In Box Review of Revell 1/32nd Scale
Focke Wulf 190-D German Fighter
Kit no. H-215
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1971
Out of production.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1971
Out of production.
HISTORY:
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190, nicknamed Würger ("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 turbosupercharger 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 powerplant, 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 maneuverability, 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 Fw 190 D (nicknamed Dora; or Long-Nose Dora ("Langnasen-Dora") was intended as the high-altitude performance version of the A-series.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter aircraft
National origin: Germany
Manufacturer: Focke-Wulf
Designer: Kurt Tank
First flight: 1 June 1939
Introduction to service: August 1941
Retired: 9 May 1945 (Luftwaffe), 1945 (Hungary), 1947 (Turkey), 1949 (France)
Primary users: Luftwaffe, Hungarian Air Force, Turkish Air Force
Produced: 1941–1945 (65 produced post-War for French Air Force
Number built: Over 20,000
Developed into: Focke-Wulf Ta 152
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190, nicknamed Würger ("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 turbosupercharger 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 powerplant, 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 maneuverability, 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 Fw 190 D (nicknamed Dora; or Long-Nose Dora ("Langnasen-Dora") was intended as the high-altitude performance version of the A-series.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter aircraft
National origin: Germany
Manufacturer: Focke-Wulf
Designer: Kurt Tank
First flight: 1 June 1939
Introduction to service: August 1941
Retired: 9 May 1945 (Luftwaffe), 1945 (Hungary), 1947 (Turkey), 1949 (France)
Primary users: Luftwaffe, Hungarian Air Force, Turkish Air Force
Produced: 1941–1945 (65 produced post-War for French Air Force
Number built: Over 20,000
Developed into: Focke-Wulf Ta 152
THE KIT:
Revell is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer, based in Venice, CA USA. They make all manner of plastic model kits in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a both scotch-taped and clear shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box that is blousy. It is 2 ½” too wide..
The cover art shows a color illustration of two FW-190Ds taking off from a dirt runway.
The large one that is high in the foreground has its wheels retracted.
The one behind it, in the background, is folding its wheels.
Both aircraft are in the same color schemes.
The large one has a dark-green spine, medium-grey sides, with dark-green wave pattern camouflage and a blue undercarriage. A black and white spiral on the propeller spinner. Burnt iron colored exhaust pipes. A yellow fuselage no. 15 + 1. Black skeletal type crosses under the wings. Cross that is on the fuselage sides is solid and black with white outline.
An insignia of a yellow shield with a red devil’s head on it (for the 9/JG-54 Squadron is under the cockpit). The tops of the wings and elevators have a dark-green and medium-grey splinter pattern camouflage. There are maintenance markings, in German text, twice on one side of the nose and on landing gear doors.
No swastika is shown on the rudders of either aircraft. This is because showing that insignia in some countries the kit is sold in, prohibits its showing and it is illegal to display it in any way. Not a problem, because the swastika is on the kit’s decal sheet.
The second FW-190D has a fuselage no. 15 + on it.
At the top of the box art it says: the wingspan of the built model is 13” and the length is 12 ½”.
The lower left corner of the box art tells about a raffle that Revell was running in 1971. It says WIN! WIN! WIN! With prizes listed as: Real Air Cycle. Real hobby catamaran. Real Baja Chopper VW and Bell & Howell cameras & projectors. Entry blank inside. Offer ends May 31, 1973.
One side panel of the box shows a color illustration side-view of the box art subject. Followed by a one-paragraph history of the FW-190D. A color illustration of the engine and dash-board. A listing of the kits features: Precisely detailed model of German Focke Wulf FW-190D-8 in 1/32nd scale. Removable cowling (to show detailed Jumo engine. Sliding canopy, detailed cockpit interior. Movable wheels & propeller. Pilot figure in authentic flight suit. Official Luftwaffe markings. Ready to assemble.
Revell is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer, based in Venice, CA USA. They make all manner of plastic model kits in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a both scotch-taped and clear shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box that is blousy. It is 2 ½” too wide..
The cover art shows a color illustration of two FW-190Ds taking off from a dirt runway.
The large one that is high in the foreground has its wheels retracted.
The one behind it, in the background, is folding its wheels.
Both aircraft are in the same color schemes.
The large one has a dark-green spine, medium-grey sides, with dark-green wave pattern camouflage and a blue undercarriage. A black and white spiral on the propeller spinner. Burnt iron colored exhaust pipes. A yellow fuselage no. 15 + 1. Black skeletal type crosses under the wings. Cross that is on the fuselage sides is solid and black with white outline.
An insignia of a yellow shield with a red devil’s head on it (for the 9/JG-54 Squadron is under the cockpit). The tops of the wings and elevators have a dark-green and medium-grey splinter pattern camouflage. There are maintenance markings, in German text, twice on one side of the nose and on landing gear doors.
No swastika is shown on the rudders of either aircraft. This is because showing that insignia in some countries the kit is sold in, prohibits its showing and it is illegal to display it in any way. Not a problem, because the swastika is on the kit’s decal sheet.
The second FW-190D has a fuselage no. 15 + on it.
At the top of the box art it says: the wingspan of the built model is 13” and the length is 12 ½”.
The lower left corner of the box art tells about a raffle that Revell was running in 1971. It says WIN! WIN! WIN! With prizes listed as: Real Air Cycle. Real hobby catamaran. Real Baja Chopper VW and Bell & Howell cameras & projectors. Entry blank inside. Offer ends May 31, 1973.
One side panel of the box shows a color illustration side-view of the box art subject. Followed by a one-paragraph history of the FW-190D. A color illustration of the engine and dash-board. A listing of the kits features: Precisely detailed model of German Focke Wulf FW-190D-8 in 1/32nd scale. Removable cowling (to show detailed Jumo engine. Sliding canopy, detailed cockpit interior. Movable wheels & propeller. Pilot figure in authentic flight suit. Official Luftwaffe markings. Ready to assemble.
The other side panel of the box Is a solicitation to join the Revell Master Modelers Club and work up to be a Grand Master Modeler. Get advance into on new kits & special premiums. A list of what you get for a dollar: 1. A Pro Modeling tool set, with cement applicator, tweezers, body putty spatula & holding clamps. 2. Official club certificate & membership card. 3. A year’s subscription to the club quarterly magazine. 4. New 32 page color Revell catalog. 5. Official club iron-on emblem. Followed by a $2.00 application blank, with it asking what type subject models you build and what kind of store you buy them at ?
Each of the end panels of the box say the skill level of the kit is= Modeling experience helpful.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 4 chalk-white parts trees, a clear tree, decal sheet and the instructions.
I have added a steel propeller and an Eduard Brank set of brass dash board and cockpit floor to the kit.
The kit holds 4 chalk-white parts trees, a clear tree, decal sheet and the instructions.
I have added a steel propeller and an Eduard Brank set of brass dash board and cockpit floor to the kit.
Trees are not cello bagged or alphabetized.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that folds out into 6 pages in 8 ½” x 11” format.
Page 1 gives the history of the FW-190D at the top, over a painting and marking guide, that shows a 2-view of the box art subject (already described above).
Page 2 begins with BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, that show tools required to build the kit.
The bottom of page 2 on through to page 6 give a grand total of 10 assembly steps.
Step 10 is also a partial marking guide.
The first chalk-white tree holds: a fuselage half, propeller and its center section and back plate, landing gear legs and doors, exhaust pipes, canopy walls etc. (27 parts)
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that folds out into 6 pages in 8 ½” x 11” format.
Page 1 gives the history of the FW-190D at the top, over a painting and marking guide, that shows a 2-view of the box art subject (already described above).
Page 2 begins with BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, that show tools required to build the kit.
The bottom of page 2 on through to page 6 give a grand total of 10 assembly steps.
Step 10 is also a partial marking guide.
The first chalk-white tree holds: a fuselage half, propeller and its center section and back plate, landing gear legs and doors, exhaust pipes, canopy walls etc. (27 parts)
The second chalk-white tree holds: the pilot figure, other fuselage half, seat, cockpit floor, top node panel, cowling. Engine & its access panel, firewall, rudder pedals (14 parts)
The third chalk-white tree holds: wing top halves, elevator halves, dash-board, cannons, radio mast & circular antenna, boarding step (16 parts)
The fourth chalk-white tree holds the wings lower halves (1 part)
The clear parts tree holds the canopy sections (2 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
The detail is very good.
Recommended.
Recommended.