JDM FW190 "Black 3"
#101
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: halifax,
NS, CANADA
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

thanks alot i have made a few cowls and had to scrap a few due to bubbles. thanks alot for the tip im shour it will help me on my next build
P.S. I have learnd so much watching the fw-190 build(I even have the site saved under favorites as "tips and tricks") I hope you the best of luck on the maiden
Adam
P.S. I have learnd so much watching the fw-190 build(I even have the site saved under favorites as "tips and tricks") I hope you the best of luck on the maiden
Adam
#102

adam d,
Another thing that can cause trouble with bubbles is using the wrong cloth.
If you have a compound curved surface to lay the cloth into, try using a "bi-directional" cloth.
This type of cloth is woven such that it lays nice and smooth into a curved surface even with tight radii depending on the thickness of the cloth.
Another thing that can cause trouble with bubbles is using the wrong cloth.
If you have a compound curved surface to lay the cloth into, try using a "bi-directional" cloth.
This type of cloth is woven such that it lays nice and smooth into a curved surface even with tight radii depending on the thickness of the cloth.
#104

Hey Tom,
I love your build threads and read them religiously. I usually link directly from your posts here. Strangely though, your thread was buried about four pages deep today. The scenario is this...
It's late in the day at the office, and I decide to sneak a peek at your latest work. So I launch http://www.tompierce.net. Next thing I know, crazy music is blaring and I'm diving for the volume control. I love you man, but can you give me some warning or a way to opt out? Worse yet, I did it twice in one day. The wife went up to bed and I was dumb enough to launch the URL again. Next thing you know, the music is blaring and it sounds like I'm looking at strippers, which in perfect hindsight, might not be a bad idea.
Any any case, can you make it a little more subtle?
Your humble admirer,
Tom
I love your build threads and read them religiously. I usually link directly from your posts here. Strangely though, your thread was buried about four pages deep today. The scenario is this...
It's late in the day at the office, and I decide to sneak a peek at your latest work. So I launch http://www.tompierce.net. Next thing I know, crazy music is blaring and I'm diving for the volume control. I love you man, but can you give me some warning or a way to opt out? Worse yet, I did it twice in one day. The wife went up to bed and I was dumb enough to launch the URL again. Next thing you know, the music is blaring and it sounds like I'm looking at strippers, which in perfect hindsight, might not be a bad idea.

Any any case, can you make it a little more subtle?
Your humble admirer,
Tom
#105

Thread Starter
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Newark, OH
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

Thanks for the critique Tom... but understand, that is me, it's who I am, and what I like. I will stay true to myself.
That being said, you DO have a chance to opt out of the music. When you load my page, it immeditately gives you an option to "skip intro"
Click into the top frame, then click on "skip intro" and it will bypass the music alltogether. Sorry if it offends, but like I said, I like it and it stays my friend.
You also have a little thing called a "volume" knob
LOL
Tom
That being said, you DO have a chance to opt out of the music. When you load my page, it immeditately gives you an option to "skip intro"
Click into the top frame, then click on "skip intro" and it will bypass the music alltogether. Sorry if it offends, but like I said, I like it and it stays my friend.


Tom
#106

Ok, amigo. I'll create a bookmark to make sure I come in the side door from now on.
I'm guessing from reading through this build thread in particular that you are a big Dave Platt fan also. I know that I have learned a lot from his Detailing and Painting and Building and Fiberglassing videos. I didn't notice his influence as much in your SBD build, but you seem to have learned quite a bit that you have applied on the FW190. I was happy to see that the weathering wash works well with waterbased paints. I did it on my last build per Dave's method with KlassKote, but I've been holding out hope that I could switch to waterbased paint on the current build to eliminate some of the smell and clean-up hassle of epoxy paint. Your work here has given me more confidence that either Warbird Colors or Nelson's paint would work just as well.
Keep up the good work.
Tom

Keep up the good work.
Tom
#107

Thread Starter
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Newark, OH
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

No problem Tom... actually, I believe that I will go in and lower the volume on my intro a bit, and give the viewer a few more seconds to catch the "skip intro" button (I use it myself quite often but I'll admit you have to be fast on the draw to catch it right now.) Another tip is that if you just add /rcplanes at the end of my web address, it will skip you directly to the rc section of my site ( [link=http://www.tompierce.net/rcplanes]http://www.tompierce.net/rcplanes[/link] ). You may want to bookmark that page.
Regarding the Dave Platt stuff, yes he was a very big influence on my technique development. However I really did nothing on the 190 that I didn't do on the SBD. If you go back and read my SBD weathering pages, you'll find that I detailed those techniques quite a bit, especially the washing and windstreaking. I believe I may have even referenced Dave in the text somewhere.
Thanks again for the feedback,
Tom
Regarding the Dave Platt stuff, yes he was a very big influence on my technique development. However I really did nothing on the 190 that I didn't do on the SBD. If you go back and read my SBD weathering pages, you'll find that I detailed those techniques quite a bit, especially the washing and windstreaking. I believe I may have even referenced Dave in the text somewhere.
Thanks again for the feedback,
Tom
#108

To be honest, it's been a couple of years since I spent much time in the SBD thread, and I watched the Platt stuff afterward, so I probably wasn't tuned in to it when you did the original build. The Platt technique that caught my eye on the FW190 build was using primer to build up the simulated ribs under cloth. I thought your use of epoxy was particularly innovative there. I don't think that technique showed up on the SBD. Did it even have any cloth-covered surfaces?
Tom
Tom
#109

Thread Starter
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Newark, OH
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

Well, this story is nearing it's end... or should I say beginning? I have finally finished all decals, clear coats and final assembly. Everything but the cockpit is completed now. Next I have to run the motor in, balance the plane and range test... then she's ready for maiden.
I have decided to wait until "after" maiden flight/s before I start on the cockpit. I don't want to invest the time and money into a cockpit for this plane until it has proven to be a good flyer. This will also keep the plane as light as possible for the first few flights or so... then the additional weight will be easier for me to adjust to.
My computer recently crashed, toasting the hard drive. So, I lost about 5 pages of photos and updates to my web site. Therefore, I don't have all the detailed step-by-step documentation of my recent construction. I lost nearly 100 photos covering the last 4-6 weeks of construction.
So, I have put together one last page in the Paint & Detail section of my web site. This covers most of the missing items, but in much briefer detail than usual. Here's the link to the newest web page...
[link=http://www.tompierce.net/190/html/paint/finishup.htm]http://www.tompierce.net/190/html/paint/finishup.htm[/link]
And here are a few of the photos you'll find on that page...
I have decided to wait until "after" maiden flight/s before I start on the cockpit. I don't want to invest the time and money into a cockpit for this plane until it has proven to be a good flyer. This will also keep the plane as light as possible for the first few flights or so... then the additional weight will be easier for me to adjust to.
My computer recently crashed, toasting the hard drive. So, I lost about 5 pages of photos and updates to my web site. Therefore, I don't have all the detailed step-by-step documentation of my recent construction. I lost nearly 100 photos covering the last 4-6 weeks of construction.
So, I have put together one last page in the Paint & Detail section of my web site. This covers most of the missing items, but in much briefer detail than usual. Here's the link to the newest web page...
[link=http://www.tompierce.net/190/html/paint/finishup.htm]http://www.tompierce.net/190/html/paint/finishup.htm[/link]
And here are a few of the photos you'll find on that page...
#112

My Feedback: (13)

I have also used your glassing and scale "tricks" the smallest things just set a model off, the detail stuff is what I apreciate the most hope to see a maiden video soon, nothing like the SBD I hope. my next build is a FW A8 I have been following yours closely its a work of art.
#113

My Feedback: (2)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 2,777
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts

Hey tom,
Haqve been following your build since the start and she has come out looking absolutly beautiful. All the best on the maiden and we hope to hear the good news soon.
Thanks
Haqve been following your build since the start and she has come out looking absolutly beautiful. All the best on the maiden and we hope to hear the good news soon.
Thanks
#115
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Brighton, CO
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

Tom you have done it again,excellent craftmanship , detail and very well thought out,I really enjoy following the build as I did on the SBD(may she rest in piece) The talent you have shines thru on the projects you undertake,I wish you the best on the maiden and hope you have many seasons of enjoyment with Her,by the way ,if you ever get invited to Top Gun you just may have a few of them "shaking in their boots" ,you definatly have what it takes!!
P.S....PlEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ build another SBD[ul]
P.S....PlEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ build another SBD[ul]
#117

Thread Starter
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Newark, OH
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

Thanks guys, I really appreciate all the kudos and well wishes. I hope I don't let you down with the maiden. I'm in no hurry, got a little bit of work left to do on it and I haven't flown at all in over 6 months, so I'm not going to get "back in practice" using this plane!
Probably a month or so away from maiden still. I need to balance it, run the motor in, tweak the carb, and secure all wiring. I also need to get a few weekends of stick time in and maybe some SIM time to practice with flaps and retracts.
Happy flying,
Tom
Probably a month or so away from maiden still. I need to balance it, run the motor in, tweak the carb, and secure all wiring. I also need to get a few weekends of stick time in and maybe some SIM time to practice with flaps and retracts.
Happy flying,
Tom
#118
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: any city,
WY
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

ORIGINAL: Airspur63
Tom you have done it again,excellent craftmanship! Her, by the way, if you ever get invited to Top Gun you just may have a few of them "shaking in their boots" ,you definatly have what it takes!!
Tom you have done it again,excellent craftmanship! Her, by the way, if you ever get invited to Top Gun you just may have a few of them "shaking in their boots" ,you definatly have what it takes!!
Plane looks very cool!

#119

Thread Starter
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Newark, OH
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

Here is the first bit of cockpit detailing completed. It's just the "upper" portion and will be all I'll do until after maiden flights. Didn't go too overboard with it, but it turned out OK and only weighs about eight tenths of an ounce total.
Next is to mount the new prop and balance the plane before maiden.
Tom
Next is to mount the new prop and balance the plane before maiden.
Tom
#120

Thread Starter
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Newark, OH
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

Oh yeah, forgot to add the URL to the build page. Here's where the cockpit section starts on my site...
[link]http://www.tompierce.net/190/html/cockpit.htm[/link]
Tom
[link]http://www.tompierce.net/190/html/cockpit.htm[/link]
Tom
#121

Hah! You had glue and paint on your fingers in one of those photos! Visual proof that you are not spot-on-perfect in everything you touch! 
Seriously, great looking stuff. Funny that you post tonight. I was just thinking this afternoon that I hadn't seen an update from you lately.
Tom

Seriously, great looking stuff. Funny that you post tonight. I was just thinking this afternoon that I hadn't seen an update from you lately.
Tom
#122

Thread Starter
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Newark, OH
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

ORIGINAL: SMUGator
Hah! You had glue and paint on your fingers in one of those photos! Visual proof that you are not spot-on-perfect in everything you touch!
Seriously, great looking stuff. Funny that you post tonight. I was just thinking this afternoon that I hadn't seen an update from you lately.
Tom
Hah! You had glue and paint on your fingers in one of those photos! Visual proof that you are not spot-on-perfect in everything you touch!

Seriously, great looking stuff. Funny that you post tonight. I was just thinking this afternoon that I hadn't seen an update from you lately.
Tom

Tom
#124
Senior Member
My Feedback: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Edgewood,
KY
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

ORIGINAL: NE0
LOL, and that's probably the cleanest you'll ever see my hands when I have a spray can out!
I'm dangerous with a rattle can. [sm=lol.gif]
Tom
ORIGINAL: SMUGator
Hah! You had glue and paint on your fingers in one of those photos! Visual proof that you are not spot-on-perfect in everything you touch!
Seriously, great looking stuff. Funny that you post tonight. I was just thinking this afternoon that I hadn't seen an update from you lately.
Tom
Hah! You had glue and paint on your fingers in one of those photos! Visual proof that you are not spot-on-perfect in everything you touch!

Seriously, great looking stuff. Funny that you post tonight. I was just thinking this afternoon that I hadn't seen an update from you lately.
Tom

Tom
I was just thinking of this builld too. Glad to see you wrapping this one up NEO.[sm=thumbup.gif] Looking forward to the maiden report.
#125

Thread Starter
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Newark, OH
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

No major stories to tell here, just wanted to get caught up on the thread again. I've been extremely busy and have just gotten around to posting the last couple of updates to my 190 build site. Sorry they are a couple months late... better late than never.
[link=http://www.tompierce.net/190/html/patrol.htm]http://www.tompierce.net/190/html/patrol.htm[/link]
As you'll see in my final writeup, "Black 3" is all done, engine tested, range tested, balanced and taxi tested. All that's left is to wait for this Ohio winter to be over so I can get the maiden in. I've signed on the help of another pilot to act as the maiden/test pilot in Spring of 2008 (Jim "Tmoth4" Suchy).
I have yet to detail out the cockpit, but don't plan to do so until after the maiden, provided everything goes well. In the mean time, I do plan to show it at our club's Swap Shop event in Columbus, OH (Feb 2, 08), and I've added a number of new photos to my gallery page. I'll keep you posted as soon as anything changes.
Happy Flying,
Tom
[link=http://www.tompierce.net/190/html/patrol.htm]http://www.tompierce.net/190/html/patrol.htm[/link]
As you'll see in my final writeup, "Black 3" is all done, engine tested, range tested, balanced and taxi tested. All that's left is to wait for this Ohio winter to be over so I can get the maiden in. I've signed on the help of another pilot to act as the maiden/test pilot in Spring of 2008 (Jim "Tmoth4" Suchy).
I have yet to detail out the cockpit, but don't plan to do so until after the maiden, provided everything goes well. In the mean time, I do plan to show it at our club's Swap Shop event in Columbus, OH (Feb 2, 08), and I've added a number of new photos to my gallery page. I'll keep you posted as soon as anything changes.
Happy Flying,
Tom