! That's how one eventually gets into trouble. The next step is to fill in all the deep panel lines on the kit and sand paper the raised lines. Likewise, the fabric texture on ailerons, rudder and horizontal stabilizers is exaggerated, so all shall disappear. I want a very smooth airframe with fine panel lines... Why make life difficult? Oh, Matchbox, in its infinite wisdom, has molded an aerial mast for an A-4 AND one for the A-1 to A-3... Everybody should be happy! I will remove the A-4 mast, of course. Cheers. JR 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 Not an out of the box build then! All your improvents sound promising Jean. Enjoy the build Cheers Greg 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 2 hours ago, GREG DESTEC said: Not an out of the box build then! All your improvents sound promising Jean. Enjoy the build Cheers Greg 👍 Hi Greg, I have been looking at this kit in my stash for over 40 years, never summoning the courage to build it. Now that I have this opportunity, I want to do it justice. We will see where this leads us! Have fun with your builds! JR 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 Good luck with your build Jean. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 Hi, did a tad more work this evening. I opened one side, not without difficulties: the plastic is hard and thick and a brand new 11 scalpel blade exploded while trying to open that hole. The front of the hole is going to be thinned to the thickness of the metal sheeting and 4 exhaust pipes are going to be fitted inside. The three cooling vents are going to be drawn and cut in a thin piece of plastic . There is no way they could be drilled accurately in the kit's plastic. Here is a photo of the surgery. Once everything is tidied up, it should look real nice. Or so I hope!!! Have fun! JR 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Hi Jean This one is going to be special and who knows Zimbabwe Santa who notoriously late might still add to the stash. Cheers Pat 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 I built this kit (and others) for my birthday in 1979. Despite having several Eduard 190s in the stash, and a Tamiya A-3, and some Zvezda A-4s, I would snap up this kit again in a heartbeat if it were available at any sort of reasonable price. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted January 11, 2022 Author Share Posted January 11, 2022 (edited) Hi, Out of a whim, I decided to look at the front cowling and prop/spinner assembly. Big mistake! The representation of the cooling fan is a terrible caricature of the real thing and after what must have been a temporary lapse of reason, I realized that I had removed all of the offending item. I felt better, but quickly realized that there was now nowhere to anchor the prop assembly. A quick search through he spare box came up with a very old engine of the right diameter. So now I will not only have to rebuild a cooling fan, but install as well a radial engine! Things are quickly getting complicated. I drilled a hole at the end of the spinner and I am left with thinning the prop blades quite a lot. I knew it should have been OOB. A couple of photos: BEFORE: AND AFTER: This is modelling! JR Edited January 11, 2022 by jean 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 Great progress Jean and as you’ve rightly stated ‘This is Modelling”. There’s something about taking a somewhat basic kit and adding your own and unique personal improvements to it. I enjoy modern day precise OOB builds, however this type of modelling really excites me and the eventual end results are always so much more rewarding. Keep going, you’re doing a great job! Cheers… Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 Great stuff JR I can collect my bet when we meet up, I knew the OOB bubble would burst Looking great mate, keep going cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 Hi everyone, preparatory work is ongoing. Panel lines scribed, fabric-covered control surfaces have an exaggerated texture so putty to the rescue. Since this photo has been taken earlier today, all the thick engraved lines have been filled with CA and sanded flush. Plus I have started opening the exhaust hole in between the landing gear wells, These three cavities to close and prepare are going to be a mission. Damn. But it should look a lot better. Have fun. JR 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Wow Jean your really pushing the boat out on this one! Your extra efforts should pay dividends. Cheers Greg 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Neat scribing there Jean… this kit has gone from basic to detailed in no time. Nice update. Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 Hi JR Have you had a chance to do any more to your 190 ? It was languishing on page 10 of the builds Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 21 hours ago, JOCKNEY said: Hi JR Have you had a chance to do any more to your 190 ? It was languishing on page 10 of the builds Cheers Pat Hi Pat, all I have done to the 190 is look at it to assess the next step, and I am proud to say that I have made some lilliputian progress! I have drilled the gun holes into the wings' leading edges, and the one closer to the root has been pushed straight through the wheel well and into the wing. Next step will be to use two lengths of micro tubing and insert the thinner into the thicker one (doh...) for the root gun. My cunning plan is to finish both wings completely before tackling the fuselage, mostly because I am a bit at a loss how to make the cooling slits behind the engine... In 1/72 scale they are real thin... Oh yes, and I have opened the tail wheel compartment, as it is supposed to be semi-retractable (like the Hampden, where Airfix forgot the blasted compartment as well). BUT, my focus at this moment in time is the Etendard IV M, which I would like to finish before the end of the KUTA GB. I am kibitzing on the ejection seat and hopefully will be able to post a photo of it later this evening. Have fun!!! JR 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike romeo Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Good scratch building skills, Jean. Looking forward to how you solve the cooling gill problem. Rgds Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Hi JR As this one has slipped to page 9 of the builds, I thought I would give it a bit of intensive coaching Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 Hi @jean We have a 2 week extension on this GB, so an ideal opportunity to get this one in the Gallery where it belongs. cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 On 6/5/2022 at 12:03 AM, JOCKNEY said: Hi @jean We have a 2 week extension on this GB, so an ideal opportunity to get this one in the Gallery where it belongs. cheers Pat Hi Pat, I hear you and I shall try, but my modelling life has gone out of the window of late, as I have been away most of the time, or busy with visitors (who do you think does the washing up?). Cheers mate. JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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