Fw 190 A Early Versions
Royal Class

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/48 scale Fw 190 A Early Versions Royal Class 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 190A 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.

Eduard released the first of their all-new 1/48 scale Wurger family last year with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4.

This Royal Class boxing now sees the first offering in 1/48 scale of a number of Wurger variants. These include the A-2, the two-cannon A-3 and the A-4 Trop. This is not just the first time that these variants have been offered by Eduard, but the first time ever as injection moulded kits straight from the box.

Other versions of the A-3 and A-4 may be built straight from the sprues in this box too.

In fact, by combining kit decals with the inexpensive option of purchasing additional sprues in Eduard's Overtrees series, you could build up to seven Wurger sub-types.

The Royal Class box contains two complete kits for a total of 376 grey plaatic and 20 clear plastic parts, plus three photo-etched frets (two in colour), canopy and wheel masks, markings for a whopping 14 aircraft, stencil decals for both aircraft, eight BRASSIN resin parts, a themed beer glass and a lovely frameable poster printed on heavy gauge art paper.

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Thumbnail panels:

Three different pairs of fuselage halves and two different wings will combine to make up the various versions.

Fuselage variations are:

• one set depicting the A-2 and A-3 with the recessed antenna mount on the fin and fuseage cooling slots.

• one set depicting A-4 with the early-style cooling slots and antenna post on top of the fin.

• one set depicting a standard A-4 with cooling flaps and antenna post on top of the fin.

The intsructions are quite clear as to which parts are for what versions.

The kits feature superb surface textures and very high level of detail, particularly in the cockpit with colour photo-etched parts, worthwhile options, and the opportunity to superdetail the basic engine bay provided in the kit.

Two versions of the early flat canopy are included. 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. Eduard, however, has supplied a closed (wide) and open (narrow) version for each canopy style. Clever stuff.

The two sets of canopies are packed in separate resealable bags, and both my samples are perfectly clear. 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 resin parts are two sets of early style main wheels, inner main undercarriage doors, and side cowl panels with tropical filters cast in place. As you might expect, casting quality is perfect.

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. Two sets are supplied.

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

Instructions are supplied in a 24 page A-4 size colour booklet, with a detailed history on the front page followed by a parts list and seven pages of construction steps, 14 pages of full-colour marking guides, each with a four-view illustration, and a stencil placement guide.

Bonus parts include a very nice poster printed on heavy grade art paper.

A Wurger themed crystal beer glass is also included.

Marking Options

Markings are provided for 14 varied and interesting aircraft.

Details are as follows:

• Fw 190A-2, Yellow 2, W. Nr. 120282, Fw. K. Nowak, 9./JG 2, Théville, France, May 1942.

• Fw 190A-2, Black Chevron and Bar, . Nr. 120206, Fw. W. Grünlinger, Stab III./JG 26, Wevelgem, Belgium, September 1942.

• Fw 190A-2, Yellow 13, W. Nr. 120325, Ofw. J. Heinzeller, 3./JG 2, Trickqueville, France, June 1942.

• Fw 190A-3, W. Nr. 135313, White Chevron, Oblt. A. Faber, III./JG 2,Morlaix, France, June 1942.

• Fw 190A-3, Yellow 16, W. Nr. 125425, Fw. K. Kundrus, 12./JG 5, Herdla, Norway, December 1943.

• Fw 190A-3, W. Nr. 130541, White 12, Fw. E. Mayer, 9./JG 5, Herdla, Norway, March 1945.

• Fw 190A-3, W. Nr. 130541, Oblt. A. Dickfeld, CO of II./JG 2, San Pietro, Italy, November 1942

• Fw 190A-3, White 6, W. Nr. 132259, Uffz. G. Josten, 1./JG 51, Lyuban, Soviet Union, Autumn 1942

• Fw 190A-4, Black Chevron and Two Bars, W. Nr. 140581, Lt. E. Burath, Stab I./JG 1, Deelen, the Netherlands, April 1943

• Fw 190A-4, Black Chevron and Vertical Bar, Maj. H. von Bonin, CO of JG 54, Pskov, Soviet Union, Spring 1943

• Fw 190A-4, Hptm. H. Philipp, CO of I./JG 54, Krasnogvardeysk, Soviet Union, January 1943

• Fw 190A-4, W. Nr. 140634, Maj. H. Graf, CO of JGr. Ost, Toulouse – Blagnac, France, April 1943

• Fw 190A-4/Trop, W. Nr. 145614, EKdo 19, Benghazi, Lybia, November 1942

• Fw 190A-4, W. Nr. 142317, own by Fw. L. Seif, 11./SKG 10, Sidi Ahmed, Tunisia, January 1943

The main decal sheet is glossy and printed by Cartograf.

Two sets of decal stencils and a small errata sheet are also included.

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

Eduard's Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A Early Versions Royal Class package is a luxurious package that offers many options for early version Wurger fans.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2018 by Brett Green
Page Created 22 January, 2018
Last updated 22 January, 2018

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