Jabo
Fw 190 A-5/U3 & U8

Eduard Limited Edition, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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).

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.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5/U3 was a fighter bomber variant with wing armament removed and fitted with an ETC 501 for drop tanks and bombs.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5/U8 was another Jabo-Rei outfitted with SC-250 centreline-mounted bombs, under-wing 300-litre drop tanks and only two MG 151s.

The Fw 190 A-5/U8 was later designated the Fw 190 G-2.

Eduard continues to work through the variants of the Wurger family with this latest in their new-tool series, the Jabo-Rei Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5 /U3 & U8.

This 1/48 scale Fw 190 A-5 /U3 & U8 Limited Edition release contains nearly 200 parts in grey plastic and 10 clear plastic parts, plus a colour photo-etched fret, a small brass photo-etched fret, canopy and wheel masks, markings for five 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 main unique elements in this Limited Edition boxing are six resin parts.

Two of the resin parts are alternative side cowlings with tropical filters cast in place.

The remaining four resin parts are wing racks and 300 litre drop tanks.

Casting quality is perfect and detail crisp.

The cowls and the wing racks are applicable to two different versions, so you'll have some leftover resin parts regardless of which option you choose. This would be a good reason to buy Eduard's inexpensive Fw 190 A-5 Overtrees kit to get the best possible value out of the box.

The small photo-etched fret is new too.

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

The Fw 190 A-5 light armament wing is supplied without inserts for 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 the 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 interesting aircraft.

Details are as follows:

• Fw 190A-5/U8, W. Nr. 152596, flown by Uffz. Werner Öhne, 1./SKG 10, Poix, France, June 1943. This has extensive black distemper on the lower surfaces and sides and is fitted with the aerodynamic wing racks and two 300 litre drop tanks.

• Fw 190A-5/U3, W. Nr. 0150 1437, flown by Ofw. Johannsen, 7./SchG. 2, Catania, Sicily, July 1943. This aircraft is finished in mid-war greys with yellow theatre markings. This is the option that uses the resin cowling sides with the trop filters.

• Fw 190A-5/U3, 1./SchG. 1, Orel, Soviet Union, July 1943. This aircraft is finished in mid-war greys with yellow theatre markings.

• Fw 190A-5/U8, W.Nr. 51353, flown by Oblt. Kurt Hevler, Stab IV./SKG 10, Cognac, France, June 1943. Finished in mid-war greys with squiggly black overspray on the fuselage sides.

• Fw 190A-5/U3, W. Nr. 0150 1339, 9./SKG10, Gela – Ponte Olivo, Sicily, July 1943.

The main decal sheet is glossy 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 another excellent kit that offers fine detail and many options for the first of these Jabo 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 © 2019 by Brett Green
Page Created 3 December, 2019
Last updated 4 December, 2019

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