Ultimate Schlact Würger - Fw 190F-16/R16

[Mig88]

Hello everyone!

Here is one of the three kits I finished in the very last days of last year! It's a Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-16/R16. The F-16 was a planned but unbuilt final variant of the F family. Over a year ago, when I decided to start a run of Fw 190s which has been going on and off since then, I spotted this variant in the Valiant Wings Airframe & Miniature No.7 book on the radial engine versions of the Fw 190 and what sparked this project was having a four-bladed propeller on an F-model. Seeing this project was feasible for me, taking into account the other modifications to make, I bought what I needed and only in October did I finally get on with it.
 

 

I decided to use an Airfix Fw 190A-8 kit as the base since it was considered decent (despite some negative aspects) and, above all, cheap. I almost regretted it when I struggled with the poor fit around the nose area! Anyhow, I managed to pull through and had fun making the modifications and some improvements. This build dragged on for over two months because I kept taking on completely different builds simultaneously, something I will not do again...

The Fw 190F-16 variant has three major differences to the A-8/F-8:
1 - The four-bladed propeller. This I made using spare wider blades from Eduard kits. The remaining parts were from the Airfix kit. I modified the spinner to have four perpendicular openings for the blades.
2 - A Ta 152 tail. I used an AML resin tail set for the Fw 190D. The forward section of this part had to be cut off as it was the fuselage extension for the D. I had to open up a bay for the tailwheel.
3 - Extensions in the wing root. I used scrap plastic and CA glue sanded to shape to make these.

 

This version had the late-type blown canopy which was in the Airfix kit but the related headrest wasn't so I used a spare one from an Eduard kit. The blister for the underside loop antenna was removed and an aerial further back was made from stretched sprue as was the radio wire above. The outer panels of the wing undersides were sanded smooth and the outer guns cropped as they were not used by the F family. The book depicted an R14 subvariant with a standard torpedo. I decided to use a pair of Airwaves white-metal BT400s which I have long had in my stash, thus making this an R16 subvariant. I made the underwing FuG 101 radio altimeter antennae from sprue.

 

One of the Airfix kit's negative points is the main undercarriage. I shortened the legs in the oleos 1.5mm and did the same to the doors. The main wheels were replaced with spare ones from an Eduard Fw 190A-5 kit I built earlier this year.

 

The scheme, completely fictitious of course, was an attempt to make one for low-level attacks over water. I have made some other "what-if" naval attack aircraft kits but using greys so this time I went for a late-war green. I felt a wavy pattern would be better than squiggles and had the insignia in minimal (outlined) versions to aid in the camouflage. The kit was fully painted and varnished with brush. Some of the decals were from the kit, the rest being from spares or generic sheets.

 

Despite some troubles, this was a fun project and I'm very pleased with the result and really glad I made it. For some reason, it looks mean and heavy with the four-bladed propeller.

 

Thanks for looking and all comments are welcome
Miguel

[Armorrich]

This looks fantastic Miguel. I like everything I see. Sometimes it's fun to depart from the usual and use some imagination. It looks great and absolutely believable. Well done!!!

 

Cheers...Rich 

[mick]

great work

[Watto]

What a  stunning looking butcher bird. 

 

The camo is brilliant and even though it's of your own design, it certainly wouldn't look out of place.

 

Great work 👏👏👏

 

Watto. 

[georgeusa]

Just a really neat modification of a variant I have never heard of.  The four blade propeller looks really good on the 190 and fits it well.  The other mods you made are also well done.  Thanks for sharing this different 190 version.

[Mig88]

On 03/01/2024 at 18:41, Armorrich said:

This looks fantastic Miguel. I like everything I see. Sometimes it's fun to depart from the usual and use some imagination. It looks great and absolutely believable. Well done!!!

 

Cheers...Rich 

 

On 03/01/2024 at 18:48, mick said:

great work

 

On 04/01/2024 at 00:02, Watto said:

What a  stunning looking butcher bird. 

 

The camo is brilliant and even though it's of your own design, it certainly wouldn't look out of place.

 

Great work 👏👏👏

 

Watto. 

 

On 04/01/2024 at 16:55, georgeusa said:

Just a really neat modification of a variant I have never heard of.  The four blade propeller looks really good on the 190 and fits it well.  The other mods you made are also well done.  Thanks for sharing this different 190 version.

 

A big thanks to you all!

Miguel

[corsaircorp]

Great conversion Sir !!

Congratulations !!

Sincerely.

CC

[bennyboi]

Well done on a very unique butcher bird!

[Mig88]

On 07/01/2024 at 01:00, corsaircorp said:

Great conversion Sir !!

Congratulations !!

Sincerely.

CC

 

On 07/01/2024 at 02:01, bennyboi said:

Well done on a very unique butcher bird!

 

Thank you very much.

Miguel

[Winded Penguin]

Colour scheme really is the mutts (good!) 👍

I feel the jockey would need an extra seat cushion to fly that butcher bird though 😉

[Mig88]

20 hours ago, Winded Penguin said:

Colour scheme really is the mutts (good!) 👍

I feel the jockey would need an extra seat cushion to fly that butcher bird though 😉

Yes, I did feel the Airfix figure was sitting a bit low 😜

Thanks

 

Miguel