Tamiya's 1/48 scale animated
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8/R2

by Rian Jones

Tamiya's 1/48 scale Fw 190 A-8/R2 is available online from Squadron.com

This is my diorama depicting Hans Weik from 10 JG 3 in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8/R2 (W.Nr. 680 747) "White 7" running up the engine. The elements of this diaorama are the Tamiya Fw 190 A-8/R2 kit in 1/48 scale built as a Sturmjager with the outboard 30 mm cannon added and the cowl guns deleted.

The base is the resin Luftwaffe Hardstand from Just Plane Stuff painted with Tamiya acrylics.

The Power Cart, Ketterenkraft figures and 200 litre drum are from Tamiya's 1/48 scale Aircarft Power Supply and Ketterenkraft kit.

This diorama is not static, thanks to Dynamic Scale Modeling.

Here is a video showing this diorama in action The video includes sound:

Dynamic Scale Modeling supplies kits to animate your aircraft and armor models and will do custom jobs thatare limited only by your imagination and wallet. I purchased the kit for the FW 190 which includes an electric motor to spin the prop, LED's and fiber optics to light the Nav Lights, a processor to control it all, a speaker for sound and a clever Mercury switch that is activated by a magnet hidden in the 200 litre drum. Place the drum over the switch and the sequence begins with the sound of the starter beginning to whine and a German voice yelling "Clar!" But why explain it in words when you can see the action. A video file is provided showing the whole sequence which takes about 1 minute 7 seconds.

I modified the pilot that comes with the Tamiya kit to improve his appearance by adding detail to his helmet and goggles and I strapped him into the seat with a harness made from thin strips of Tamiya tape and fine wire for the anchors. His arm was sawed off and repositioned with Miliput to grip the throttle which was scratch built. Other scratch built details were added to the open cockpit to spruce it up a little. In addition, I added the following details:

• Cannon barrels made from stainless steel syringe tubing (2 different diameters used for the 20mm and 30mm cannons).

• Brake lines from fine wire.

• Pitot tube from syringe tubing and 30 gauge wire.

• Loop antenna cut from soda can aluminum.

• True Details resin wheels.

• Elevators and rudder removed and repositioned.

• Landing gear indicators from stretched sprue.
  

• Antenna wire made from invisible thread colored with a Sharpie ink pen; insulators from CA glue painted with Tamiya Smoke.

The wires that power the model run through the fuselage, out the power connector, through the cable and down into the base through the wheels of the power supply cart. The cable from the cart to the aircraft is too thick for scale, but I made that compromise to run the wires that way.

The models are painted with Tamiya acrylic paints. Decals are from Eagle Cals sheet #99 and performed flawlessly.

This diorama has been quite a hit at my model club meeting and several of my modeling buddies have placed orders for their very own kits.

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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2008 by Rian Jones
Page Created 3 March, 2008
Last Updated 3 March, 2008

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