Great Wall Hobby caught the modelling world totally off guard with their surprise announcement of the Fw 189. Well, it's here and it's a real cracker!

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

I am sure Guido is happy that I bump this thread

Just a question: any word on the release date? (let's say Asian market)

and of course some info on the target price would be nice

all the best

Steffen

i saw somewhere else a price of approx $43, i dont know if this is true or not...


paul

It will be released in Japan on November.

Thanks Paul!

Willy: do you refer to hlj? well, their practise is to put in the model kit set it for release next month and push back the release date month by month.... nonetheless: thanks for replying!

all the best

Steffen

Hi Steffen

When I asked The Airbrush Company (the UK distributors) a couple of weeks ago, they were predicting a mid November release.

All the best

Rowan

Thant sounds good!

Thanks again to all for their help !!

I usually buy chinese kits at Lucky, but there is no sign yet, thus I was curious ....

cheers

Steffen

Hi again

I can't get to my workbench much these days, but I am tinkering with the kit and it's going together really nicely. My aim is to build-up some completed sub-assemblies that I can bring back to paint when I get the chance - almost armour-style modelling, I guess. I won't do a Blog, because i can't guarantee I'll be able to post anything remotely regularly, but I'll try to post a few pics here soon.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

A couple of pics as promised:





I've got a nice little stash of cleaned up bits and pieces ready to paint, and I've been tinkering with the cockpit, adding items that GWH missed like flares, gas-mask cannisters and map-cases etc. I've taken out the ammunition fittings for the 'A-1, but have yet to add the 'A-2s MG 81Z ammo cases.

As you can see in the shot of the wings, I've filled the heavy fabric effect on the control surfaces a bit with Mr. Surfacer.

Well, I'm finally back in my workshop today, so I intend to treat myself to a painting session!

All the best

Rowan

Woo-woo! Loking good, Roland! I'm gonna have to find room for one of these- or should I wait for the Russian kit? Oh, my.

cheers!
chuk

Cheers Chuck

I think the simple answer to your dilemma is get both kits! You know you want to!

I've sprayed a basecoat on the interior parts, and only then finally realised something else was missing from the cockpit - the mainspar. I kept seeing it in reference pics, but somehow its absence in the kit didn't hit me... Anyway, I've made one from plastic stock - along with the other additions it'll all help busy things up in the "office".



All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Back at base with the fruits of my labours. I've followed GWH's rather unusual assembly sequence for the nacelles/tail-booms:



I see the reason for it now - the engine bearers lock into the wing upper surfaces and it's fiddly to get at the joints with the nacelles closed up. So, although this way of doing things defies standard modelling practice, there is a certain logic to it.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Just a little update. I'm not taking many pics, because I know Jean-Luc has a full Blog on the way.

Anyway, I've got the engines and undercarriage just about ready to add. I haven't fitted the mudguards yet because I'm not sure they'll survive being attached so early. To be honest, I'd rather add the undercarriage after finishing the main airframe - it goes against my better instincts to do so now, because I'm afraid it's asking for some knocks...



Anyway, before I close everything up, here's a look at a wheel well. You can see how cleverly GWH have interlocked the nacelle side and top - but also the ejector pin marks which I haven't bothered to fill (I'm never going to look in there once it's closed up).



My plan is to get the beast stannding on its wheels this afternoon - and maybe even attach the wings...

All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan,




I haven't even started yet...

It seems as if I won't be able to catch up this time. You have already made some fine work...

Have you already decided what paint sheme you will apply? I'm tempted by the aircraft with the winter white wash.

Jean-Luc

Hi again,

I forgot to add the link to a YouTube movie which features the presentation of a Fw189 obviously captured by the Russians. There are some interesting sequences were the interior is visible and one can also see how the camera doors on the undeside of the plane were operated amongst other stuff. I found in this movie the only picture of the rear MG81Z ammunition cases layout of the A-2 version for example...



Jean-Luc

That's a very nice work until now Mr. Rowan

I'm planning to buy one in Christmas & start it immediately as a Special project


Cheers Nick

Cheers guys.

Yes, the Soviet film is the clearest reference I've seen for the 'A-2 (many thanks to Alexey Sulla for directing me to it, along with supplying manuals for the 'A-1.) The MBI book also helps somewhat, and there's a widely reproduced John Weal cutaway that's useful.

I'm also tempted by the winter scheme, if only because it's such a good excuse to try out the "Marmite" weathering technique!

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Probably the last update I'll be able to post for a while, but I reached my target for the day and got the model standing on its legs (actually, I found the wings do clip on very securely too, but I'm not going to attach them until I've dealt with a few seams on the inner portions of the airframe:



The hinged control surfaces are a bit of a mixed blessing. Those on the wings fitted OK, but the tail is a different matter - the elevator is too loose to support its own weight, and there are gaps around the rudders. I've taken the rudders out since the photo to attach conventionally later:



All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan

your model looks really nice! I am no big fan of moving control surfaces (I do not play with my models, though I fly one or another mission during construction ) so I will probably glue these anyway. Please keep posting your progress pix!

Hope this kit will be available to buy soon..

all the best

Steffen

You're wrong Rowan: it's not elevator but a landing flap

Cheers Steffen and Michal

I don't know about a landing flap - a reckon it would stop the aircraft in mid-air! Actually, installing the etched lining for the real centre-section landing flap is one of the next jobs on the list.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Going back a step or two... here's a warning I meant to deliver earlier.

I strayed from the kit instructions by leaving off the canopies until after I'd got the main airframe completed (partly through habit, and partly because it allowed extra time to try to figure out the modifications I needed to make to the interior for the 'A-2). Be very careful about doing things this way, because it leaves the rudder pedals and and the control column extremely vulnerable (Note: I've dressed up the rudder pedal mounts with a few extra details compared with the kit parts). Instinct told me they were at risk, and I should have listened! - I've lost count of the number of times I've knocked them now! If I build another '189, I'll add them much, much later...



All the best

Rowan

I had a similar problem with my B-17 and the bombsight. The answer was pretty simple: glue the front glazing with a small drop of CA glue or patafix or wrap using paper tape. It worked...

Hi Michal

To be honest, I'd already damaged the parts several times before I even installed the floor in the nacelle! I left the seat out the way I normally do - looking back, I can't understand why on earth I fitted the controls!

All the best

Rowan

Why? This question is also simple: you was sweeped away by a joy of building and stopped thinking...don't worry, everybody got the same at least once in a lifetime.