1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

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jkim
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1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

Post by jkim »

Hey SPAModelers!

It's been a while hasn't it? September 2021 was the last time I spent working on a model. And even before that, I was struggling to maintain the desire to build models. The Me163 project was SUPPOSED to get me back on the path but it didn't work out that way. My in-progress builds, including the Me163, aren't calling out to me but I want to give modeling another shot. So I'm going start a brand new project.
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This kit fits the bill in a couple of different ways. First of all, the Dora is my favorite aircraft and a new tool kit of a D-9, in any scale, holds interest for me. Secondly, that scale. 1/72... the one and only true scale... braille scale. Whatever you call it, it is much smaller than what I am used to dealing with and I thought it would be a good challenge. A small (and possibly quick) build using a modern tool kit of my favorite aircraft is the plan. Gonna try to keep it simple and build it out-of-the-box as much as possible.

So let's take a closer look at the kit, shall we? IBG is smaller model company producing smaller scale aircraft and armor kits out of Poland. They are an entirely new entity to me and so I'm curious to see what an IBG model looks like. The kit is attractively packaged in a bigger than expected, top-opening box. 88 plastic parts molded in a neutral grey plastic, 5 clear parts and 50 photo-etch pieces make for what I am assuming to be a fairly complex kit for 1/72 scale.

There are 16 pages of instructions including full color profiles of three marking choices... all early production WNr 210xxx aircraft.
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There two small decal sheets included in the kit. One provides the markings for the three 210xxx aircraft. The second is reserved for generic stencil data and also includes decals for the instrument panels. I am going to scan the markings decal just in case I need to create masks.
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No resin parts are included in the kit but it does come with a substantial photoetch fret of small details including the seat harnesses.
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There are four clear canopies provided. Open and closed versions of the earlier flat and later blown canopies. The Fw190 canopies were flexible and were pinched narrower as the canopies slid backwards into the open position and IBG has elected to provide for that little detail.
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Before I get into the main plastic sprues, here is a size comparison between the Hasegawa 1/32 D-9 and IBG 1/72 D-9 wings... what am I getting myself into???
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To be continued...
John aka JKim
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Floki
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Re: 1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

Post by Floki »

Glad to see you back! Looks like a nice kit and has a lot of PE detail
March as one, Don't look back
Odin's sons... Attack!
Unleash hell! Do not repent! Warfare grants us no lament
Let your weapons slash and tear This is no place for fear
Hold the lines! Move as one! In unity our victory's won
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United we shall never fall
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Duke Maddog
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Re: 1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

Post by Duke Maddog »

Given that this is my chosen scale, this is gonna be fun to watch! I'm certain you'll be able to work your magic on this small one as you do with the larger ones. Welcome back once again!
The Duke
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"Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I get and beat you with 'till you understand who's in ruttin' command!"
-Jayne Cobb, Firefly Episode 2 "The Train Job"

We are modelers - the same in spirit, in hunger to insanely buy newly released kits, hustlers in hiding our stash from our better halves and experts in using garbage as replacements for after-market parts.
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keavdog
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Re: 1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

Post by keavdog »

Welcome back! Did you feel that earthquake the other day?
Ya, this is tiny compared to what you normally build.
Thanks,
John

Ain't no reason to hang my head, I could wake up in the mornin' dead.
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jkim
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Re: 1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

Post by jkim »

Floki wrote:Glad to see you back! Looks like a nice kit and has a lot of PE detail
Thanks Clint! Good to be back. But we'll see if she sticks. Yes, I do like the look of this kit and amazed at the type of options and details provided on a kit so freakin small!

Duke Maddog wrote:Given that this is my chosen scale, this is gonna be fun to watch! I'm certain you'll be able to work your magic on this small one as you do with the larger ones. Welcome back once again!
Thanks Duke! It's absolutely tiny and my respect for anyone who works in this scale has gone up considerably. I'm just hoping I'll be able to see this build to the end.

keavdog wrote:Welcome back! Did you feel that earthquake the other day?
Ya, this is tiny compared to what you normally build.
No I did not! Sometimes I feel em and sometimes I don't. Used to freak me out but you know what? I'll take earthquakes over tornadoes or hurricanes any day.
John aka JKim
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jkim
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Re: 1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

Post by jkim »

Continuing on with a look at the kit's main plastic sprues. Here are the lower wings by themselves...
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The molding detail is incredibly delicate and refined. IBG elected to portray full rivet detail on the exterior surfaces, which is probably a controversial choice. The 1/32 Hasegawa D-9 kit (2003) does not portray any rivet detail while the newer 1/48 Eduard D-9 (2010) shows partial rivet detail. IBG goes the whole hog here. As a modeler who prefers surface detail over a featureless surface and manually applies full rivets to my 1/32 and 1/48 scale builds, I don't know if this is the correct choice at this smaller scale. I think it looks ok and is not a deal breaker in my eyes. To see what these rivets look like after painting is one of the reasons I bought this kit.
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Multiple versions of the Dora are planned by IBG and this first release gives us the early, 5-piece, gun cowling. Note the openings for the gun barrels... IBG provides the gun barrels as separate parts!
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The upper wing parts are provided on a separate sprue and are similarly detailed.
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The very fine pitot tube is molded onto the upper starboard wing and is already bent. It will need to be cut off prior to construction, stored in a safe place and re-attached after painting. Typically, I would replace the plastic pitot with brass tubing but it may be too fine to do that.
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The fuselage halves include the tail so any future release of the "big tail" late production D-9 will have to include full fuselage replacements.
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Another interesting feature of this kit is that IBG chose to include a FULL Jumo 213 engine while providing no option for open engine cowlings. However, the bottom rear of the engine IS visible through the wheel well and IBG goes one step beyond Hasegawa and Eduard in providing more than just that rear portion of the engine.
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The exhausts are molded separately. The ends are solid and should be hollowed out but is it possible at this tiny scale?
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The D-9 cockpit is fairly simple and IBG provides a one-piece cockpit tub including the side panels and the rear decking.
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No option for open radiator cowling flaps. Only a closed-flaps version is supplied.
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The landing gear legs look long and wispy. The coil spring on the leg actuator is a nice touch.
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A few options on this last sprue including two choices for the drop tank, three different spinners and three, for what appear to be, engine support arms.
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Instead of wheel well inserts, IBG is representing this area using molded details in the upper and lower wing parts and this wing spar part, which also provides some reference for establishing the correct wing dihedral.
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The left-most spinner is appropriate for the D-9 which lacked a gun firing through the spinner.
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The instrument panel features some raised detail for painting but I'll probably just apply the decals on the IP and side panels and call it good.
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Stay tuned for step 1, which is NOT the cockpit for once.
John aka JKim
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jkim
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Re: 1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

Post by jkim »

Step 1, per the kit instructions, is the Jumo 213 engine. Normally, I like my builds buttoned up with no open panels and I will not deviate from that norm on this build. But since the exhausts are mounted on the engine and portions of the engine will be visible from the wheel well, I'll have to assemble the engine at least and do a little painting.

But first, the exhausts. On my 1/32 scale builds, I usually start by hollowing out the ends of the exhausts but these are REALLY small.
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Using my normal procedure, but on a much smaller scale, I drilled a couple of holes into the end one exhaust and then tried to gouge out plastic between the holes by very careful cutting and scraping. Hmmm... I guess it's do-able.
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I usually employ a set of 3 holes on my 1/32 exhausts but these only required two. That made the work relatively quick, to my surprise.
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This should work just fine!
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Encouraged by this work, I chugged ahead and put together the main body of the engine. It is surprisingly well-detailed and complex for such a small model. Including the exhausts, the engine is comprised of EIGHTEEN parts!
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John aka JKim
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BorgR3mc0
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Re: 1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

Post by BorgR3mc0 »

Great work on those exhausts. It are the little things that count when modelling.
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LyleW
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Re: 1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

Post by LyleW »

I see it, I don’t know how you did it. The holes are centered and lined up. Great work so far!
To make each build less crappy than the last one. Or, put another way, "Better than the last one, not as good as the next one!"..
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Medicman71
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Re: 1/72 IBG Fw 190D-9 Early Production

Post by Medicman71 »

Very nice! But man that's a ton of rivets. Really nice work on the exhausts, I so would have messed that up bad.
Mike

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