gonzalobures

FW 190 "Schneewittchen" "Blanca Nieves" "Snow White"

I have just embarked in the restoration of a Ziroli FW190 built by Master Builder, Ramon Medina some 20 years ago. Ramon is one of the three best Puertorican model builders I have had the pleasure to know.

Robert Tanner, a friend and RC club member of ours, asked Ramon to please build this model for him. He choose Ramon for his extraordinary building skills, patience and realism in his projects.

The model throughout the years passed thru the hands of Robert, Ramon himself and Wilfredo Morales. I always liked Ramon's FW 190 and asked him if he ever needed a foster home for it, I would love to have it. Finally the model is with me and I plan to restore it to its original beauty.

When I got the model it had a Quadra 75, a very good engine but not with the performance of an alternate power plant I had in moth balls, a 3W 70i. This is a very powerful engine with a higher performance than the Quadra.

I started the restoration by removing the Quadra, installing the 3W and preparing the cowling. The model lacked an air dam to channel the incoming air to the required areas inside the cowling. I prepared and installed one. Painted the cowling and made the squadron shields. The engine ignition was installed in an area were the airflow would cool it. The ignition power switch was installed in an opening available in the cowling. Before ending this phase, insured the system was working with a spark in the plug. I had to make a choke activation mechanism since the 3W is a rear carburetor engine and no access was available. The choke lever exits the cowling on the right of the cowling and only when you activate the choke, will it extend out side the cowling. Also the throttle linkage hat to be re routed for proper operation. An area that did require great planning and work was the access to the carburetor mixture needles. The 3W 70i with the wrap around muffler has a big design flaw. Once the muffler is installed, it fully blocks the idle mixture needle and lets you see hardly or access the high end needle. I had to modify the needle with a pin passing thru them. This modification permits me to access and adjust the needles thru the top of the engine compartment behind the firewall. Even thou its not convenient, at least it permits to adjust the needles without having to remove the muffler. In order to have a good experience firing up the engine, I opened the carburetor and cleaned all filters and replaced the pump. Adjusted/replaced the fuel stopper operated by the pump.
Presently the cowling is awaiting some weathering and black puff marks (very light) to complete the winter camouflage.

Next I moved to the radio compartment and testing all servos and wiring. I installed two 3Kmah LIFE batteries in parallel to power the receiver in the main mode and used a 2100mah as a back up in case of main battery failure. A red LED is installed outside the model on the right side to indicate whenever, if ever the backup battery takes over. That will order a quick trip back to the runway. I then tested all servos and their operation. Insured they moved in the right direction, adjusted end points and dual rates.
I took advantage of working inside the fuselage to replace the fuel tank and all fuel hoses. That portion is all spanking new.

Next the retracts were checked. The FW190 is known for its weird and troublesome struts. The retracts the model has installed are special (retrofitted) Century Jet Models. These retracts originally came with the simple trunnion operating system like all other retracts come. Only the struts less than 90 degree operation changed to provide the scale angle (not 90 degrees to the ground). The original retracts did not have the brace between the strut and wing that provided strength and stability. CJM retrofitted their retracts adding the brace which is operated with a small piston assemble to lock the strut to the wing and prevent retract failure. The system requires a four way pneumatic valve that synchronizes the trunnion movement with the unlocking of the brace. The adjustment of this synchronization is tricky, but once is reached it works reliably. IT also provides firmness to the assembly during landing.
Once the operation of the retracts was verified, the model was ready for cosmetics restoration.

The lower part of the wing was painted sky blue as used by many German grouppens. The wing tips were painted in the original Dark yellow (Marigold). The top of the wing was painted white with the wing tips Dark Yellow (Marigold) as the lower wing side. The wing now awaits weathering and lack puff marks (very light) as the cowling.

The lower part of the fuselage was painted Sky Blue just like the wing bottom. I also repainted the Dark Yellow fuselage waist band. Need to select and install a unit number.

Meanwhile, I took the fuselage to the Club to test the engine and adjust the mixture and throttle settings. Ramon had made a “prosthesis” that attaches to the fuselage and permits rolling the fuselage on its own without having to installed the wing. This is an excellent tool in firing the engine without having to take the humungous wing and having it in the middle while doing adjustments. A 24 X 10 wooden prop was used in the test. The test went perfect. The choke system worked as planned and designed. The engine fired up on the first try after choking it. High end was perfect with no need to adjust the high end needle. The only adjustment need was the throttle settings for high end and idle. The engine ran smoothly and the trial went better than expected.

Will continue the restoration project with the fuselage painting. We are in the peak of hurricane season in the Caribbean. Last weekend we had a scare with Fred Tropical storm. This week its "Grace". So in the weeks to come, the project will face unplanned delays due to the weather. God permits, we will only face scares and no storm like 2017 Maria.

Will keep the thread informed of progress.

"Blanca Nieves" in Ramon Medina's hands

"Blanca Nieves" in Ramon Medina's hands

"Blanca Nieves state when I got it in May 2021

individual FW 190 "Blanca Nieves" logo

Original Pilot in Robert Tanners original FW 190. It was stored in a drawer for 20 years.

Cowling front view. Air dam can be seen

Cowlin Top view

Cowling left side view. Unit shield not attached yet.

Cowling right side. Unit shiel not attached yet.

Top of wing right side

Top of wing left side

Wing bottom right side

Wing bottom left side

gonzalobures

All tips and ideas are welcomed.

gonzalobures

Restoration update

Painted the fuselage white and retouched the cowling with the same tone of white. Painted the diffused dark camuflage spots on the fuselage and installed the Gruppen badges and “Schneewittchen” graphic and name. “Scneewittchen” in German means Snow White In English or Blanca Nieves in Spanish.
Will continue now with the diffused dark camuflage spots in the top of the wing in the white area. When the paints have dried for two or three days, will give the fuselage and wing a satin clear coat. Have not removed the canopy masking tape waiting for the clear coat to be given.

Will keep the blog informed on progress.

Fuselage left side with Insignias


Fuselage right side with insignias

gonzalobures

Finished painting the diffused dark camouflage spots on the top of the wing. Also made and installed the four cannons the FW 190 carried in its wings. The fuselage and wing are ready to receive the satin clear coat.

After applying the satin clear coat will then remove the canopy masking tape.



Will keep the blog informed on the restoration progress.

Wing top seen from the right side. Diffused dark spots appiled.


Wing top seen from the left. Diffused dark spots applied

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

I am going to guess and say this is most likely a Vailly Aviation kit. Ziroli, to my knowledge, has never offered a Focke Wulf of any type. Nice bird whatever its genesis, good luck with it.

gonzalobures

Hi Chad thanks for your comments and interest.

As for the origin of the plans, I did do some research and as a matter of fact, I do have the plans from which the model was constructed from. They are 20 years old and used to construct 2 FW 190's, (I have both of the models, one is not finished). I am attaching a photo of the plan and even thou they do I have of them, some areas were cutoff and I could not find anywhere who's plan is it. The plans do have the model name and the writreoffs for construction, but were the plan maker logo would go is missing. I am sure its not the Vailly plan since the Vailly is 90.5" of wingspan and the model is 100". 100" is a signature for Ziroli Models. But in the plan I do not have the info to sustain it. I will ask Ramon, the model builder of both FW 190's, hope he can recall after 20 years. Ziroli does have all the accesories for the 100" model, cowling, canopy, bubbles, plastic hood, spinner, etc. I am sure that thede should not fit a 90..5" wingspan model.
Will let you know of my findings.
Once more thanks again for your input and interest.
Gonzo

FW 190 plans used by Ramon Medina to construct 2 models.

gonzalobures

Finished giving the satin clear and also doing some weathering. Installed the cowling, prop and spinner. I did lighten up the exhaust debri to a lighter gray tone. Next step is to verify the CG of the beast. That is a task since its very big and my workspace is not that big. Need to recruit my wife to wrangle “Schneewittchen” to the corral and balance it. Also will check one of the retract struts which has some play.



Will keep the blog posted on final steps and first visit to the RC Club for engine final testing before maiden flight.

gonzalobures

Chad, today I met Ramon Medina, the original model builder and he shared the model "genesis" with me. The model is a Meister FW 190 A model. That solves the mystery and I need to change the threads title. Let me see how I can do that. Thanks for your detailed comment. I almost ordered an extra canopy from Ziroli to have in stock. , The one Ziroli carries is for the 90.5" Vailly plans so it would not work.

Much in debt,

Gonzo

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Those plans are by Jim Meister.

PS - My bad, I see you already identified the plans!

gonzalobures

Once more Chad thanks for your interest and followup. I got the 2 models from Wilfredo Rivera, a club member. He had gotten it from Ramon. The model were asked to be built, by two club members. Robert Tanner and Gustavo Diaz. Tanner's was fully built and flown. Gustavo's was never finished and the model and accessories were kept by Ramon Medina the model builder. Tanner's FW 190 was flown by him and later traded to Wilfredo for another model. The FW 190 was too big and bulky for Tanner that is why he traded it.

Wilfredo didn't fly the model in that first turn around and traded it back to Ramon for another model Ramon had made. The photo's at the beginning of the post of the pure white model FW 190 is the fully built model again in Ramon’s possession and ready to be flown. I named the model "Blanca Nieves" snow white at the time, for obvious reasons. Ramon had changed the scheme to winter camouflage. After flying it 4-5 times. Ramon sold the model to Wilfredo once more including Gustavo's 80% built 2nd FW 190. l have ways been interested in Blanca Nieves but came late to the party and somebody else got it.

Wilfredo only flew it 5-6 times and stored it. I tried thru times to trade it with Wilfredo, but it took at least two years for that to happen. Wilfredo ran out of space in his shop and I think the model intimidated him a little and he finally sold it to me along with the 80% twin brother. I think I got a good very deal and Wilfredo got the space he needed. All along, Wilfredo had told me it was a Ziroli model. I took it face value. I never worried about verifying that until you came along.

After a very long time, I had Blanca Nieves with me, now a German beauty called "Schneewittchen". snow white in German. Hope she treats me well and I fly it more than 5-6 times without having her beat my self esteem.

I hope I did not burden you with the story..

Once more, much in debt with you.

gonzalobures

Finally “Schneewittchen” is 99.9% ready. All steps of restoration were completed only checking the CG is pending. Yesterday tried to check the CG, but the CG tool I have is not compatible with “Schneewittchen” weight class. This a humongous beast of a model. Its 85” of length, 100” of wingspan its wing chord is 24”. I have to make a CG tool that can handle this “baby”.



Otherwise checked the servo operation and travel, checked retract operation, checked control surface travel and direction and finished cosmetic adjustment.



Hope to be able to construct the CG quickly and once more go thru the process of getting the FW 190 into the CG corral, tie it down and then adjust the CG. Sounds like wrangling? With a model this size, the activity is very similar.



Will post when ready for the field test and maiden.

Front View

Rear view

Top view

Top Left view

Top right view

"Schneewittchenn" in its vertical parking

gonzalobures

"Schneewittchen" before and after restoration

gonzalobures

Well the model is officially finished. Today I finally balanced the 41 lbs beast. Tried initially with the tool I always use, but it cannot handle Snow White. She is too hefty a girl.

A friend of mine lent me the tool he uses. He made it himself and boy does it work well.

First, the model rests in a cushioned saddle which has a large foot print. This prevents stressing any part of the wing sheeting or even piercing it.


Second, it is very easy to place the model in it and align the CG mark on the model with the balance point in the saddle.
Third and very important, is so stable and sturdy that you can work on the model to install weight or relocate weight if needed, I had to add weight and thus remove the spinner and its 10 screws, the prop and its 6 screws, the cowling and its 6 screws, install the added weight which required drilling and thread making and the install it all back. All without removing the beast from the tool. Only placed a third contact point on the fuselage front right behind the cowling divider.
The tool is excellent and asked my friend to please make me one.

Only thing between the maiden flight day and today, is a small leak in the air system for the retracts. I am making a tool to be able to easily find out were the leak is. I made this tool/system a long while ago but for the lower pressure system used then of 60 lbs. Need to make another one for the 100 lbs + used in these large scale models. Ordered the pieces from Amazon and should get them this week.

Will let you know what I found and how I repaired it.

In the meantime, I will hang “Schneewittchen” in her vertical storage.



"Schneewittchen" balanced and still like in trance

"Schneewittchen" balanced and still like in trance

Balance point and CG 5 3/4" from wing center

Balance Point and CG 5 3/4" from wing center

Wilfredo Morales balancing tool in CG adjusting. position

Wilfredo Morales balancing tool in storage position

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gonzalobures

Pneumatic system leak found and repaired. The retract 4 way valve with adjustment for esch output had bad o rings. Replaced them and worked fine, still installed a new valve I had for the longest time in my inventory. lubricated the O rings and it works perfect, no leak at all.
The old valve was at least 15 years old and decided to replace it but saved it for a future need.

Ready for Maiden flight. Most probably the last week of September.

Next week we are going to my apt. in El Combate beach, Cabo Rojo, PR.

gonzalobures

Finally took SchneeWittchen last Wednesday 9/29/21 to the Club for photo shoot and some taxing.

Since the beast is so large and could not roll it in my home I had not rolled around the model at all. ,Doing the first roll outs at the club site, found a problem with the right retract strut not fully locking. When pushing the model thru the tail to roll it around, the right strut lock released, collapsing that strut. Did some work on it in the club and was able to adjust it so a full lock will occur. Now it will not release when pushing the model thru the tail. Problem fixed.

Did some taxing and it works fine, looks even better. Have to adjust the idle needle to obtain a good solid idle. It seems to be lean in the idle portion. The engine needs to be at half throttle or higher to get enough gas to turn on. The only issue in adjusting the idle needle is that in the 3W 70i rear carb is that with the wrap around muffler you can see from the bottom the high needle but the idle needle you don't see a thing.Any help you can provide in getting to see the idle needle with the muffler installed is welcomed. Thanks in advance.

Photos of the Schneewittchen at our club's runway.

gonzalobures

Attached the 9/29/21 Schneewittchen taxing video. Video was made by Rafa Badillo.


Today USPS will deliver the 3W side muffler for the 70i engine. This should permit to more easily adjust the idle needle without having to dismantle the model.

gonzalobures

Installed the side muffler to have access to the idle needle and be a ble to adjust without having to remove cowling, wrap around muffler, spinner, prop, etc.

gonzalobures

After this engine test, the engine started to give problems. In this startup process, the engine had to be above half throttle to start. After troubleshooting, replacing the muffler to have access to the idle needle and opening it a bit, the engine continued with the same fault. Would not start at idle or with throttle below half travel.
After a while, it stopped starting at all. Fuel was getting to the combustion chamber. As a matter of fact it was very wet with gas. Checked the spark and it was very weak. The battery voltage was perfect. Eliminated the ignition switch to insure that the juice got directly to the ignition.
Just purchased a new CH ignition and will try it next week. Hope that was the problem.

gonzalobures

Installed CH Ignition in FW 190 Switneewittchen. Spark is loud and powerfull comparedto the faulty ignition. The faulty ignition spark did not make any noise at all. Tha's the "crack"normally heard when the spark jumps.

Adjusted the ignition timing to 30 degrees BTDC. Will test next wednesday. Hope this fixes the engine starting problem.


CH Ignition

CH Ignition installation

New Hefty Ignition switch

New Ignition swircth
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gonzalobures

Today I tested the 3W70i with its new CH Ignition and it worked fine. It strated on the 1st try and reved up well. Had to fine adjust the high end and idle needle so the engine would work perfectly.
The timing adjustement seems to be on its perfect setting since the engine responds without hesitation and also the engine temperature its in the ball park area.

Did not fly maiden since I forgot at home the cowling install screws and the cowling is part of the CG setting. Will maide, God permit, next wednesday.

Video of todays test taken by friend and modeler Rafael Badillo.

gonzalobures

After months of working in the Meister Fockewolf 190 A5 restoration and dealing with a series of problems during the process, finally the remaiden of the model happened. Last wednesday, 11/10/21 in the Borinquen RC Club field in Sabana Swca, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. The model flew very well, no trim except elevator was required. I initially took off the model with a bit of trim up. Also applied more than the usual elevator movement I utilize. The trim I adjusted in flight was actually removing the initial up trim I had inserted. As for the elevator movment, the additional movement I programmed in made the model sensitive in the horizontal axis. It can be seen in take off . When I applied a little up for the transition on take off, the model reacted strongly and took off before I wanted it too. But that was reprogrammed back to my usual movments, leaving in dual rates a added travel position in case of any need for it.

The attached video was taken by Rafael Badillo. The model is seen quite small manly due to me and the way I fly on maidens. I usually fly high to have enough space to work with unplanned model action. The video is better seen in a TV or large PC screen.