Focke Wulf Ta 152 H-1 (1970 tooling / Scratch)
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/9/2/9/1649929-46074-44-720.jpg)
1970 tooling from FROG.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/9/4/5/1649945-46074-68-720.jpg)
Dry fitting shows the the entire cockpit needs to be rebuilt from scratch.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/0/3/5/1650035-46074-79-720.jpg)
The cockpit surgery has begun.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/0/4/4/1650044-46074-85-720.jpg)
Air intake screen applied.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/0/5/4/1650054-46074-93-720.jpg)
Air intake attached
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/0/2/6/1651026-46074-71-720.jpg)
The wings have to be sanded down.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/0/2/7/1651027-46074-96-720.jpg)
The cockpit will be a challenge since there is nothing here. I will have to measure everything to fit and build it up from scratch.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/2/6/2/1651262-46074-78-720.jpg)
Major reconstruction on the fuselage necessary before building the cockpit.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/5/0/1/1651501-46074-54-720.jpg)
A few details added to the back.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/6/6/8/1651668-46074-52-720.jpg)
I realized I had the details backwards so I did them over. Second time worked out.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/7/2/6/1651726-46074-13-720.jpg)
The beginnings of a cockpit started
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/0/8/2/1652082-46074-22-720.jpg)
The spacing and depth is wrong on the exhaust tubes, so I scavenged some tubes from a junk model and will attempt to cut them apart and set them into the side.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/1/0/2/1652102-46074-66-720.jpg)
Building the exhaust midpoint.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/4/9/5/1652495-46074-24-720.jpg)
One side finished.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/5/7/9/1652579-46074-82-720.jpg)
The exhausts are in.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/7/7/5/1653775-46074-47-720.jpg)
A bit more progress on the scratch built cockpit
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/1/0/9/1654109-46074-21-720.jpg)
I cleaned my tape for Treehugger 😉
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/1/1/4/1654114-46074-78-720.jpg)
Bit of scratch for the wheel wells
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/1/2/6/1654126-46074-30-720.jpg)
I have to try and rebuild this horrible cowling. 🙁
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/1/8/9/1654189-46074-32-720.jpg)
There that's a bit better 🙂
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/1/9/2/1654192-46074-31-720.jpg)
Dry fitting the nose.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/0/7/5/1675075-46074-34-720.jpg)
The canopy was totally uneven and so I decided to do the risky thing and file it from the inside. Hopefully I didn't just ruin it.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/3/8/0/1677380-46074-28-720.jpg)
Cockpit has been painted and awaits the details.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/1/1/0/1719110-46074-50-720.jpg)
A bit of detail added to the scratch built cockpit.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/1/0/9/1719109-46074-43-720.jpg)
A bit of detail added to the scratch built cockpit.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/1/0/5/1719105-46074-38-720.jpg)
A bit of detail added to the scratch built cockpit.
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/1/0/8/1719108-46074-79-720.jpg)
A bit of detail added to the scratch built cockpit.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/9/7/7/1721977-46074-87-720.jpg)
I separated the canopy into two halves.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/0/0/9/1723009-46074-31-720.jpg)
I corrected the seat position.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/0/1/0/1723010-46074-63-720.jpg)
I corrected the seat position.
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/9/2/1/1723921-46074-69-720.jpg)
Today I scratch built some space for the wheels.
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/9/2/4/1723924-46074-66-720.jpg)
Dry fitting to see what the scratch built wheel wells look like.
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/2/6/2/1730262-46074-19-720.jpg)
Additional support added to the cockpit to keep it from breaking.
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/2/6/1/1730261-46074-95-720.jpg)
Major construction going on here, trying to get this thing to accept a cockpit. All scratch of course.
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/3/5/0/1730350-46074-10-720.jpg)
Dry fit test. The cockpit sort of works.
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/5/6/5/1730565-46074-79-720.jpg)
It's gotten to the point where I have started to glue the fuselage halves together.
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/5/7/0/1730570-46074-23-720.jpg)
After the poly cement liberal amounts of super glue was added to remove any unwanted seams.
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More super glue! Looks nasty at this stage.
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/5/7/6/1730576-46074-20-720.jpg)
And the sculpting begins!
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This mess of super glue will hopefully become a proper hood.
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A rough outline of the shape I am trying to make.
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/7/4/8/1730748-46074-24-720.jpg)
I couldn't see the shape I was working on so I used a permanent marker to get a quick look. Still needs more work.
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/8/1/9/1730819-46074-59-720.jpg)
Needs more adjustments. But it is closer.
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/8/2/0/1730820-46074-89-720.jpg)
The shape is looking better. Tomorrow I will look at it again and make more adjustments.
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/3/5/7/1731357-46074-92-720.jpg)
After correcting the general shape of the fuselage I am now going to attempt to create the shape of the hood. If this doesn't work I will try casting one from a FW 190 and reshaping that.
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/9/7/0/1731970-46074-33-720.jpg)
A lot of adding and subtracting super glue. Sanding things into shape. It seems to be working.
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/1/9/9/1732199-46074-70-720.jpg)
Hood complete. The super glue worked as a sculpting medium.
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/3/6/2/1732362-46074-95-720.jpg)
Carving an auxiliary air intake out of sprue.
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/4/1/4/1732414-46074-91-720.jpg)
I successfully attached the auxiliary air intake without losing it.
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/4/3/7/1732437-46074-92-720.jpg)
I made an exhaust shield and rebuilt one of the exhaust pipes with super glue that broke off.
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/5/0/6/1732506-46074-14-720.jpg)
The other side is a little bit different. It doesn't have a shield but it does have a little pipe sticking through the guard.
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/6/6/1/1732661-46074-74-720.jpg)
More work on the wings
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/2/2/8/1733228-46074-76-720.jpg)
Scribing lots of tiny circles.
![Album image #54 Album image #54](/albums/img/6/0/8/1733608-46074-26-720.jpg)
Upon closer inspection, the position of the circles which I based on the kit were not quite right. So I had to fill some with sprue goo, which I hate using because it takes so long to dry. But I couldn't risk super glue because it would interfere with the new circles I will be making.
![Album image #55 Album image #55](/albums/img/6/0/9/1733609-46074-31-720.jpg)
I made some more improvements in the wheel wells.
![Album image #56 Album image #56](/albums/img/7/5/9/1733759-46074-78-720.jpg)
I've marked out the proper panel lines. Tomorrow I will take a second look at them before starting.
![Album image #57 Album image #57](/albums/img/3/3/8/1734338-46074-51-720.jpg)
I purposely made deep panel lines so I don't have any problems with sanding. They will be filled with powder and sealed latter. I'm still waiting for the sprues goo to harden.
![Album image #58 Album image #58](/albums/img/8/3/1/1734831-46074-80-720.jpg)
Panel lines are finished on the underside of the wings.
![Album image #59 Album image #59](/albums/img/1/0/3/1741103-46074-58-720.jpg)
Making some bumps. The top half of the wing is getting closer.
![Album image #60 Album image #60](/albums/img/2/2/0/1741220-46074-58-720.jpg)
More bumps!
![Album image #61 Album image #61](/albums/img/1/9/2/1742192-46074-28-720.jpg)
Panel lines and adjustments are finished on the top of the wings.
![Album image #62 Album image #62](/albums/img/2/3/6/1745236-46074-65-720.jpg)
Oops didn't mean to do that! Lol
![Album image #63 Album image #63](/albums/img/9/6/6/1761966-46074-23-720.jpg)
Panel lines are getting there.
![Album image #64 Album image #64](/albums/img/9/6/7/1761967-46074-32-720.jpg)
More panel lines.
![Album image #65 Album image #65](/albums/img/9/7/3/1761973-46074-31-720.jpg)
![Album image #66 Album image #66](/albums/img/9/8/2/1761982-46074-11-720.jpg)
I added some ribs to the tail. They will need to be sanded down a bit.
![Album image #67 Album image #67](/albums/img/7/3/6/1762736-46074-94-720.jpg)
Attaching the wings
![Album image #68 Album image #68](/albums/img/9/4/5/1764945-46074-63-720.jpg)
I made the wing plates out of strips of styrene and super glue.
![Album image #69 Album image #69](/albums/img/1/5/0/1765150-46074-25-720.jpg)
The kit's horizontal stabilizers are too short.
![Album image #70 Album image #70](/albums/img/2/3/3/1765233-46074-72-720.jpg)
I added a bit of styrene to extend the horizontal stabilizers. Remade and shortened the tabs, and added a few lines.
![Album image #71 Album image #71](/albums/img/2/8/4/1765284-46074-53-720.jpg)
Attempting to make a mount for the tail light.
![Album image #72 Album image #72](/albums/img/4/4/8/1765448-46074-57-720.jpg)
The kit wheels are pretty basic and there is a lot of flash around the hubs.
![Album image #73 Album image #73](/albums/img/6/6/4/1765664-46074-34-720.jpg)
Making improvements
![Album image #74 Album image #74](/albums/img/6/7/6/1765676-46074-71-720.jpg)
It looks like landing gear now.
![Album image #75 Album image #75](/albums/img/6/8/5/1765685-46074-76-720.jpg)
Putting part no. 45 on that one piece wheel is going to be a little challenging.
![Album image #76 Album image #76](/albums/img/8/6/2/1765862-46074-80-720.jpg)
After looking at the wheel and trying a few different tools out, I decided to make new wheel forks and leave the wheel mounted.
![Album image #77 Album image #77](/albums/img/1/6/7/1766167-46074-54-720.jpg)
So, that seemed to have worked out.
![Album image #78 Album image #78](/albums/img/1/9/0/1766190-46074-42-720.jpg)
On the left I engraved a recess in the landing gear door and on the right is the original kit with injection mold keys in the worst place.
![Album image #79 Album image #79](/albums/img/4/5/0/1766450-46074-61-720.jpg)
I added a bit to the back of the landing gear doors.
![Album image #80 Album image #80](/albums/img/4/6/1/1766461-46074-82-720.jpg)
Nose gun barrel made with brass tubing.
![Album image #81 Album image #81](/albums/img/4/6/2/1766462-46074-85-720.jpg)
The propeller in the kit was molded backwards so I had to drill a hole through it to reverse it.
![Album image #82 Album image #82](/albums/img/5/3/5/1766535-46074-23-720.jpg)
The first layer of primer revealed plenty of places that need adjustments.
![Album image #83 Album image #83](/albums/img/9/0/3/1768903-46074-76-720.jpg)
I filled the panel lines to the appropriate depth using water based white putty.
![Album image #84 Album image #84](/albums/img/9/0/4/1768904-46074-28-720.jpg)
![Album image #85 Album image #85](/albums/img/2/1/8/1769218-46074-52-720.jpg)
Plates have been replaced that were sanded off in the process of making the hood.
![Album image #86 Album image #86](/albums/img/3/2/1/1769321-46074-32-720.jpg)
Hinges and plates added
![Album image #87 Album image #87](/albums/img/4/1/3/1769413-46074-88-720.jpg)
More hinges
![Album image #88 Album image #88](/albums/img/4/1/4/1769414-46074-99-720.jpg)
And even some hinging for the tail
![Album image #89 Album image #89](/albums/img/8/9/1/1769891-46074-79-720.jpg)
All primed up and ready for riveting.
![Album image #90 Album image #90](/albums/img/6/6/7/1771667-46074-20-720.jpg)
The riveting is slowly moving along.
![Album image #91 Album image #91](/albums/img/8/0/6/1773806-46074-22-720.jpg)
I realized quite late that the kit's wing roots were too narrow. So I widened them with polystyrene and super glue.
![Album image #92 Album image #92](/albums/img/0/9/0/1774090-46074-64-720.jpg)
I refined the wing tip to make it more to scale.
![Album image #93 Album image #93](/albums/img/7/6/0/1775760-46074-19-720.jpg)
![Album image #94 Album image #94](/albums/img/8/8/5/1775885-46074-47-720.jpg)
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![Album image #97 Album image #97](/albums/img/2/0/4/1776204-46074-89-720.jpg)
Plenty of rivets on the underside.
![Album image #98 Album image #98](/albums/img/0/5/7/1777057-46074-93-720.jpg)
More hinges and a seam line on the air intake.
![Album image #99 Album image #99](/albums/img/0/8/4/1777084-46074-26-720.jpg)
BSK 16 camera gun installed
![Album image #100 Album image #100](/albums/img/0/8/5/1777085-46074-19-720.jpg)
"Step" in the wing root carved out.
![Album image #101 Album image #101](/albums/img/1/0/1/1777101-46074-91-720.jpg)
Hood latches made from styrene.
![Album image #102 Album image #102](/albums/img/3/0/2/1777302-46074-68-720.jpg)
Engine in progress.
![Album image #103 Album image #103](/albums/img/3/2/8/1777328-46074-58-720.jpg)
Engine done. Little pieces of styrene driving me crazy. (Note to self... Double check your source image. This is from a C variant. Try again tomorrow.)
![Album image #104 Album image #104](/albums/img/5/5/0/1777550-46074-80-720.jpg)
Engine rebuilt. This time with styrene braces, circle edge and center disk. I repurposed photo etch by cutting it to size for the wall of the inside. For the opposite side I used stretched sprue to make the raised elements.
![Album image #105 Album image #105](/albums/img/5/8/2/1777582-46074-64-720.jpg)
Third layer of primer down. It is starting to look like a plane!
![Album image #106 Album image #106](/albums/img/9/3/0/1777930-46074-79-720.jpg)
I don't know if it will survive because it is only one millimeter big and made from 7 parts, but I scratch built a Revi 16b gun sight. It is made from repurposed photo etch (old knobs I never used), styrene and celluloid film.
![Album image #107 Album image #107](/albums/img/9/3/7/1777937-46074-20-720.jpg)
![Album image #108 Album image #108](/albums/img/9/3/8/1777938-46074-13-720.jpg)
![Album image #109 Album image #109](/albums/img/5/0/4/1789504-46074-50-720.jpg)
Revell conopys are truly the worst. If they had made a decent separated canopy that actually fit this would not have happened.
![Album image #110 Album image #110](/albums/img/8/0/4/1789804-46074-59-720.jpg)
My brand new high tech vacuform machine!
![Album image #111 Album image #111](/albums/img/8/1/6/1789816-46074-43-720.jpg)
The results: A new windshield and 3 slightly imperfect canopies next to the original which was heavily thinned down and is still way too thick.
![Album image #112 Album image #112](/albums/img/4/3/7/1800437-46074-86-720.jpg)
I decided to make the canopy again as one piece. That way I don't have problems painting and I will try to separate it afterwards.
![Album image #113 Album image #113](/albums/img/2/2/5/1802225-46074-92-720.jpg)
Scratch building "shock absorbers" for the landing gear. Wrapping sprue around these retractable arms was a challenge.
![Album image #114 Album image #114](/albums/img/5/9/1/1802591-46074-32-720.jpg)
She's got legs...she knows how to use them.
![Album image #115 Album image #115](/albums/img/4/3/9/1803439-46074-78-720.jpg)
I did a little work on the wings last night. It required a lot of additional sanding to get the PE to fit.
Коментари
83 27 January, 18:23
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My next big project is turning this FROG into a Prince. Wish me luck I'm going to need it.
27 January, 18:25
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I'm following. In my opinion the Ta-152H is the most beautiful plane of WW II. I got the kit from Kora in my stash and hope to start the build in spring this year. Good luck and, above all, have fun building it.
27 January, 20:18
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Nicolas, I agree. It's a long, lean, fighting machine as they say. Definitely one of the more elegant designs to come out of the war.
27 January, 22:10
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I had to widen the fuselage today, in order to make space, before I scratch build the cockpit.
29 January, 01:47
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this is going to be awsome.
I am picking kits that are near perfect so I have fun.
but there are also people who pick not-so-perfect-kits like this Ta152 and they still have loads of fun!
GL 🙂
31 January, 13:12
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Well mostly I pick not-so-perfect-kits because I'm a cheap skate. I'd rather pay 6 euros than 40 for a kit. I do have some moderately priced kits and they are a lot faster and fun to make, but often I just have the need to challenge myself and see where my skill level is at.
31 January, 17:56
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@Skyhiker: I totally like your approach and I think you did a great start!
31 January, 19:16
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same here @Skyhiker, I really like the 6eur price point. so affordable. probably thats why I started to look into the 1/144 scale 🙂
31 January, 19:58
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Excellent work on the exhausts, and the cockpit is coming along nicely.
2 February, 03:24
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I did a bit more today but I can't seem to get any images to upload. Anyone else having these problems?
2 February, 19:03
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Looking at photo #17 I want to give a tip:
I would be a little careful keeping the roll of masking tape on the table. I like keeping them in a holder, or placed in a bag, to avoid the side of the roll picking up all kind of dirt.
2 February, 19:10
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Yes, I keep my tapes in a bag but it doesn't seem to help as well as it should. I think I need a better bag. When I photograph things at this scale there is more dust than I realize.
2 February, 19:18
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I can finally upload my images again now, I was having problems too.
2 February, 20:13
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Treehugger I cleaned my tape and got a new bag. Thanks for pointing that out. No need for fuzzy tape.
2 February, 20:20
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I have to take a break and will be back in a week. I must say I am in love with this plane. It's really a beautiful design with those long wings. I can't wait to get back to it.
8 February, 06:54
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I'm going to build this one from my stash this year, definitely following! 👍
8 February, 14:14
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The canopy was totally uneven and so I decided to do the risky thing and file it from the inside. Hopefully I didn't just ruin it.
2 March, 13:17
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I have built 70s Tamiya kit - but that was a least workable. The base was there even though many errors. This 'kit' just seems like a waste of time. Like trying to make a dog poop look edible by putting a cherry on top.
If I saw this kit I would stamp it into the ground. Useless
8 April, 20:15
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This kit has its flaws but nothing that can't be corrected with a little bit of skill. Are there more accurate kits out there that are easier to build - yes. But the modern trend of wanting perfect kits seems counter to the art of modeling. If you have ever built a model from a block of wood you wouldn't call this kit useless. Challenging or time consuming I can agree with but it is not crap.
10 April, 08:09
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I haven't given up yet. Sometimes life forces me to take breaks but I hope to get back into this one soon. I have to put a lot of tiny details in the cockpit next and I need the right head space for that. Kits like these take time and often I will start easier kits mid process to keep things flowing. I absolutely agree that reboxing old kits without a mold date is deceptive. Thankfully with this site we can look up the history and sometimes see the sprues before buying anything. I've only had one kit that I couldn't do anything with. I bought it for 20 bucks opened up and threw it directly in the trash. That was a Top Gun F/A-18 Hornet snap kit, which really was a piece of shit.
10 April, 16:03
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Following. Really looking forward to the end result.
Especially since I built this kit myself last year. Although I didn't put so much effort and detail into it as you are doing.
10 April, 21:29
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Worked on the canopy and tried to figure out how the scratch built cockpit will fit into the body.
2 May, 23:45
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It's coming along!
From about halfway back on the underside there should be no join line - but forward of halfway you are good which makes things a little easier.
Just an idea but you can download the ZM instructions to get an idea?
6 May, 10:13
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Trez your message is pretty cryptic. Are you talking about panel lines or internal wing structures? The last photo is just a dry fit. I haven't started with dealing with any panel lines yet. I've been working on the inside of the wing walls to make something that gives an impression of space for the wheels.
6 May, 11:45
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Apologies - I meant the external join lines. I can see what you done - it looks good. I thought the ZM instructions would help as a guide
6 May, 12:56
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Trez, thanks for your ideas. I'm using a lot of photos and the instructions from a 1:32 model to help figure out what is going on. This little model is a challenge to correct but I'm having fun pushing my skills and learning as I go.
6 May, 15:36
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I worked out most of the cockpit issues today. It's not perfect but I got it in there.
15 May, 23:09
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Moreno, I'm glad you're liking it. This is kinda pushing my skills a bit. We'll see what happens in the end together.
15 May, 23:11
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Getting this kit to accept a cockpit was like pounding a square peg through a round hole. I had to reshape the whole damn fuselage.
16 May, 03:35
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Whoah!!! Amazing what you did to that old tooling! Very cool to watch! 👍🏼
16 May, 15:20
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Really liking what you're doing, Skyhiker, and learning lots too. Impressed with your skills 🙂
16 May, 19:43
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Łukasz the shape of the hood is really off in the kit. The superglue is just material for me to try and sculpt into a better hood.
16 May, 20:26
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No, It's just cheap super glue from a discount store that I poured right from the tube and hardened with accelerator.
16 May, 22:08
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Well the fine engraving blade I just bought broke within a day of use. Very frustrating.
23 May, 14:42
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Luckily I bought a .02 mm blade in addition to the .01 mm that broke. It will have to do even though I would prefer the lines to be a little bit thinner.
23 May, 15:06
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Amazing progress! Once you go the route of updating such an old kit, there's no way back, is there?
24 May, 22:19
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Thanks Patrick, your right there is always more to discover and do. I'm having fun with it. Of course I have no idea what it will look like in the end. I'm spending far too many hours allowing myself to be lost in process. But if that's what it takes, why not?
24 May, 23:19
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It's amazing how every kit I look at of a FW Ta 152 H is different. All the photos of the original aircraft are so blurry that details are impossible to pick out, so I'm left with looking at kits and guessing which ones are correct.
26 May, 01:25
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Anyone out there with a book on the TA 152? I'm trying to figure out if the top of the flaps have a vertical line down the center of them or not. From underneath there is a line there but I am getting conflicting images of the top surface. Can anyone post a decent image?
28 May, 16:28
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I looked through some of my books and picture collection. But to find even a picture of the Ta152 is rare. 🙁
28 May, 17:06
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Thanks Mattes. There are a few decent books out there but they go for 80 Euros and I can't afford that. I doubt the library would have anything worth while. Maybe the model shop will let me look through one of their books but usually they are sealed in foil. Hopefully someone here has something. Getting panel lines correct is not so easy. Even worse are the rivets.
28 May, 17:49
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I found this image which clearly shows the flaps divide in two sections. Interestingly the sections are not even like the underside.
[img1]
29 May, 05:48
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Maybe this would be helpful? flugzeugclassic.de/f..hlands-bester-jaeger
I do not have the magazine, but kind of stumbled over the link 😉
31 May, 13:34
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Thanks Ben, this kit gets a bad rap. It's not as bad as people make it out to be. Of course I am putting a lot of work into it to make it better. But if its done straight out of the box it's not that bad. The backwards propeller is a stupid engineering mistake but that's an easy fix.
31 May, 23:54
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Yeah, I was a little heavy handed, but it's not a problem. I just glued it back together. I prefer trenching and filling over trying to get the lines the exact depth overall and then accidentally sanding away lines. The only problem with using this method is the deep panel lines can make the model unstable in places if you are not careful. But in the end it should all work out.
7 June, 21:47
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I am slowly moving forward on the panel lines behind the scenes. This is the part I have to force my way through because I don't really enjoy it. But it is coming along and I could have some photos soon.
2 July, 18:21
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Thank you Moreno, re-scribing is definitely the part that's the least fun for me too. Some days I have to force myself just to do one line. If you do that once a day eventually it gets done. But yeah, re-scribing sucks.
6 July, 16:21
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Big step made with attaching the wings. It makes me feel like I am moving forward after all.
7 July, 14:33
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An impressive amount of work, your patience and skills are incredible, congrats!
11 July, 20:02
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Wow, what an insane amount of work you put into this project! I am humbled by your perseverance and attention to detail!
12 July, 03:34
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Thanks Thomas, I enjoy the process of trying to figure out how to do stuff. The model is just an added bonus in the end.
12 July, 13:20
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Thanks Moreno. I'm having fun with it, mostly. The panel lines were a drag but I got through that part. Hopefully after the primer I won't have to any major touch ups. But we will see. One step at a time...
13 July, 16:13
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Watching you making process is indeed great to watch. The plane is starting to look great!
16 July, 22:54
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Wow! How do you filled the lines? How was you able to calculate the exact quantity?
17 July, 05:43
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Moreno, I used an engraving tool to cut deep lines and then I rubbed white putty into them. By rubbing the excess off it automatically brings the lines to just below the surface of the model. As the lines dry they also shrink a bit. So, it was not too hard to do. The trick is to use enough water and a brush to apply the putty and to use enough water on a paper towel or cotton bud to remove the excess. Hard to get to areas need to be cleaned up with a wooden tooth pick.
17 July, 06:01
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I never would believe that the base kit is a Revell's offering.... Awesome job!
17 July, 06:31
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I worked on some details today. Tomorrow I will give it another coat of primer and hopefully start the riveting.
17 July, 21:24
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I am debating with myself when the best time to do riveting is. If you do it before priming you run the risk of filling the holes. If you do it after priming it makes it harder to correct mistakes. If you do it after the final paint job you run the risk of fucking everything up. Anyone have any experience with riveting?
19 July, 13:17
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Regarding riveting: I have done it before priming but I don't see why you could not do it after. You'l have to sand after as the riveter leaves 'rings' around each divot (as it pushes the plastic out). In my experience, a thin coat of primer has negligible impact on the rivet holes (if it had, this would be a problem with any factory-riveted kit).
20 July, 23:38
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Alec, I tend to agree with you. My thoughts on doing the riveting after the primer was that the rivets may remain a bit better defined. But I am not convinced. I think I will have to do some tests for the future. By riveting before and after the primer on some styrene, then spraying a color coat over both should give me a better idea of which I prefer. Right now I feel like I prefer not doing it at all, because riveting is a pain. But that's just me feeling sorry for myself for wanting to do a half way decent job on this kit. I do wish I could find some reliable riveting guides for this plane. It seems like everyone is just guessing at it.
21 July, 00:00
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Thanks Patrick, I haven't mastered riveting or panel lines yet but I'm learning. I am pretty limited in my tools and the scale is not the easiest. But with practice and study I hope to improve.
21 July, 22:44
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I've realized that one of the benefits of doing the riveting after the primer is that you can make sure that most of the sanding is completed. However inevitably there are areas that get messed up and sanding is required after all. I just haven't found the perfect solution.
21 July, 23:33
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Enjoying your progress a lot, the transformat is amazing.
I must say your plans are so clear and great reference where do you get your plans like these from, I search the tinternet but never find any as useful as your plans, any extra guidance would be appreciated
22 July, 08:12
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I drew my plans on the computer by looking at various images on the internet. Unfortunately I haven't found any place to download great paneling or riveting guides. There is a Russian website that has blueprints that I sometimes use but I'm not sure if it is still available. I didn't use it for this project.
22 July, 08:31
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Sy Bar, which plane will you be doing next? I can look around for blueprints and see if I can find anything useful.
22 July, 13:37
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Cheers Skyhiker v kind offer and thanks for the info. Not sure what will be next and if plans will be required but I'll keep you in mind should the need arise.
Keep up the work I'm loving watching the progress 👍
23 July, 20:34
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Widened the wing roots and I am continuing with the riveting today. Also I did a lot of research on the proper colors to use, which was not as easy as one would think. They certainly are not what the instructions say.
24 July, 17:51
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Great work as usual! I'm curious about the colours: aren't they the late RLMs?
24 July, 18:48
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The colors are late RLM colors but not exactly as the instructions say. To start with they call for the hood to be RLM83 which of course is wrong, since in actuality that was a marine color and blue. Many paint manufacturers have some type of green with that number but it was based on a typing mistake in the original RLM records. I believe the hood should be RLM73 as in the original photos it is a bit darker than 81. The fuselage is RLM81 and RLM82, but there were three variants of 81, two that were brownish and one more green. The green is the correct one for this plane. The under carriage is RLM76, but once again we have three variants to choose from; one that is greyer, one bluer and one more tan colored. The greyer one is correct. There is confusion about whether the nose is red or black. I still have to do more research on this. I believe the propeller blade was RLM70
24 July, 19:16
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I hope to be finished with the riveting today. Most of my time was spent trying to figure out which of the conflicting diagrams was closest to the original. I don't know if I got it right since there are no surviving planes left.
28 July, 10:23
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Great Work on this old Revell Kit and there is still one surviving aircraft.In National Air and Space museum.
airandspace.si.edu/c..11/nasm_A19600317000
29 July, 14:01
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National Air and Space museum has a different version of this plane. It is very similar but there are a lot of differences.
29 July, 14:37
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I redid the engine today and laid down a second layer of primer. The rivet lines came out well. There are just a few small touch ups on the engine cover and wing tips to do before I start on the wings.
30 July, 15:59
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Thanks DerMattes. It's more a scratch build than a kit at this point. It's starting to come together. I still have a while to go though. How is a scratch build defined at the official contests?
31 July, 00:46
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It's like you are building a vac kit with the amount of work and attention to details you are putting into this build. Impressive and inspiring!👍🏻
31 July, 08:04
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I made a gunsight out of 7 scratch built parts that is only one millimeter in size.
31 July, 14:23
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Next I have to try and repair or replace the front windshield. Somehow it cracked when I was sanding it down. Is it me or do the clear parts on Revell kits always have problems?
2 August, 04:51
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Well I painted the propeller today but afterwards I had to clean my Iwata airbrush and change the needle. Unfortunately the needle noozle broke off in my airbrush and there is no way to fix it! Now I have to rely on a cheap Chinese knock off to finish painting until I can save an extra 150 bucks to buy a new airbrush.
8 August, 16:58
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That sucks. I'd love to lend you my second airbrush, but unfortunately that's also just an old Chinese product at the moment. Probably wouldn't help much.
8 August, 18:10
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I will try scratch building the canopy if that doesn't work I will have to get a vacuform machine.
20 August, 19:17
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Nice to see a modeller 'working the problem' rather than splashing out on loads of AM. It's also refreshing to see a build being carried out to its fruition and not left dwelling in the eternal online shelf of oblivion. I'm also working on a 72 kit that needs much hacking and slashing although not as much as this one - I suppose the irony is that some brand will finally release this type - as it is a hole that has yet to be filled! 🫡 👍 😊
21 August, 14:38
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I wish I could add another like for your vacuum machine! Man, you're really cool!
21 August, 14:43
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No, I just needed to make a canopy so I first tried replacing the front windshield with a clear plastic piece from a CD cover and glueing the original side windows to it but when I finished it was too thick. So then I made the front windshield out of thin plastic sheet from some packaging I had laying around. That worked but the bubble canopy was now too thick. So I tried making a bubble canopy by heating up some of the plastic sheet over a candle and pressing it down over the original with my fingers but that didn't really work. I only got one that looked right but I burnt it so I realized I needed to use a vacuum and change my heat source. My hair dryer runs so hot it overheats and turns off, so I tried that with the vacuum and it worked. You just need to tape the plastic on a piece of cardboard with a hole cut into it and practice. You can make the vacuum screen out of anything. I just used an old sanding disc that I punched holes into and taped down on my sweeper.
21 August, 19:02
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I'm not sure I can visualize that yet but I'll see if there's something on YouTube. I have a truck I need to make a windshield for.
21 August, 23:11
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🤣🤣 love the vacform 😁, l split the canopy on my little mig-23 project, to heavy with the Quetip/ ear cleaner!!
I used toaster n paintbrush end 🤣, it worked...but was just a little 1/144 mig-23, it's my wall.
The homebrew job was clearer than the original 🙄,
Would love a little vacform.
Love the scale detail you go to.
👍👍👍
21 August, 23:58
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Ben here is an example I found on YouTube of vacuforming. youtube.com/shorts/GFSJxs51uoY?feature=shared
2 September, 08:17
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Just make sure that the plastic you are heating up is polystyrene and not PVC. You don't want to poison yourself with heavy chemicals. Polystyrene is bad enough. And don't use your oven or anything that will be in contact with food.
2 September, 21:36
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I made another canopy. This time as one piece. After painting I will try to separate it.
5 September, 14:13
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That canopy has come out nice n clear.👌
I think it would be nice model with closed canopy also.
I like closed as keeps the dust out n preservation on cockpit.... Little time capsule too.
Doing a good job, persistence is a good trait in this hobby 🙄😆.
I've spent more time making a missing gun turret.! Than on the rest of the build !!
5 September, 14:30
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You mean you build an entirely new landing gear, right? At least this is how it looks 😉 Impressive work and dedication!
8 September, 16:44
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Cannot wait to see more. Amazed at the effort expended to correct, such an old kit. Reminds me of a favorite saying of a long lost friend. "that wouldn't stop a good modeler". A good modeler you are. I thought Inwas pretty good, but am in awe of your talent and dedication. Am following
8 September, 17:45
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An amazing amount of improvement and scratch work to improve the model.
Very impressive..👍👍
8 September, 19:33
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Thanks guys. I'm trying. Learning a lot on this model. It certainly is a challenge, but I'm having fun.
8 September, 20:56
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Can l ask what the 🕯️ candle wax was for?? I was guessing 🤔 maybe to build up higher for super glue. ? I like watching builds as you can learn new skills.
Also if you don't mind, how did you thin down the retract arms ...looked machine down.
Enjoyed watching so far being fascinating,
I built the Revell FW-190 this year ...that wasn't to bad.... Few of the engine fan blades hadn't been moulded in !! So l built them back with super glue gell, back wheel was fragile n came off. But rest ok .
Thanks 👍👍
9 September, 09:48
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Mr D. The candle is used as a receptacle for the super glue. It helps to keep the super glue from setting. By putting it on wax and covering it with foil it will remain in a liquid form for a whole day. The retractable arms were made from styrene rod and stretched sprue. The thick end is the rod. The thin end is sprue and the raised area is very thin sprue wrapped around it.
9 September, 10:04
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Thanks for the info 👍👍.
Have you tried super glue gel?? It's slow to dry but builds up more.well.
9 September, 13:54
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No, I haven't had a need for that. I just use cheap super glue. 5 tubes for a Euro.
9 September, 18:51
Album info
Turning a FROG into a Prince.