1/32 Hasegawa Fw190D-9 Black One

[jkim]

The Montex spiral mask was not to my liking, shape-wise, so I've elected to continue upon the the previous path of making my own spiral mask. As you recall I have tried two methods so far: (1) using clear frisket paper over a copy of the decal sheet and (2) taping the decal sheet on a piece of yellow tape. Cutting through two materials is always tougher than cutting through one so I thought I'd take a stab at drawing the spiral on the tape. It doesn't have to match the decal spiral as there is no photo documentation of Black 1's actual spiral design anyway.


The spiral pattern is carefully cut using the swivel knife. With practical usage, I am getting better at using the swivel knife. The key is to go slowly and keep the cut in one continuous motion, rotating the cutting mat as you cut... tricky but do-able.


The mask did not lay down as smoothly as I would want... some crinkling that will result in marring of the edge line. I did shoot the spinner with a clear coat to help seal the mask prior to laying down the black.


You can see some of the imperfections in the spiral once the mask is removed. I'm not sure I like the shape of this spiral but I decided to perform some cleanup on the edges prior to making decision.


Using strips of flexible plastic tape, I set the curve edge in small areas and repair the imperfections using the airbrush. You can get a tiny spray pattern from a double action airbrush if you thin down your paint and reduce your air pressure to enable these spot repairs.


Fixing the spiral edges along the sides of the spinner is relatively easy. It gets tougher as the spiral tightens toward the tip. I will use pre-cut pieces of tape instead of trying to curve the strip of tape.


Here is the spinner after the spiral repairs have been completed. The result is acceptable but I'm still contemplating a style change for the spiral.



I've also been painting the other propeller components in parallel with the spiral work. After the MIG Scratches Effect fluid has been sprayed on the prop blades, I've given them a coat of RLM 70 Black Green.


The blades were very resistant to chipping using the prescribed water. I resorted to using the tip of a toothpick to remove the RLM 70. I'll give these a coat of clear gloss prior to adding the manufacturer stencil decals.


The prop hub has been painted. Most of this will be hidden by the spinner.

[BlackSheep214]

Wow.. nice work. Looks to me painting the spiral on the propeller hub is harder than you thought. I can't imagine doing one with a 1/48 scale propeller hub. Maybe the spiral decal would be easier for me to deal with in 1/48 scale.

[Stikpusher]

John, very nice work. If you look at the clear actual WWII photos of the spirals, you'll see imperfections.

Blacksheep, the spiral decals in 1:48 can be a challenge as well. Just trying to get the spacing even and getting the decal to lay flat over the compound curves is a bear... add in any problems with the decal itself...

[speedgraflex]

Thoughts: on my U.S.S. Enterprise build I used a compass cutter. Is that too regular in appearance for your spiral? I am thinking for the 1/48 versions of this I will try vinyl tape, which

S. T. R. E. T. C. H. E. S.

I like your current cleaned up spiral a lot.


FW 190F [Detail]

What are you striving to achieve in terms of final look? A hand made feel or slightly more polished?

[jkim]

Wow.. nice work. Looks to me painting the spiral on the propeller hub is harder than you thought. I can't imagine doing one with a 1/48 scale propeller hub. Maybe the spiral decal would be easier for me to deal with in 1/48 scale.

Hmmm... I wouldn't put it exactly like that. I've done enough of these to know what I was getting myself into. In past builds, I may have showed the beginning of the process and skipped to the end but I am documenting the different iterations on this one. It seems like a lot of work but its something that I've done before and wasn't totally unexpected.

John, very nice work. If you look at the clear actual WWII photos of the spirals, you'll see imperfections.

Blacksheep, the spiral decals in 1:48 can be a challenge as well. Just trying to get the spacing even and getting the decal to lay flat over the compound curves is a bear... add in any problems with the decal itself...

I agree with Carlos about the decals. They are only easier if they go on nicely and I've had a hard time getting decals to lay down on the Dora spinner in the past. I would recommend a backup to the decal approach JUST IN CASE the decal doesn't work. Scan the decal sheet before using the spiral, for example.

Thoughts: on my U.S.S. Enterprise build I used a compass cutter. Is that too regular in appearance for your spiral? I am thinking for the 1/48 versions of this I will try vinyl tape, which

S. T. R. E. T. C. H. E. S.

I like your current cleaned up spiral a lot.

What are you striving to achieve in terms of final look? A hand made feel or slightly more polished?

Due to the compound curves of the spinner, a compass cutter isn't going to work very well. Strips of vinyl tape MIGHT WORK but you'll run into problems getting that tape to adhere to the spinner surface on the really tight curves at the tip of the spinner. The combo of a pre-cut mask for the front end of the spiral and then strips of flexible tape along the body of the spinner has worked the best for me.

The quality of the spiral that I have masked isn't the issue for me. What I am contemplating is a different shape to the spiral. More fat and terminating short of the prop blade bases. I'll take a picture of the photo in Crandall's Dora to show you what I am thinking.

[speedgraflex]

Also, this where you can see the base (widest section) of the spiral beginning some distance in from the propellers:

[jkim]

Yes, Theo Nibel's Black 12 (W.Nr. 210079) has a similar spiral to what I was contemplating.

The photo that I was referring to is below. This is one of a series of photos of some of the earliest Doras delivered for service to 9./JG54, either White 3 (W.Nr. 210008) or White 2 (W.Nr. 210015). Dortenmann's Black 1 (originally Red 1, W.Nr. 210003) was delivered to 12./JG54 at approximately the same time. I do not know enough about Luftwaffe operational procedures to accurately assume if the spirals between 9./JG54 and 12./JG54 would be similar. But I like the look of the spiral. And note the wear on the blades.


You can see how the color profile of White 2 assumes a similar termination of the spiral as Nibel's Black 12, which is shown below the profile. FWIW, Black 12 served with 10./JG54 and given its W.Nr., also supports the supposition that my Black 1 might have a similar spiral.



I haven't decided what to do yet. I hate to scrub a perfectly good spiral rendition for something that may or may not be a realistic assumption. Here are some more views of the spinner as currently painted. It's got its flaws with some imperfect edges on the spiral and some overspray of white spots on the black areas and black on the white but I think those flaws will fit nicely with the weathering that I will eventually perform on the spinner.




The rest of the prop assembly is creeping forward as well. The blades have been gloss coated and the red manufacturer stencil decals have been applied.


The prop hub has been painted and weathered.


A test fit of the spinner mounted on the hub and backing plate.

[speedgraflex]

This captured bird also has a similar look to its spiral. I like the angle of the shot even though the fuselage is partly obscured.


I think the world of what you are doing as a modeler and I want to thank you for being here. For me personally, I could not just sit on this and watch, so I took out the stock Trimaster propeller and thinned the blades for a test assembly. In sympatico with you, I will do a painted spiral. Mine is going to be white spiral against a light gray base because I do not want to go too dark under the yellow clown nose that will be painted over this. But I sincerely appreciate your advice and feedback as well as your willingness to share... and you motivated me to get going... and stop boo hooing the demise of the Photobucket. I have been busy and continue to be, but aren't we all?

What I enjoy is seeing how the base green on the prop blades changes up completely after curing and a coat of gloss! Wow. And the detail paint of the interior of the propeller is fantastic! And I am learning how to tell when the base colors are going to transform!

[jkim]

The color picture is of Blue 12 (W.Nr. 500570), which is a bird that I have modeled before. Glad to see some work on your Trimaster Dora. It will be much more challenging to mask a spiral in 1/48 than what I've done here in 1/32 since the curves will be that much tighter. You can give it a shot but I would personally opt for a pre-made mask. I used a Montex mask for my 1/48 Hobby Boss 190D-9 build. The nice thing about Montex is that for about $10, you'll also get a set masks for markings but they may not match your bird exactly as I did not see a Montex set in 1/48 for JV44.


Eduard also makes 1/48 masks specifically for Dora spinners.

[speedgraflex]

Thanks, John! What about Tamiya's curved tape?



My current plan is to use my light box on the Crandall spiral when it comes, copy with technical pencil to adhesive tape the way you did, cut out the spiral with the sharpest pointed blade I have!



Have you heard of Miracle Mask? Apparently he retired from custom mask making in June, however I am going to email him to see if he has any advice!