FW190 A8/R8 - 1/48

ok. Time to officialy kick off this project. I'll be building Willi Maximowitz's FW190 A8/R8 as flown in 1944 from Tamiya's 1/48 scale kit. The build will mosty be out of the box with only minor modifications necessary for accuracy.

The first hurdle is to find an authentic colour profile as the references I found so far are somewhat conflicting, especially with respect to the spinner. (Marco you've got work to do)

Here's what the final model should (generally) look like:



This is quoted as being the R2 version. Other references suggest that the R8 version had a red and yellow spinner but I'm not entirely convinced.

This model will also serve as a 'test platform' for trying out techniques that are new to me such as scribing the panel lines. Although I've built lots of planes before (way way back), this will be my first "serious" build so I'm considering myself to be a newbie. Any suggestions from your part are more than welcome.


Here's some background on the subject

Warrant officer Willi Maximowitz was born on Jan 29, 1920 in Wuppertal-Barnen. Non commissioned officer Maximowitz volunteered for Sturmstaffel 1 towards the end of 1943. On Jan 30, 1944 he shot down his first four engined bomber, a B-24. On Mar 23, 1944 a third bomber ( B-17 ) fell victim to his MG's. His Fw 190 A-6, W.Nr. 551 099, "White 10" was hit and the injured Maximowitz had to perform an emergency landing near Wuppertal. By end of April he was back in service and on Apr 29, 1944 he shot down another B-17. On May 8, 1944 the Sturmstaffel 1 has been integrated to IV./JG 3, as 11. Staffel. During June 1944 the IV. Group acted as ground support in Normandy. Those operations were based at the airport of Dreux in France.

As from July orders changed and operations against US bombers were again on the list. On Jul 30, 1944 Willi Maximowitz was promoted to staff sergeant. He was again wounded during a crash while landing in his Fw 190 A-8/R-2, W.Nr. 680 756. After his recovery he served as Katschmarek for group commander, Captain Wilhelm Moritz. IV./JG 3 was relocated to the Eastern front in February 1945, where Willi Maximowitz could score another 12 victories. On Apr 20, 1945 warrant officer Maximowitz did not return from combat mission. Most probably he has been shut down near Frankfurt/Oder from Russian fighters.

Willi Maximowitz shot down 27 enemy aircraft, including 15 four engined bombers. For his efforts in air combat, he was awarded with the German Cross in Gold.

Happy modelling

Good start Wayne, and prosit you got the SSM bug immediately, you are not doing just a plan, but you are giving it life and identity.

Well done ...

Ivan

Wayne welcome to the "working side" of SSM & you did it with a bang, as an SSM Veteran should do it....."Marco you've got work to do" that is SSM attitude at its best, topped up with your zest to get a project rolling under "guidance" ASAP

Keep at it at will & you'll see great results soon, because you just plugged into SSM's main arteries of her Immortal System

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

First dumb question: I want this thing to look weathered and beaten up (they used to ram B-17's for God's Sake) so should I "prime" the plane in aluminium for it to be exposed during the weathering stages? Or am I totally getting it wrong?

I'm asking now because I need to draw up a list of paints I need to buy and setting a step by step plan.

Cheers

W

I am no plane guy but it depends the effect of weathering you would like to make, if you intend to do scratches I advice that these are done delicately with a 000 sable brush fine pointed using different colours not only aluminium to get the effect. If I were you especially if you'll be handling this technique for the first time use enemels mixed with artist oil paint and turpentine or MIG thinner as medium.

On the other hand if you like to make washed out spray with large chips [which I do not see the norm on Luftwaffe if not a white wash] you can do the hairpray technique or the salt. Staring with aluminium first, coat it woith Purity Seal [warhammer spraycan] spray on water solible hairspray then overspray with the scheme. Take off with a flat brush dipped in water and chipping will come out natural. For this technique acrylics are better.

Ivan

Yes Wayne, if you intend to put in chipping, it would be good to spray the thing in aluminium first. That is what I did with my 190 https://ipmsmalta.forumotion.net/t35-a-few-pics-of-my-fw190 Check out this link to see what i did to my FW. This pilot also rammed B17's and he did so a number of times and lived to tell the tale. In fact he is still alive and well in Canada. I used rub n buff to do this. I did it on my Me262's too.

Hello Wayne again ..and wellcome to the modeling world ... I like you approach and enthusiast for this never ending subject ..german aircraft ....


So let's begin with what we start last wed, here is the diference between the A and F series props... more information to follow especially about the colour scheme...

Here is some brief history






Willi Maximowitz
Oberfeldwebel


Willi Maximowitz was born on 29 January 1920 at Wuppertal-Barnen. At the end of 1943, when Major von Kornatzski (6 victories) was looking for volunteers for Sturmstaffel 1, Maximowitz, by this time an Unteroffizier with JG 1, was one of those who enlisted. He had already achieved his first success when he shot down a USAAF B-24 four-engine bomber on 30 January 1944. On 23 March 1944, he shot down his third four-engine bomber, a USAAF B-17, but his Focke-Wulf 190 A-6 (W.Nr. 551 099) “White 10” was hit by return fire from the bombers and a wounded Maximowitz had to bale out near Wuppertal. Following recovery from his wounds he returned to Sturmstaffel 1 and added another B-17, shot down over Helmstedt on 29 April 1944, to his tally. On 8 May 1944, Sturmstaffel 1 was integrated into IV./JG 3 as its 11. Staffel. In June , Maximowitz undertook combat flights in support of the German army in Normandy. These missions were flown with IV.Gruppe from Dreux airfield in France. Maximowitz shot down a B-17 near Leipzig for his 10th victory on 20 July. On 28 July , IV./JG 3 scrambled against USAAF four-engine bombers. Maximowitz was shot down by the fighter escort and was slightly wounded. On 30 July, he was promoted to the rank of Feldwebel, but was wounded in a landing accident in Fw 190 A-8/R2 (W.Nr. 680 756). After recuperating from his injuries, he returned to his unit (renamed 14./JG 3 on 10 August).


Uffz. Willi Maximowitz of 11.(Sturm)/ JG 3 "Udet" after return from combat sortie with his Focke-Wulf 190 A-8/R-2 "black 8". Airfield Dreux. June 1944.

He flew as Kaczmarek to Gruppenkommandeur, IV./JG 3, Hauptmann Wilhelm Moritz (44 victories, 15 of them four-engine bombers, RK). In February 1945, IV./JG 3 moved to the Russian Front. On 11 March, Maximowitz was credited with three Russian Boston twin-engine bombers and a fighter shot down. On 20 April 1945, Oberfeldwebel Maximowitz of 14./JG 3, failed to return from a combat mission. He was probably killed in aerial combat with Russian fighters around Frankfurt am Oder. He told Feldwebel Oskar Bösch (18 victories, including 8 four-engine bombers) during this mission that he had an MP 40 submachine-gun in his cockpit and he was saving the last round for himself if he got shot down!
Willi Maximowitz was credited with 27 victories. He recorded 12 victories over the Eastern front. All 15 victories recorded over the Western front were four-engine bombers. He claimed one bomber by ramming on 23 March 1944 and possibly rammed another bomber, date unknown. Maximowitz was posthumously awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 1 January 1945.





No Date Time A/c Type Unit Location / Comments
1 30.1.1944 11:50 B-24 Sturmstaffel 1 -
2 6.3.1944 12:35 B-17 HSS Sturmstaffel 1 N Gifhorn- Rathenow 7000 m
3 23.3.1944 11:15 B-17 Sturmstaffel 1 SE Münster / rammed
4 29.4.1944 11:10 B-17 Sturmstaffel 1 Hehlingen
5 8.5.1944 10:08 B-24 11./JG 3 Peine-Braunschweig
6 12.5.1944 12:30 B-17 11./JG 3 Bad Nauheim-Fulda area
7 24.5.1944 11:24 B-17 HSS 11./JG 3 Nauern
8 13.7.1944 - B-17 11./JG 3 -
9 18.7.1944 10:50 B-17 11./JG 3 SE Kempten
10 20.7.1944 11:07 B-17 11./JG 3 20km W Leipzig
11 29.7.1944 - B-17 11./JG 3 -
12 27.9.1944 - B-24 14./JG 3 -
13 28.9.1944 - B-17 14./JG 3 -
14 2.11.1944 - B-17 14./JG 3 -
15 2.11.1944 - B-17 14./JG 3 -
16 3.3.1945 11:20 Pe-2 14./JG 3 -
17 11.3.1945 - Boston 14./JG 3 -
18 11.3.1945 - Fighter 14./JG 3 -
19 11.3.1945 - Boston 14./JG 3 -
20 11.3.1945 - Boston 14./JG 3 -
21 18.4.1945 - Yak 3 14./JG 3 -
22 18.4.1945 - Yak 3 14./JG 3 -
23 1945 - Pe-2 14./JG 3 -
24 1945 - P-39 14./JG 3 -
25 1945 - P-39 14./JG 3 -
26 1945 - Il-2 14./JG 3 -
27 1945 - Il-2 14./JG 3 -

Victories : 27
Awards : Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (1 January 1945)
Units : JG 1, Sturmstaffel 1, JG 3

About the colours , camouflage are RLM 74 75 top, bottom RLM 76... side mottle should be first aplication RLM 70 then 74 and 02 ..center of the fuslage cross normally painted in RLM 74...

Wheel wells finish them in natural metal ..

Cockpit colours RLM 66...

from the photo looks like the spinner is yellow and black ,and not white as normal be done...and the outline on the eagle motif again looks dark as red and not white or yellow...

some more pics of the pilot and other Fw190 he flew..




,

Thanks Marco, brilliant info. I just hope I'll do it justice as the paint job seems challenging.

Should I go for Model Master paints for all the colours mentioned?

yes I think they are near , for a start , even when you make the shadeing they change a bit....

Ok, I'll go ahead and order them then.

By the way, from that last photo it seems that he did use the canopy side-plating after all

Wayne keep it in mind they change a lot of aircraft....

By the way... can any of you kind sirs suggest a reliable website from where I can order testor paints?

I usually buy enamel paints locally (K-Hobbies seems to have more stocked MM paints than Model Shop). This because most shops will not send enamel paints by air, due to them being lead based and thinner soluble, making them classified as hazardous.

Except for RLM76, i found all the others locally either at model shop or k hobbies. Just don;t buy the White ensign model colours they are hopeless.

some more drawings...





and a beautifull painting....

ok time for an update.

As most of you know my project's been halted because of lack of supplies so I've been going round ticking off stuff from my shopping list.

I finally managed to find some small drill bits (0.3mm to 1.2mm) locally so I can at least finish off the scribing work by drilling rivet holes to make them a bit deeper. I was not so lucky on colours (Model Master) though. I only managed to find RLM 74 so i'm still missing 75 and 76 which seem to be out of stock. I'm also missing RLM 66 for the cockpit so that's another set back.

Anyhow, just wanted to let you guys know that work is progressing, albeit slowly.

Wayne for RLM 66 you can get Humbrol 67 Tankgrey and add some white...

Here are some pics of my work in prgress... apologies for the poor quality but I suck at photography


Cockpit:




Here's the bird waiting for the cockpit to be installed (nothing's glued yet)



I'll bring it with me next Wednesday for your sharp eyes to criticise, and tell me where/what to improve.

Nice work Wayne, don't forget the cushion is leather.

Thanks Brian glad you like it.

Yes the cushion is leather but I'm missing the colour so I haven't painted it yet

Nice work Wayne