In Box Review of
21st Century Toys
1/32nd Scale Focke-Wulf Fw-190A-7/A-8/A-9
Part no. 13314, ASST no. 21000
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright: 2008
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright: 2008
HISTORY:
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (nicknamed Würger; English: Shrike) is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank at Focke-Wulf in the late 1930s and widely used during World War II. Along with its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Fw-190 became the backbone of the Jagdwaffe (Fighter Force) of the Luftwaffe.
The twin-row BMW 801 radial engine that powered most operational versions enabled the Fw-190 to lift larger loads than the Bf-109, allowing its use as a day fighter, fighter-bomber, ground-attack aircraft and to a lesser degree, night fighter.
The Fw-190A started flying operationally over France in August 1941 and quickly proved superior in all but turn radius to the Spitfire Mk. V, the main front-line fighter of the Royal Air Force (RAF), particularly at low and medium altitudes. The 190 maintained superiority over Allied fighters until the introduction of the improved Spitfire Mk. IX. In November/December 1942, the Fw-190 made its air combat debut on the Eastern Front, finding much success in fighter wings and specialized- ground attack units (Schlachtgeschwader (Battle Wings or Strike Wings) from October 1943.
The Fw-190A series' performance decreased at high altitudes (usually 6,000 m (20,000 ft) and above), which reduced its effectiveness as a high-altitude interceptor. From the Fw -190's inception, there had been ongoing efforts to address this with a turbo-supercharged BMW 801 in the B model. The much longer-nosed C model with efforts to also turbocharge its chosen Daimler-Benz DB 603 inverted V12 power-plant, and the similarly long-nosed D model with the Junkers Jumo 213.
Problems with the turbocharger installations on the -B and -C subtypes meant only the D model entered service in September 1944. These high-altitude developments eventually led to the Focke-Wulf Ta 152, which was capable of extreme speeds at medium to high altitudes (755 km/h (408 kn; 469 mph) at 13,500 m (44,300 ft)). While these "long nose" 190 variants and the Ta 152 derivative especially gave the Germans parity with Allied opponents, they arrived too late to affect the outcome of the war.
The Fw 190 was well-liked by its pilots. Some of the Luftwaffe's most successful fighter aces claimed many of their kills while flying it, including Otto Kittel, Walter Nowotny and Erich Rudorffer. The Fw-190 had greater firepower than the Bf 109 and, at low to medium altitude, superior manoeuvrability, in the opinion of German pilots who flew both fighters. It was regarded as one of the best fighter planes of World War II.
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (nicknamed Würger; English: Shrike) is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank at Focke-Wulf in the late 1930s and widely used during World War II. Along with its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Fw-190 became the backbone of the Jagdwaffe (Fighter Force) of the Luftwaffe.
The twin-row BMW 801 radial engine that powered most operational versions enabled the Fw-190 to lift larger loads than the Bf-109, allowing its use as a day fighter, fighter-bomber, ground-attack aircraft and to a lesser degree, night fighter.
The Fw-190A started flying operationally over France in August 1941 and quickly proved superior in all but turn radius to the Spitfire Mk. V, the main front-line fighter of the Royal Air Force (RAF), particularly at low and medium altitudes. The 190 maintained superiority over Allied fighters until the introduction of the improved Spitfire Mk. IX. In November/December 1942, the Fw-190 made its air combat debut on the Eastern Front, finding much success in fighter wings and specialized- ground attack units (Schlachtgeschwader (Battle Wings or Strike Wings) from October 1943.
The Fw-190A series' performance decreased at high altitudes (usually 6,000 m (20,000 ft) and above), which reduced its effectiveness as a high-altitude interceptor. From the Fw -190's inception, there had been ongoing efforts to address this with a turbo-supercharged BMW 801 in the B model. The much longer-nosed C model with efforts to also turbocharge its chosen Daimler-Benz DB 603 inverted V12 power-plant, and the similarly long-nosed D model with the Junkers Jumo 213.
Problems with the turbocharger installations on the -B and -C subtypes meant only the D model entered service in September 1944. These high-altitude developments eventually led to the Focke-Wulf Ta 152, which was capable of extreme speeds at medium to high altitudes (755 km/h (408 kn; 469 mph) at 13,500 m (44,300 ft)). While these "long nose" 190 variants and the Ta 152 derivative especially gave the Germans parity with Allied opponents, they arrived too late to affect the outcome of the war.
The Fw 190 was well-liked by its pilots. Some of the Luftwaffe's most successful fighter aces claimed many of their kills while flying it, including Otto Kittel, Walter Nowotny and Erich Rudorffer. The Fw-190 had greater firepower than the Bf 109 and, at low to medium altitude, superior manoeuvrability, in the opinion of German pilots who flew both fighters. It was regarded as one of the best fighter planes of World War II.
THE KIT:
21st Century Toys was based in San Leandro, CA, but has gone out of business. Fourteen years ago I purchased my kit at Walmart. I never saw it for sale in any hobby shop I visited back then
This kit came in a long, end-opening, taped-shut box that has a large clear window in it. The aircraft is already beautifully factory painted in Japan, where it was made. It has a dark spine, light grey sides with a medium-grey mottle and a grey undercarriage and a black and white spiral on the spinner. It carries fuselage no. red 19 outlined in black. Below the cockpit on one side it says KOLLE ALAAF in German (Up Colonel). It was flown gy Oberfeldwebel Ernst Schroder of 5/JG 300.
The model is partially assembled. You only have to attach the wings with a metal screw, extend the landing gear and wheels and glue on antenna and the belly rack for the drop tank.
The canopy can be slid open or closed and the pilot is in there.
All the sections are packaged into a black plastic tray and held down with wire.
21st Century Toys was based in San Leandro, CA, but has gone out of business. Fourteen years ago I purchased my kit at Walmart. I never saw it for sale in any hobby shop I visited back then
This kit came in a long, end-opening, taped-shut box that has a large clear window in it. The aircraft is already beautifully factory painted in Japan, where it was made. It has a dark spine, light grey sides with a medium-grey mottle and a grey undercarriage and a black and white spiral on the spinner. It carries fuselage no. red 19 outlined in black. Below the cockpit on one side it says KOLLE ALAAF in German (Up Colonel). It was flown gy Oberfeldwebel Ernst Schroder of 5/JG 300.
The model is partially assembled. You only have to attach the wings with a metal screw, extend the landing gear and wheels and glue on antenna and the belly rack for the drop tank.
The canopy can be slid open or closed and the pilot is in there.
All the sections are packaged into a black plastic tray and held down with wire.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that is 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” format, printed on both sides. It shows 14 assembly photos as final assembly steps. Sheet is folded twice to fit the box. On the back of the sheet are the instructions for the Fw-190 and on the reverse side are the instructions for the Macchi C.202 Folgore
The box art gives a warning about a CHOKING HAZARD for 3 year old kids due to small parts and the kit is intended for kids over 5. Adult assembly is required.
21st Century Toys' website is provided, but no longer exists.
One side of the box gives the history of the aircraft. Followed by color photos of other factory assembled and decorated aircraft models that 21st Century Toys manufactures: a P-47D “Thunderbolt” Bubbletop, a A6M3 Zero type 22, a F4U-1A/D “Corsair”, a P-51B/C “Mustang”, a Ju-87B/R “Stuka” and a Messerschmitt Bf-109G-6.
21st Century Toys' website is provided, but no longer exists.
One side of the box gives the history of the aircraft. Followed by color photos of other factory assembled and decorated aircraft models that 21st Century Toys manufactures: a P-47D “Thunderbolt” Bubbletop, a A6M3 Zero type 22, a F4U-1A/D “Corsair”, a P-51B/C “Mustang”, a Ju-87B/R “Stuka” and a Messerschmitt Bf-109G-6.
These 1/32nd scale factory assembled and decorated kits sell for a minimum of $100.00 these days, if you can find one any place for sale. I have 2 other ones of these type of kits from 21st Century Toys. They are of two different paint jobs on the Italian Macchi C.202 “Folgore” (Lightning). Both with excellently done mottled paint jobs.
Highly recommended.