Pacific Coast Models 1/32 Fw 190A-1. Black 13. Belgium, 1941

[speedgraflex]

BlackSheep scores! Crowd goes wild!

I feel I just generated the equivalent of a Russian novel—the kind where it takes a hundred pages for a character to get out of bed. So here at page 30, the kit’s progress is almost exclusively mental but in the preparation of any significant endeavor it is won or lost first inside the mind. I would like to humbly thank all who followed or any who peeked in to leave comments until this moment, which really feels like the plunge point. Together we wrote a hell of a prologue to this project, one worthy of Dr. Tank’s initial vision, of the efforts by PCM to create a multimedia kit in 1/32 scale, and of us, modelers all, who take these discrete blocks of time, history and materials and generate the alchemy of creation. And I honestly don’t care if that sounds pretentious. It feels right to me.

[speedgraflex]

The production types detailed:

https://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/ ... 190_01.htm

Couple of shots:



I still am not sold on that being black paint on the sides. I am still thinking about this. My gut reaction is that this is exhaust smoke over wing camouflage.



I like this shot because the shoulder belts are flipped outside of the aircraft as the pilot lowers himself inside the cockpit. I do not plan to recreate this but I do like seeing this very much.

[Floki]

You really do have a way with words Bruce. So now let's see this Butcher Bird come together! In that first photo you also have a great shot of the antenna and insulators besides the exhaust.

[KennyX]

I am really, really into the idea of making a cool base for this model like what’s shown in that photograph. There’s something really groovy about taking a 2D rendering of a 3D thing that happened and then re-creating it in 3D again. I think it’s a great idea and I can’t wait to see you bring it to life.

[jkim]

Ah Bruce... long prologues are an accepted part of your work! It is part of who you are as a modeler. If it was not valued, your posts would not get any response. And look ... 30 pages and you have not yet painted the cockpit! So don’t worry about having to explain yourself... not necessary. I must admit a certain amount of frustration with this build taking a few steps backward after your wonderful painting of the seat and adding of one of the lap belts. I thought it was a significant breakthrough and it looked great too. I’m really curious to see what your interpretation of the Focke-Wulf will look like and that is the reason I will continue to encourage you to take concrete steps forward with this project. We are modelers here dammit and that means sharing our little versions of plastic airplanes, warts, flaws and mistaken assumptions included. I’d like to help usher you into that community wholly without any asterisks or qualifications. The physical actualization of our ideas is such a cool feature of what we do. And I want to see your work, Bruce.

[jkim]

About the black area aft of the exhaust. You do not necessarily have to come to any conclusion on what is exactly causing it. You have visual references. Paint it the way your eyes see it. That is always a good rule of thumb for me.

[mostrich]

Hang in there, Bruce! Like Kenny I love your diorama concept.

Gal for the rescue (where has she been for so long?):

[speedgraflex]

I definitely want to thank everyone once again and I hope this message goes to everyone—Thank you so much for every visit and each and every comment. Specifically I would like to thank everyone whose techniques and projects I am following—past and present. There are quite a few fellas here whose work will always make me feel the fire of creation and it is to the insights found in your work I return to with renewed vigor every time I begin a project.

Clint, Ken, John—Thank you. You are aces. Sincerely. I appreciate your comments as well as the sentiments behind them.

I am planning to see my buddy Matthew Benware today or tomorrow to put in time painting and cutting a base. This action depends on our schedules and so forth but I for one would really like to paint every part associated with the cockpit in RLM66 (tub, seat, IP shelf, maybe the IP fascia, the rear deck and armored headrest) and get those parts ready to detail. I very carefully saved the lap belt and picked up some Gator glue (advice from Thomas Mayer, Torben, Kari—our European Modeler Brothers) to affix PE to PE as well as resin. I also made up a parts bath of vinegar and soaked everything prior to affixing the parts to skewers (in my case the skewers are Dixon Ticonderoga pencils).

Clint, paint will be sprayed. I will make a little spray booth from cardboard and deal with the wet without complaint... and soon! Your project always inspires me.

Ken, your projects... creative fuel. I am excited to see more White Whales get ‘pooned, buddy!

John, as I hold your work in such high esteem I will crib from Charles Dickens: “As long as I have light and life with me, my eyes will be turned in your direction.” That’s from the book that starts with “I am born,” which is probably why it has such an impact. Likewise I find your work to be of an epic scale. I see your many strengths flow through what you do, and the results continue to knock any expectations of lack of detail due to scale sideways. You breathe the ether, would be another way to put what I am attempting to describe.

As far as moving backward from having the seat done. You’re right. My hope is to kick things into gear again without falling into doldrums as Torben wrote elsewhere.

[Floki]

Bruce again just take your time, I've learned many times nothing good ever comes to rushing. Like the old carpenter who always says measure twice cut once. Or as my dad would say when he was teaching me to shoot aim small miss small (also heard that again years later in the Patriot). It helps to set small goals for the day or week and once you complete that goal you get a since of accomplishment then set another small goal. At the same time dragging your feet to long can also bog you down and the best thing to do is just jump on in.

[speedgraflex]

Henri Daehne Propeller Set for Fw190 A-8 [Hasegawa kit]



He also makes an A-5 set. So, I wrote him earlier to ask about that. He sells the armored ring and fans that match each propeller to the series. I asked him if he thought I could use this on the A-1. I think the number of fan blades increased from early Anton Series to late, so maybe the A-5 is also a twelve blades.... At the least Henri will provide incomparable research detail, and knowledge to bear upon this question.

Also—added riveting!



Clint—Thank you for those words from “The Patriot,” as well as your father! I need them today and tomorrow and all the days to come.