Subject: Re: Fw190 A8/R2 - Post on July 7 update (my brithday!!!) if possible
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Dominic James Gutierrez" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 23:49:57 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dominic James Gutierrez 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 11:39 PM
  Subject: Fw190 A8/R2 - Post on July 7 update (my brithday!!!) if possible

  Gallery Template #05

  1/32 Hasegawa Focke Wulf Fw190 A8 converted to the Fw190 A8/R2

  by Dominic Gutierrez
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  There are some great articles in ARC regarding the Focke Wulf Fw190 'Sturmbock' aircraft from master modellers like Tolga Ulgur, Bruce Bell and others. But I am one to say that I was quite surprised to see that none of these models are in 1/32. The model that I have built and am presenting to you will be ARC's first 1/32 scale Sturmbock.

  This is my Large Scale rendition of the Focke Wulf Fw190 A8/R2 flown by Hauptmann Wilhelm Moritz of IV Gruppe, JagdGeschwader 3. I opted to use the new-tool Hasegawa Fw190 A8 kit, mainly because of the positive feedback that it gets from the modellers that have built this kit in large numbers. I have to admit, the kit is fairly accurate and is impressively large. I highly recommend the kit to those who want to built a reasonably detailed and accurate Large Scale Focke Wulf Fw190.

  The reason I built this model is because the most successful mission of the Sturmgruppe was on July the 7th, which is also my birthday. I wanted to have something to remember my birthday by and this model does the job.

  Armed with EagleCals EC#99-32, I set out on building a model that was fairly accurate, but one that I was proud to have displayed for others to see. There isn't much for me to say about the construction of the model kit, as it is well engineered that it is just as good as a Tamiya kit. Other articles in ARC and Hyperscale clearly elaborate the ups and downs of this model kit. However, I do want to point out that to get a good fit in the wing root, the modeller must pay special attention to the wing assembly. Especially when you are joining the wheel well part to the lower wing. This is more elaborated in Brett Green's Fw190 D9 article over at Hyperscale.

  Most of the model was built OOB, with the conversion and detailing scratchbuilt. The conversion includes.

  1.     The cockpit bolt-on armour was fabricated from 0.020" sheet styrene

  2.     The blinkers were from 0.023" half round styrene strips

  3.     The windscreen armour was simulated by painting the frames from the inside of the kit part

  4.     I used the alternate ejection chutes that came with the kit

  5.     The Mk108 ejection ports were opened up on the lower wing and was backed with sheet styrene

  6.     The Mk108 barrels were from aluminium tubing

  7.     The fairings on the gun troughs were round wooden toothpicks cut and sanded to shape

  The scratchbuilt detailing includes.

  1.     Scratchbuilt shoulder and lap harnesses on the seat

  2.     Adding hydraulic brake lines with fine copper wire

  3.     Replaced the IFF aerial with stretched sprue

  4.     Added the antenna wire using stretched sprue

  5.     Added pedal straps to the rudder pedals

  Any details that I have missed on the construction side of the model can be found on this link http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=13395

  Click on images below to see larger images

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  The model was a testbed for my try at preshading, and it came out with good results. Paints used were the trusty Tamiya acrylics, the camo was done freehand with my Tamiya HG single action airbrush and the model was painted in one day, which is a personal best for me. The decals were great!!! No silvering whatsoever. I highly recommend them to those who would be interested in building interesting or well known Luftwaffe subjects. Weathering was done with pastels, airbrush, graphite pencil and silver paint. The usual weathering process was used. A custom satin coat sealed the carefully done weathering and she was finished; 2 and a half months after opening the model's box

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

  I entered the model in the 2007 IPMS Nationals in New Zealand, and it took 1st place in Junior Aircraft and Best Junior Modeller award.  After the competition, I was well complimented by many senior and junior club members, and the model will be featuring in our club's newsletter this month. So my model has lived up to my standards and I'm proud to have built it, and have it sitting in it's display base in our living room.

  I hope you like my model. Feel free to send comments and queries if there is anything that you would like to know.

  Happy Modelling...

  Dominic 

  Photos and text © by Dominic Gutierrez