1/48 HobbyBoss FW-190D-9

Gallery Article by Hal Marshman, Sr on Oct 15 2014

 

      

This is a HobbyBoss FW-190D-9 in 1/48th scale. The model depicts the machine of Oberleutnant Hans von Dortenmann as it must have looked on May 5, 1945, when he lit the fuse to destroy it. 

 

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The Ober Leutnant was made Staffel Kapitaen of 3/Jg-26 on March 29, 1945. At that time, his black one became yellow one. To depict this change, I first added a small amount of RAF Sky to my RLM shades 82 and 83, to fade them somewhat. It was problematic as to how to depict the partially removed Gruppe wave emblem. I finally tried to overpaint a decal with really dark gray for the black segment of the RVD stripe, and a very pale gray for the white side. Note that the "yellow one" is much stronger in shade, as it was only on the airplane a little over a month, whereas the yellow tail had been there since Sept. 44. I feel that maintenance of the paint work must have been very low on the priority list at that late period of the war, due to many reasons, so have shown more exhaust and gun carbon than I would normally, dirt streaks, and much dinging where areas were abraded by people's boots, tools, prop blast, and action by the slack antenna cable. 

Note that there no metal chips on the prop blades. The props on this bird were wood composite, so I've used shades of gray to represent abrasion. I scratch built the seat belts and buckles, landing gear position indicators, and brake lines. All guns are aluminum tubing, the pitot tube is aluminum tubing with a brass rod probe. Decals were from EagleCals.

This model represents the third operational Dora 9 to come off the assembly lines at the Focke Wulf plant at Sorau, and was assigned to von Dortenmann in late September of 1944. When von Dortenmann destroyed the airplane, it was the longest serving FW-190D. While operating this machine, von Dortenmann added 18 victories to his record, and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Hal Marshman, Sr

Photos and text © by Hal Marshman, Sr