I found this kit in a Goodwill store as a bag of sprues with no box and no instructions. I knew at first glance it was a FW-190. I had no idea who made the kit and the decals were shot. So, since I was buying by the pound that day it cost me next to nothing. I sat on it for a year and a few weeks ago I decided to build it. I researched the marking on the kit and found it to be an early Otaki kit. Cheap and old. Oh boy, let’s do this.
I was surprised to see it had very little flash and the fit was great. It went together quickly and easily. It has nealy no detail in the pit, so I decided to make it a hanger. I painted up the pilot and the kit and I painted it quickly with little regard to quality. I just wanted to get it done and hanging. So the work is not as good as I could have done, but its an old cheap kit and was a fun quick build.
I found out after I painted it that the wheels won’t let the gear doors close so I was forced to add the gear and let it sit. But, I can hang if I wish too.
I got AM decals from AML and used a few spares from a Superscale kit. I changed the prop and hub to a Tamiya part spare, other than that its OOB. Given what it was I am pleased with the kit overall. Not bad for an Otaki dinosaur. Paints were a mixture using Tamiya callouts so I can use them up. I the tones are not quite correct, but close enough for this one. Enjoy.
For its age, it’s a beautiful kit. Most of their kits of that vintage had recessed panel lines when nobody else was doing it. Airfix released this kit under their logo a while back along with a Mustang and Hellcat. Very nice!!
Most all of the Otaki kits are fun and look great on the shelf. You could have made it an action scene and had the gear part way up in a hard turn to the left. Shoot, you still can!
Those ancient Otaki kits are actually very nice. I have one still in the box that I bought at Orange Blossom Hobbies in Miami back in the early 80’s. A couple of years back Squadron was having one of their outstanding sales where i picked up a True Details resin pit for it for a mere .99!
PJ, yoiu’ll make good use of the pit, cuz there’s nothing in there but a seat and a joystick. Pretty plane, but the pilot wasn’t too bad, tight fit though.
Well, I had no instructions so I kinda winged it on the build. It did come with the guns and they looked like hell on the kit so I opted to leave them off. The guns for the wings were already open so I took the easy route and built it that way. No idea on whether or not it is correct. I just wanted a quick fun little build and no headaches. The kit appears to be meant to build one way or another, but without instructions I just went with what I liked the look of the best. I grabbed the first set of A series decals I found that I liked the scheme of and used them. I’m sure this exact plane never flew, but I liked the kit and it looks good enough to hang in the collection. I was very surprised how good the kit is even with its age and lack of detail.
The configuration that you built is quite correct for an A8. That was very common for them. I don’t think that the twin 20’s ever saw service on an A8.
And yes it is a fun kit. You already listed it’s major shortcomings with the cockpit and simplified engine front. But it builds up quick and easy, and looks like a 190A-8 when done.
Looks great. I’m a firm believer in saying that not every build has to be show quality. Every now and then you need a “fun build” something that looks good but there is no stress over.
