Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8

Eduard ProfiPACK, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/48 scale Fw 190 A-3 is available online from Squadron.com
 

The Fw 190 A-8 entered production in February 1944, powered either by the standard BMW 801 D-2 or the 801Q (also known as 801TU). The 801Q/TU, with the "T" signifying a Triebwerksanlage unitized powerplant installation specifically for single-engined aircraft, was a standard 801D with improved, thicker armour on the front annular cowling, which also incorporated the oil tank, upgraded from 6 mm (.24 in) on earlier models to 10 mm (.39 in).

Changes introduced in the Fw 190 A-8 also included the C3-injection Erhöhte Notleistung emergency boost system to the fighter variant of the Fw 190 A (a similar system with less power had been fitted to some earlier Jabo variants of the 190 A), raising power to 1,980 PS (1,953 hp, 1,456 kW) for a short time. The Erhöhte Notleistung system operated by spraying additional fuel into the fuel/air mix, cooling it and allowing higher boost pressures to be run, but at the cost of much higher fuel consumption.

From the A-8 on, Fw 190s could be fitted with a new paddle-bladed wooden propeller, easily identified by its wide blades with curved tips.

A new outwardly bulged main canopy glazing format, more in the manner of a Malcolm hood rather than a bubble canopy, with greatly improved vision sideways and forward, had been developed for the F-2 ground attack model, but was often seen fitted at random on A-8s, F-8s and G-8s. The new canopy included a larger piece of head armor which was supported by reinforced bracing and a large fairing.

A new internal fuel tank with a capacity of 115 L (30 US gal) was fitted behind the cockpit, which meant that the radio equipment had to be moved forward to just behind the pilot.

Externally, a large round hatch was incorporated into the lower fuselage to enable the new tank to be installed, and the pilot's oxygen bottles were moved aft and positioned around this hatch. A fuel filler was added to the port side, below the rear canopy and a rectangular radio access hatch was added to starboard.

Other changes included an ETC 501 under-fuselage rack which was mounted on a lengthened carrier and moved 200 mm (8 in) further forward to help restore the center of gravity of the aircraft. This fuselage would form the basis for all later variants of the Fw 190 and the Ta 152 series.

The Morane "whip" aerial for the Y-Verfahren was fitted as standard under the port wing, just aft of the wheelwell.

Adapted from Wikipedia. 

Eduard continues to work through the variants of the Wurger family with this latest in their new-tool series, the Fw 190 A-8. This new series has no parts at all in common with Eduard's 2006 1:48 scale Fw 190 A-8 kit. Engineering and fit are greatly superior to the original kits too.

This is the first time that Eduard has offered the A-8 variant as a standalone kit. The A-8 was the most manufactured of all Fw 190 variants. Greater than 6,655 A-8 airframes were produced from March 1944 to May 1945. A-8s were manufactured in at least eight factories during its lifetime.

Thanks to this high level of production and new markings introduced for late-war Luftwaffe aircraft, the Fw 190 A-8 is amongst the most colourful and varied of all the Wurgers.

Beneath the very striking box art, Eduard's new 1/48 scale Fw 190 A-8 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 around 110, and even some of these are options, so you will have plenty of fodder for your spares box!

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  Eduard ProfiPACK Kit No. 82147 - Fw 190 A-8 Review by Brett Green
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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 wings are supplied without inserts for bulges and panels - just 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.

The photo-etched fret boasts the recent innovation of glossy curved lenses over the individual dials. You can't see it in the photo, but the effect looks great to the naked eye!

Two versions of the canopies 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 prior to Eduard's new family - an open canopy would simply overhang the sides of the canopy deck.

My clear parts are thin and free from distorion. A choice of the early flat version and the llate blown canopy. 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 aircraft, all finished in the mid-war scheme of RLM 76 lower surfaces, with RLM 75 Grey Violet and RLM 74 Grey Green on the upper surfaces. Each of the aircraft feature colourful RV bands and a wide selection of interesting markings.

Specific subjects are:

• Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8, W. Nr. 171180, 6./JG 300, München-Neubiberg, Germany, April – May 1945

• Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8, W.Nr. 350189, 12./JG 5, Herdla, Norway, Spring 1945

• Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8, W.Nr. 172733, flown by Uffz. Ernst Schröder, 5./JG 300, Löbnitz, Germany, October 1944

• Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8 flown by Ofhr. Walter Köhne, 3./JG 1, Bad Lippspringe, Germany, May 1944

• Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8, W.Nr. 960542, Stab/JG 4, Jüterbog-Damm, Germany, Spring 1945

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 an excellent kit of the early Wurger variant.

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 6 June, 2019
Last updated 7 June, 2019

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