Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-8/A-8

Airfix, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

Valom's 1/48 scale An-2 Colt is available online from Squadron.com

No Introduction Necessary

The Fw 190 represented a watershed in fighter design; in particular it showed how a radial engine could be installed to rival in-line engine streamlining. The design was rugged, fast, very manoeuvrable, and had a powerful armament; added to which were good pilot visibility and an ergonomic cockpit layout. It was unmatched as a fighter when first encountered by the RAF in 1941. Readily adaptable to many roles, it had a wide range of weapon and equipment fits; whilst further development led to in-line engined versions and the Ta 152 series of fighters. The F-8 was optimised as a fighter-bomber, whilst the A-8 was the most produced version of this superlative design.

Initial FirstLook Last Year

I reviewed Airfix's new-tool Fw 190A-8 in August 2014 on HyperScale. It was clear at that time that an F-8 variant sharing the same sprues was planned. So, rather than virtually repeat my earlier report, this "First Look" will focus on the additional sprue enabling the F-8 version to be built. For those unfamiliar with the initial Series-1 Fw 190A-8 release I suggest reading my review of it by clicking here before proceeding.

Contents

Unlike the earlier Fw 190A-8 kit with its side-opening box, this issue comes in a preferable top-opening tray-style box. It has also been elevated to Series-2 status from with the first kit's Series-1, along with an attendant price increase. 

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Thumbnail panels:

In all other respects the internal packaging remains as described in my earlier review, with one difference regarding the instructions. This is their inclusion of the colour and markings guide printed in colour, rather than on the back of the box as with the Series-1 kit.

The Kit's New Sprue

The small fourth sprue essentially caters for the F-8 version's weapons fit. It includes two blanks to fill the outboard cannon apertures in the A-8 wing leading edge. There are also alternate panels to replace the A-8's outboard cannon breech bulges and ejection chutes in the wing undersides.

Four 50-kg and one 500-kg bomb are included, along with their respective racks. The 500-kg weapon has a very blunt nose, and from what I can determine represents an AB-500 sub-munitions container, rather than the more conventional bomb-shape of the SC-500 with its pointed nose. Even so, the nose may be a bit too blunt for an AB-500, and need some additional rounding.

Personally, I think a few more weapon options could have been included; such as some SC and AB 250-kg bombs, an SC 500-kg bomb, and maybe the ER4 quadruple centreline-rack for the SC 50-kg bombs that are supplied. Finally, the earlier style head-armour bracing is included.

Colours & Markings

Two decal options are included, these being.

• Fw 190F-8, I/Schlachtgeschwader 2 Immelmann, Hungary 1945.

• Fw 190A-8, 2/Jagdgeschwader 11, Darmstadt-Dieburg , Hesse, Germany, 1945.

The decals are printed by Cartagraf, and appear to be of superb quality; as would be expected of this decal manufacturer.

This review relies on my initial A-8 review for a detailed description of the shared sprues. However, my original remarks about the decals created a bit of furore on HyperScale'sPlane Talking and other modeling forums, when I criticised the lack of swastikas in the decal sheet as being inexcusable. The Series-2 F-8/A-8 boxing also lacks swastikas, but as a result of subsequent correspondence with someone close to Airfix's decal development I now have a clearer understanding why they do not include graphics to produce this NAZI national insignia.

Essentially, as long as Revell and Italeri do not include swastikas in their kits, Airfix will not run any legal or market-exclusion risks by doing so. This is despite the fact that numerous other kit makers do provide for swastikas, including some from EU countries that experienced Nazi occupation. I see little point causing a flare up again by repeating my assertation. So instead I will say that it seems Airfix do have an excuse for not including the partial graphics to make swastikas in the decal sheet; albeit a rather timid one in my view.

Derived directly on their Fw 190A-8 Series-1 release of last year, this Series-2 F-8 is a very good effort from Airfix. There are some nice touches to the way the kit is engineered, with good wheel well detail, nice cockpit detail, a commendably deep fan shroud and representation of the engine, nicely done exhausts, and in-flight undercarriage options. Although still not equaling the best, the panel lines are at least quite acceptable.

The exaggerated fabric effect on the control surfaces needs to be filled, extended oleos and a few other minor points need to be addressed for a more refined result. (See my Fw 190A-8 review.)

The parts to make the F-8 are a welcome and obvious variation of the base kit, although the payload options are a bit limited. Despite increasing 33% to the Series 2 price-point (probably to recoup the cost of an extra decal option rather than a small fourth weapons sprue), it is still good value; I recommend it highly.

Purchased online from Hannants

Review Text and Images of New Sprue, Box Top, Decals and Instructions
Copyright © 2014 by Mark Davies
Other Sprue Images Copyright © 2013 by Brett Green
Page Created 16 January, 2014
Last updated 16 January, 2014

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