Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5 by Jamie Haggo (Hasegawa 1/32)

Hasegawa's 1/32 scale
Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5

by Jamie "Haggis" Haggo

Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5

Hasegawa's 1/32 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5 is available online from Squadron.com

Construction

This is Hasegawa's Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5 in 1/32 scale.

The kit is basically straight from the box apart from a couple of enhancements. I used the MDC instrument decals and was very impressed. I couldn’t justify the money on a new cockpit when not much of the office is visible but the decals do add that edge over dry brushing. The other addition was the etched harness again from MDC. This is the first time I have used this companies products and I am very impressed.

I didn’t add anything to the wheel wells, you should really shallow the dimples on the roof as they are too cylindrical but as my models just sit on the shelf I couldn’t be bothered, no ones going to see up there!

The basic construction took less than a week - pretty good for a 1/32 scale kit. One near disaster I had was I built the cowling and painted it before adding the engine. AARGHHHH! The engine does not fit in behind, you have to add it during the construction of the cowling, much cutting, scraping and swearing later I managed it but I nearly had to take the cowling apart again!

Painting and Markings

Once the model was primed and pre shaded I painted the RLM 76 using Xtracrylics from Hannant’s. The rest of the camouflage was mixed up Tamiya colours from Modeldad’s list and sprayed free hand while the yellow cowling was a Tamiya yellow mixed with their gloss varnish. A quick buff with a soft rag and it was ready for the decals. The black portion on the fuselage sides were masked and sprayed as were the wing crosses. I usually paint all the markings on Luftwaffe aircraft but I had run out of Eduard masks.

The decals were from EagleCals and absolutely first rate. I was a bit nervous of the checked nose but they went on lovely. After a quick wash the model was Flat coated with Xtracrylics matt varnish.

I did light weathering on this model, a bit of a departure for me as I usually like really beat up looking models. The paint chips were done using a silver artists pencil and I post shaded the model using the technique suggested by the inspirational Chris Wauchop (10% Tamiya black/red brown, 90% thinner).

The final things were to add on all the fiddly bits and she was done.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Modeldad for the paint charts, MDC for their amazing products, Mr Crandall for the superb decal sheets and Mr Wauchop for the loan of the post shading technique.