Hasegawa Fw-190A-5
First aircraft kit in over 30 years . . . remember doing the
old Revell/Monogram Stuka 87B with the snake.
Big bird.
Purchased this kit from LHS a while back. Started construction then was stymied for a
couple of years while trying to figure out an appropriate solution to the seat
belts. Finally got a hold of the Fine
Molds nano-aviation Luftwaffe seat belt set and have to say that the set seems
great – easy to use, position and paint.
Affixed with white glue.
Couple of other modifications: replace front wheels with True Details early
Fw-190 wheel set. Also accidently
cracked canopy by stepping on it. L Unfortunately, the canopy is the one part
that can’t be repaired by simply gluing back together. Without any aftermarket canopies in 1/32
scale, things seemed dark, but the Hasegawa Fw-190D-9 kit has both the normal
and blown canopies, so ended buying that kit with the intent of scavenging the
normal canopy from it to use for A-5, and, if and when built, using the blown
canopy for the D-9. Also, because the
wheels need replacing and A-5 struts already have been built with the late
model wheels but not yet assembled, maybe swap out the parts.
Some additional panel removal/scribing apparently is called
for beyond what the instructions call out.
Also, seat apparently is wrong but too late to change the cockpit.
Colors: using Vallejo
Model Air RLM 74/75/76 with Tamiya Flat Yellow for theatre marking. Did a little pre-shading. Also using Tamiya XF-23 light blue as a base
on the undersigned – much bluer and darker than Vallejo’s RLM 76 pale grey
blue, but shouldn’t the underside be less faded from the sun? Used Tamiya XF-75 Kure arsenal gray for wheel
well and Tamiya XF-65 German Grey for cockpit interior base color.
What camo? Want to do
“European” RLM 74/75/76 camo, rather than greens of JG 54, but finding a nice
match with decals (either kit decals or Alliance Model Works Bf-109 (!) decal
set not so easy).
Also, will use Master Models Fw-190A early set of armament –
although in reality is result of affixing cowl MGs too far forward (should have
followed diagram in instructions) and concern that plastic parts will be destroyed
in removal). Many (most?) A-5s seemed to
delete the outboard MG FF so may be will delete as well; in fact kit doesn’t
seem to have the MG FF as part of the build (although the underwing bulges are
there.
Thus:
Hasegawa ST 23 Fw-190A-5
Master Models Fw-190A armament
Fine Molds Luftwaffe seat belt set
True Details Fw-190 early wheel set
