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Fw 190D-9 Part 1

INTRODUCTION

After I posted forum pictures on Aeroscale, of my very old RevellUSA kit of the 1:32nd scale FW 190 D-9 Dora, I received a Personal Message (PM in future) from Aeroscale's Managing Editor "Merlin", Rowan Baylis. He asked if I would be willing to do an article on how I built that old kit. I had taken a lot of pictures of the model during the various stages of building this repop by Revell. So I could post pictures of the construction. And the age of the kit? According to John Burns' Volume 7 book from Kit Collector's Clearinghouse, that kit was originally released in 1973.

WHAT IS WRITTEN HERE IS JUST MY OPINION

I feel I need to make it clear here, that all of the text below is just my opinion, and the points expressed are my feelings now, and are based on a pespective of a modeler nearing 70 years of age. There are a lot of younger more highly skilled modelers than I, out there. And some who will disagree with my views, and with some of my conclusions, and that is OK. We can agree to disagree! Some may take the time, via the Aeroscale forum, to point out errors in my text or in my thinking, or in my modeling ideas and practices. And I welcome this kind of reply... as long as we express our opinions with good manners. I realized some years ago, at least for me, that it isn't necessary to place myself in a confrontational situation. I no longer use the term, "You are wrong". I don't feel that shows proper respect for a person. So I say "I disagree" instead of "You are wrong". I think that point is worthy of consideration, especially, on a web site where we write our thoughts, instead of being face to face with the individual. Writing with an opposing view does not require near the courage that standing toe to toe and eyeball to eyeball - with a person who disagrees - would call for.

THE OLD REVELL KIT? DUDE... WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

So, right off the bat, you may be asking, why didn't you build the newer 1:32nd Hasegawa FW 190 D-9 Dora? It is a much better kit! And I certainly see that as a normal question to ask. And the answer is simply that I completed this model before the news of a new FW190 D-9 Dora in 1:32nd by Hasegawa was even announced. Lucky me. At least I finished it before the new and improved Dora hit the hobby stores.

Well, considering how old the Revell kit is and that I was asked to write an article, I contemplated what would I be able to say of interest to aircraft modelers, who are building aircraft models of the current kits available today? Technologically speaking, there have been tremendous advances in our hobby. For one, the fit of the parts is a lot better. Most all kits in the 21st century offer recessed panel lines and rivet detail that is so much more realistic. Many come with Resin and Photo Etched parts (PE in future) right in the kit. And there are all those resin sets available from aftermarket companies for upgrading your model or for various conversions. So kewl, Cartman! Is this the golden age of modeling or what?

So, I gave the Managing Editor of Aeroscale, Rowan Baylis's offer a lot of thought. I realized that perhaps, since I'd been building aircraft models since the middle 1960s that hopefully, I could perhaps offer some insight that modelers might find of value and find useful. (Photos 1-A shows the completed model on its mirrored base, as it would be presented on the contest table. Photo1-B shows the Revell repop kit boxart along with an opened photo album with Work In Progress (WIP in future) pictures for the contest attendees and judges to peruse. At a contest, I would sit this photo essay album next to the model on the contest category table. More about my reasoning for displaying WIP photos instead of writing it all out on the entry form, much later in the series.