In Box Review of Dragon 1/48th Scale Fw-190D-12 Torpedo Flugzeug Fighter
Master Series
Kit no. 5534
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1997
I paid $22.38 for my kit at a local hobby shop, years ago, that went out of business.
Available at 4 locations overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1997
I paid $22.38 for my kit at a local hobby shop, years ago, that went out of business.
Available at 4 locations overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190, nicknamed Würger[b] ("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.[4] 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 specialised 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)).[6] 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.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: One
Length: 8.95 m (29 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 10.506 m (34 ft 6 in)
Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 18.3 m2 (197 sq ft)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23015.3; tip: NACA 23009[23]
Empty weight: 3,200 kg (7,055 lb)
Gross weight: 4,417 kg (9,738 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,900 kg (10,803 lb)
Fuel capacity: 639 L (141 imp gal; 169 US gal)
Powerplant: 1 × BMW 801D-2 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine 1,700 PS (1,677 hp; 1,250 kW) and up to 1,980 PS (1,953 hp; 1,456 kW) at 1.65 ata for up to 10 minutes of emergency power.
Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 652 km/h (405 mph, 352 kn) at 5,920 m (19,420 ft)
Range: 900–1,000 km (560–620 mi, 490–540 nmi)
Combat range: 400–500 km (250–310 mi, 220–270 nmi)
Ferry range: 900–1,000 km (560–620 mi, 490–540 nmi) ~1800–2000 km with drop-tank.
Service ceiling: 10,350 m (33,960 ft)
Rate of climb: 15 m/s (3,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 241 kg/m2 (49 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.28–0.33 kW/kg (0.17–0.20 hp/lb) (No–full emergency power)
Armament:
Guns: 2 × 13 mm (0.51 in) synchronized MG 131 machine guns or 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) MG 151/20 E cannons, synchronized in the wing roots or 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) or MG 151/20 E cannons in mid-wing mounts.
Bombs: 1 bomb under fuselage or four bombs under wings.
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190, nicknamed Würger[b] ("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.[4] 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 specialised 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)).[6] 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.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: One
Length: 8.95 m (29 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 10.506 m (34 ft 6 in)
Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 18.3 m2 (197 sq ft)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23015.3; tip: NACA 23009[23]
Empty weight: 3,200 kg (7,055 lb)
Gross weight: 4,417 kg (9,738 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,900 kg (10,803 lb)
Fuel capacity: 639 L (141 imp gal; 169 US gal)
Powerplant: 1 × BMW 801D-2 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine 1,700 PS (1,677 hp; 1,250 kW) and up to 1,980 PS (1,953 hp; 1,456 kW) at 1.65 ata for up to 10 minutes of emergency power.
Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 652 km/h (405 mph, 352 kn) at 5,920 m (19,420 ft)
Range: 900–1,000 km (560–620 mi, 490–540 nmi)
Combat range: 400–500 km (250–310 mi, 220–270 nmi)
Ferry range: 900–1,000 km (560–620 mi, 490–540 nmi) ~1800–2000 km with drop-tank.
Service ceiling: 10,350 m (33,960 ft)
Rate of climb: 15 m/s (3,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 241 kg/m2 (49 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.28–0.33 kW/kg (0.17–0.20 hp/lb) (No–full emergency power)
Armament:
Guns: 2 × 13 mm (0.51 in) synchronized MG 131 machine guns or 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) MG 151/20 E cannons, synchronized in the wing roots or 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) or MG 151/20 E cannons in mid-wing mounts.
Bombs: 1 bomb under fuselage or four bombs under wings.
THE KIT:
Dragon (sometimes named DML) is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
The kit comes in a blousy, shrink-wrapped, tray and lid type box. It is 4 ¼” too long.
The cover art shows a color photo of the FW-190D-12 made up and posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts too.
It is in a camouflage of dark and light grey on the spine and wings and light grey undercarriage. It has a black propeller and spinner. Skeletal white German crosses above the wings and skeletal black German crosses on the fuselage sides.
There is no swastika on the rudder. This is because displaying that symbol in China is outlawed. It is carrying a torpedo, that has a steel colored nose and black body, slung underneath.
One side-panel of the box shows color photos of the model made up in 2 different schemes.
The first 2 photos are of the box art scheme.
The second 2 photos show it in the same color scheme, except for a white spiral-stripe on the black propeller-spinner, a large yellow fuselage number 12 followed by the black skeletal German cross and wide fuselage bands of black and white. It is carrying an all-black bomb.
Dragon (sometimes named DML) is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
The kit comes in a blousy, shrink-wrapped, tray and lid type box. It is 4 ¼” too long.
The cover art shows a color photo of the FW-190D-12 made up and posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts too.
It is in a camouflage of dark and light grey on the spine and wings and light grey undercarriage. It has a black propeller and spinner. Skeletal white German crosses above the wings and skeletal black German crosses on the fuselage sides.
There is no swastika on the rudder. This is because displaying that symbol in China is outlawed. It is carrying a torpedo, that has a steel colored nose and black body, slung underneath.
One side-panel of the box shows color photos of the model made up in 2 different schemes.
The first 2 photos are of the box art scheme.
The second 2 photos show it in the same color scheme, except for a white spiral-stripe on the black propeller-spinner, a large yellow fuselage number 12 followed by the black skeletal German cross and wide fuselage bands of black and white. It is carrying an all-black bomb.
The other side-panel of the box shows a color box art of Dragon’s kit no 5529, of a Me-262A-2a/U2. Followed by a CAUTION: When you use glue paint, don’t be near a frame and be in a well-ventilated room. In 6 languages, including English. Kit not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts, in multiple languages, including English. For modelers aged 10 and over in the languages and the Copyright date of 1997, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and kit was made there.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 7 medium-grey parts trees, a clear tree, 2 steel PE frets and the decal sheet in 4 sealed-clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme. Over the history and specifications of the Fw-190D-12 , in 6 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints, suggested to use, in multiple languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 on through to page 5, gives a grand total of 14 assembly steps.
Pages 6 and 7 are painting and marking guides.
Page 6 shows a 4-view of the side-panel scheme, shown carrying the bomb. (already described above).
Page 7 shows a 4-view of the box art scheme. (also, already described above)
Page 8 has the parts-trees illustrations down the left side of it and decal application instructions down the right side. Copyright for the kit is 1997 and printing was done in Hong Kong. Some parts on the trees are shaded-out in blue. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Part trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: upper and lower wing halves, horizontal tail planes, cockpit interior, wheels and landing gear covers etc. (13 parts)
This kit holds 7 medium-grey parts trees, a clear tree, 2 steel PE frets and the decal sheet in 4 sealed-clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme. Over the history and specifications of the Fw-190D-12 , in 6 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints, suggested to use, in multiple languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 on through to page 5, gives a grand total of 14 assembly steps.
Pages 6 and 7 are painting and marking guides.
Page 6 shows a 4-view of the side-panel scheme, shown carrying the bomb. (already described above).
Page 7 shows a 4-view of the box art scheme. (also, already described above)
Page 8 has the parts-trees illustrations down the left side of it and decal application instructions down the right side. Copyright for the kit is 1997 and printing was done in Hong Kong. Some parts on the trees are shaded-out in blue. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Part trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: upper and lower wing halves, horizontal tail planes, cockpit interior, wheels and landing gear covers etc. (13 parts)
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: wheel well, propeller blades, spinner etc. (20 parts) One part is excess.
Medium-grey letter C tree holds: a fuselage half, cowling etc. (7 parts) 2 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter D tree holds: the other fuselage half, nose top panel, drop tank etc. (5 parts) 3 parts are excess.
There is no letter E tree.
There is no letter E tree.
Lettering jumps to the medium-grey letter F tree. It holds the torpedo parts (6 parts)
Lettering jumps again to the medium-grey letter H tree. It holds the bomb parts (7 parts)
Another jump to the clear letter K tree. It holds the canopy parts (5 parts)
Another jump to the medium-grey letter M tree. It holds landing gear legs etc. (23 parts) 8 parts are excess.
Steel PE fret, letter MA holds: the wheel well wall, canopy slide and air intakes etc. (10 parts) 1 part is excess.
Steel PE fret letter MB holds: the dashboard, antenna etc. (7 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents. Unfortunately, it does not include the necessary swastika to do the complete markings.
The detail in this kit is excellent.
No pilot figure is included.
Recommended.
No pilot figure is included.
Recommended.