Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - 1./JG 300 use (Luft '46)

[Dizzyfugu]

The pile of finished whif projects slowly comes to a close! This small aircraft was a kind of interim project: a simple kit which came in the wake of some Luft '46 research for a bigger project. Anyway, the PM Model kit of the Ta-183 is cheap, so I finished it up in about a week.


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" -  1./JG 300 use (Luft'46; PM Models) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Some background:
The Focke-Wulf Ta 183 Huckebein (named after a raven from german folklore) was a design for a jet-powered fighter aircraft intended as the successor to the Messerschmitt Me 262 and other day fighters in Luftwaffe service during World War II. Its development started in 1942 and it was developed only to the extent of wind tunnel models when the war ended.

In early 1945, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) became aware of Allied jet developments, and were particularly concerned that they might have to face the Gloster Meteor over the continent. In response, they instituted the so-called Emergency Fighter Program, ending production of most bomber and multi-role aircraft in favor of fighters, especially jet fighters. Additionally, they accelerated the development of experimental designs that would guarantee a performance edge over the Allied designs, designs that would replace the first German jet fighters.


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - 1./JG 300 use (Luft'46; PM Models) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The result was a series of advanced designs, some using swept wings for improved transonic performance, others instead using the tailless design to lower drag to the same end. Since German aircraft engineers were aware that tailless designs might encounter serious stability problems in the transonic, a variety of stabilization methods such as brakes on the wings were considered for such aircraft or simply adding conventional tail surfaces. Kurt Tank's (Hence the "Ta" abbreviation) design team led by Hans Multhopp designed in 1945 a fighter known as "Huckebein" (a cartoon raven that traditionally makes trouble for others), also known as Project V (Project VI in some references) or Design II at Focke-Wulf.


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - 1./JG 300 use (Luft'46; PM Models) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The first flight of the aircraft was projected for May 1945, but none were completed by 8 April 1945, when British troops captured the Focke-Wulf facilities.

General characteristics:
Crew: one
Length: 9.20 m (30 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 10.00 m (32 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 22.5 m² (242 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,380 kg (5,247 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,300 kg (9,480 lb)

Powerplant:
1 × Heinkel HeS 011 turbojet, 13 kN (2,700 lbf)

Performance:
Maximum speed: 955 km/h (593 mph)
Service ceiling: 14,000 m (45,932 ft)
Rate of climb: 20.4 m/s (4,020 ft/min)
Wing loading: 196 kg/m² (41 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.37

Armament:
4 × 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannons, provision for a semi-recessed 500kg (1.102 lb) bomb under the fuselage.

A side note:
Some sources claim the small X-4 air-to-air missile as a potential weapon (there's even a 1:48 kit of the Ta-183 bearing four of them!), but I am in doubt if this would have happened at all. The missile's original design used an optically and wire-guided system. Steering a missile at 600mph and at close range to a gun-toting bomber formation would certainly have over-exhausted a pilot's talent.


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - 1./JG 300 use (Luft'46; PM Models) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - 1./JG 300 use (Luft'46; PM Models) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The kit and its assembly:
The PM Model (formerly Pioneer 2) kit made in Turkey is simple, if not blunt and crude. You just get a single polystyrene sprew and a clear canopy, details are simple, the interior a joke. But the proportions are good, and with little effort you can pimp the thing to "something better".

So I took the basic kit and did some modifications:

New cockpit interior with a new seat and a dashboard and side consoles made from cardboard. Not authentic, but just to have something inside at all! A Matchbox pilot was added, too, as well as a radio unit behind the seat and a finder sight. The injected canopy was divided in order to present and open cockpit.


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - Luft'46 (PM Models); Work in progress by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - Luft'46 (PM Models); Work in progress by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The landing gear was totally revamped – the only original pieces left are the main landing gear struts. The main gear wells were cut open from inside and a new interior, made from cardboard, added, with some simulated spars.
The front wheel comes from a 1:72 scale Grumman Panther (Matchbox), the main wheels from a Saab Viggen (Airfix). Additional main gear struts come from a Panavia Tornado (Italieri).


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - Luft'46 (PM Models); Work in progress by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - Luft'46 (PM Models); Work in progress by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

• The exhaust pipe from a F-86 was implanted (the original "thing" is gruesome!)
• Two antennae were added on the fuselage
• Almost all steering flaps were moved out of neutral position and the landing flaps were lowered
• The cannon mounds were drilled open and pieces from steel syringes were added as 30mm MK 108s
• Additional anti-bomber weaponry in the form of "Werfergranate 42" launchers under the wings – proven unguided missiles which had already been in on Me 262, FW 190 and Bf 109, 110 and 410 fighters in the late WWII.

1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - Luft'46 (PM Models); Work in progress by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" -  1./JG 300 use (Luft'46; PM Models) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Painting
It's a totally free design, but I tried to stay true to late Luftwaffe camouflage and marking style. I used a profile of a Bf 109G-10 from 1./JG 300 as a benchmark, and tried to keep the exterior as simple as possible.

Colors are:
RLM 82 (Dunkelgrün, Testors #2091)
RLM 75 (Grauviolett, Testors #2085)
RLM 76 (Lichtblau, used Humbrol 128, which is slightly darker)

The mottled fuselage sides were painted by hand and brush, and between the full colors some lighter tones were added: RLM 02 for the green areas and Humbrol 140 in the grey parts.


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - Luft'46 (PM Models); Work in progress by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - 1./JG 300 use (Luft'46; PM Models) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Focke Wulf Ta-183 'Huckebein" - 1./JG 300 use (Luft'46; PM Models) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Markings come from the scrap box from various kits, the ID band in blue-white-blue on the tail were made with generic 4mm decal stripes from TL Decals. The Eiserne Kreuz markings at the nose also come from a TL Decal aftermarket sheet.


So, a literally tiny project, but with lots of potential, and the result looks better than expected with the primitive PM kit as a starting point!

[TsrJoe]

really nice modelling, certainly looks the buisness, cool 

cheers, Joe

[NARSES2]

That does look nice 

[lancer]

Oh very very nice. Love the paint job and love the Reich Defence bands too.

[Army of One]

Another great model,WIP shots an fantastic photos..... ....H

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you all!