I finished Dragon’s 1/48 Ta 152H-1 today. I used Eduard’s photoetched detail set and the kit decals (plane & W. Nr. from Trimaster kit, swastika from Eagle Strike).
When DML changed the gear legs and retractors from white metal to plastic, they did a poor job. The angle of the gear attachments are incorrect, and the retractors length was changed. I was able to get the forward “rake” correct, but they won’t “pinch in” enough. As a result, one of the retractor’s arms is bent. This is only visible from certain angles, so I’m not going to let it bother me.
I’ve found conflicting info for the areial attachment. Profiles (which I never trust) show two different positions, and it can’t be seen in any photos I’ve found. Until I find a photo, I won’t attach it.
And so ends my “Fw 190 on anabolic steroids” project. Thanks for letting me share it with you !
I looked around for some pictures, and this is the best I could find. If you look at the second from the left, I think you can pick up the aerial against the a/c behind the tail. Does this help, with what you already know?
Thanks yardbird, Brian, Jeff, mucker, wooverstone, and wayne !
yardbird - I believe that it’s called a “Loraine” (sp?) antenna. I’m unsure of it’s purpose, but quite a few Luftwaffe aircraft carried them. The post is wood, so I “grained” the PE piece.
Brian - mottles in 1/32 must be a breeze. Fine tune your AB to paint the thinnest line possible. I paint the mottles from the outside in, outlining an irregular shape and then filling it. If done from the inside out, they almost always look like polka-dot spots. When I’m done with the irregular shapes on the fuselage sides, I squiggle some faint lines between them. After that, I back the airbrush away and put a fine mist over the area. This ties it together, aqnd gives a smooth gradation of color along the fuselage sides. Of course, practice first ! Hope this helps you.
wayne - thanks, but I’ve got every picture that I can find on the internet. Hopefully, there are pics in a book that I haven’t seen yet.
Trimaster made some beautiful kits in their day. I wish someone would pick up the molds and reissue the kits, white metal parts and all. I would gladly buy all I could afford.
I thought I’d include a “Focke-Wulf Family Portrait.”
Front left: Dragon Fw 190A-8
Front right: Trimaster Fw 190D-9
Rear: Dragon Ta 152H-1
All are 1/48.
