Fw 190 A-5 Light Fighter

Eduard ProfiPACK, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/48 scale Fw 190 A-5 is available online from Squadron.com
 

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s and widely used during World War II.

Along with its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Focke-Wulf 190 Würger became the backbone of the Luftwaffe's Jagdwaffe (Fighter Force).

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 190 A started flying operationally over France in August 1941, and quickly proved superior in all but turn radius to the Royal Air Force's main front-line fighter, the Spitfire Mk. V, especially 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 specialised ground attack units called Schlachtgeschwader (Battle Wings or Strike Wings) from October 1943 onwards.

The Fw 190 provided greater firepower than the Bf 109, and at low to medium altitude, superior manoeuvrability, in the opinion of German pilots who flew both fighters.

Experiments with prototypes proved that the Fw 190 A could easily carry heavier ordnance. The Fw 190 A-5 was a "stretched" version. The engine was moved six inches forward, which was accommodated by an extension in the forward fuselage. This moved the centre of gravity forward, allowing more weight to be carried aft.

Sub-types of the Fw 190 A-5 included night fighters, night intruders, fighter bombers, specialised bomber attackers, long range fighters and more.

Eduard continue to work through the variants of the Wurger family with this latest in their new-tool series, the Fw 190 A-5. This new series has no parts at all in common with Eduard's earlier 1:48 scale Fw 190 kits. Engineering and fit are greatly superior to the original kits too.

Eduard has kicked off the stretched fuselage Wurgers with the light fighter version.

Alongside the very late war variants, the Fw 190 A-5 is amongst my favourites due to the wide range of colours and markings on offer.

This 1/48 scale Fw 190 A-5 ProfiPACK release contains nearly 200 parts in grey plastic and 10 clear plastic parts, plus a colour photo-etched fret, canopy and wheel masks, markings for five nicely varied aircraft plus stencil decals. However, it is important to note that the total grey plastic parts actually used is only 111, and even some of these are options, so you will have plenty of fodder for your spares box!

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Thumbnail panels:

The kit features superb surface textures comprising crisp panel lines and very fine rows of recessed rivets where appropriate.

The new light armament wing is supplied without insertsvfor bulges and panels - just a nice full span lower wing and two single-piece upper wing halves.

Eduard's Wurgers also boast a very high level of detail, particularly in the cockpit with colour photo-etched parts, and the opportunity to upgrade the basic engine provided in the kit with aftermarket parts.

Two versions of the early flat canopy are included - one representing and open canopy and the other closed. On the real Würger, the canopy was somewhat flexible. This flexibility was further enhanced with a short hinge on the top. This was necessary because the canopy rails tapered inwards back along the fuselage, requiring the front bottom corners of the canopy to pinch inward when opening (ie, the width was narrower when the canopy was open).

This attribute has been conveniently ignored by all Fw 190 models to date - an open canopy would simply overhang the sides of the canopy deck.

My clear parts are thin and free from distorion. The late blown canopy is included too, as is armoured glass for the Sturmbock version, but these will not be used in this instance.

The colour photo-etched frets add useful detail. In fact, it is difficult to imagine anyone being able to match the realism of these crisply printed parts with paint. This fret provides the harness, instrument panel and side consoles in full colour, plus supplementary metal detail parts for the cockpit and aircraft exterior. The instrument panel should look fantastic when assembled, incorporating all the tiny details of the dials and the characteristic coloured surrounds of the engine gauges.

Another nice touch is the inclusion of canopy and wheel masks in Eduard's thin flexible yellow masking material.

Instructions are supplied in a 16 page A-4 size colour booklet, with a detailed history on the front page followed by a parts list, construction steps, and full-colour marking guides for each of the five subjects, each with a four-view illustration, and finally a stencil placement guide.

Marking Options

Markings are provided for five varied and interesting aircraft.

Details are as follows:

• W. Nr. 0157 298, flown by Maj. Josef Priller, CO of JG 26, Lille - Vendeville, France, May 1943

• W. Nr. 1501, Oblt. Walter Nowotny, CO of 1./ JG 54, Orel, Soviet Union, Summer 1943

• Oblt. Rolf Strohal, Stab I./JG 1, Deelen, the Netherlands, April 1943

• W. Nr. 0152 594, flown by Maj. Hermann Graf, CO of JGr. Ost, Toulouse – Blagnac, France, April 1943

• W. Nr. 538, 6./Schl.G 1 , Deblin - Irena , Poland , January 1943

The main decal sheet is satin in texture and printed by Eduard.

A set of decal stencils are also included.

The stencil markings are printed in a flat finish and are also produced by Eduard.

Eduard has delivered an excellent kit that offers fine detail and many options for the first of the "stretched" Wurgers.

I have built the Fw 190 A-4 in this new family of Eduard Wurgers and it was a delight - a fast build and excellent fit all round. I don't expect that this one will be any different.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2018 by Brett Green
Page Created 14 May, 2018
Last updated 15 May, 2018

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