Eduard's 1/48 scale
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8

by Andreas Beck

Eduard's 1/48 scale Fw 190 A-8 is available online from Squadron.com
 

Eduard’s Fw 190 A-8 - a verdict.

Impressed by the sheer mass of parts, the superb surface details, the colored instructions, photo etch parts, masks and first comments from fellow modelers the decision was taken, DO IT.

During the dry fit of parts (which is an essential MUST with this kit and please, take your time) I recognized the amount of time taken by the Eduard team to design and to construct this kit. Be assured, everything goes together rather well. Only an absolute minimum of putty was needed.

The approach that was taken on this kit somewhat reminded me to the early phase of Accurate Miniatures. A complete kit was to be produced avoiding the need of (expensive) aftermarket stuff. However, this compromised in a tendency of over engineering , as with early AccMin kits. If you belong to that kind of modelers who prefer to present their models in clean condition with all or most hatches , doors and other devices closed you will have to some superfluous work like doing the complete not uncomplicated engine construction. A more simple solution like on the DML/Dragon kit would have done because engine details are virtually not visible behind the cooling fan .

There are also other features where a simplified design and parts break down would have been satisfying (Main gear well, inner canon bays) . Eduard should have put all these parts for “extra” detailing on a separate sprue and then offer an “super detail kit”.

Nearly reaching Hasemiya standards, I found that the fit of core (inside moulds) and cavity (outside moulds) were not 100% and some cleaning up was needed . This problem found its peak with the propeller which does not have the correct profile but with the help of sandpaper an acceptable result can be reached. Others might use the Dragon/DML blades.

I personally hate gluing photo etch on outer panels, in this case the piano hinges of the canon covers attached to the upper edge of the wing filets. Why aren’t they moulded on (in the result one of the weak points of the model)?

Priming and finish with paint was done in two steps so please, Wladimir, next time two sets of masks in your kits (even if the kit costs 50 Cents more).

The decals work very well. The carrier film is of first class quality and in my example nearly perfect in register which necessitated some minimal trimming with the national markings. What I didn’t like were the colors used. They are simply too strong, the blue for the JG 5 machine has by far too much red.

I just wanted to represent a typical 190 and this was accomplished . The paint job in brief words : automotive primer micromeshed, airbrushing with Schmincke (artist) colors, Future/Kleer, again micromesh, decaling and a final coat with a water based flat varnish.

“External” parts : cannon barrels with 1.00mm brass, position lights from stretched clear sprue (which works wonderful with styrene used by Ed) and the pitot tube from an injection needle and a synthetic hair from a tooth brush.

In summary, this is a kit worth every Cent, Penny, Kopeck or other currency.

My personal wish is that Eduard will maintain the heritage of the real, the good, the old Accurate Miniatures and those people who gave this brand a soul.
 

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2007 by Andreas Beck
Page Created 03 April, 2007
Last Updated 24 December, 2007

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