Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-11/13

Eduard ProfiPACK, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D was not built in huge quantities nor did it affect the outcome of the war, but it was a highly competent fighter that was more than a match for its Allied contemporaries in the hands of an experienced pilot. Even though the Dora was in service for less than eight months, its good looks and wide range of colour schemes makes it a perennially popular modelling subject.

At the tail end of the war, a small number of ultimate Doras rolled off the production lines and into service with front-line Luftwaffe units.

These were the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-11 and D-13 variants. The final operational Doras were fitted with the improved Junkers Jumo 213E engine, and armament differed from the D-9. The D-11 featured two 30mm cannon in the outboard wing positons, while the D-13 was fitted with 20mm outboard wing cannon plus a third 20mm cannon firing through the propeller hub. Neither of these Doras were fitted with cowl guns, resulting in a smooth upper line to the nose of the aircraft.

ProModeler released a 1/48 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-11 based on Trimaster / Dragon mouldings way back in 2001. This was not a bad kit, capturing most of the important characteristics of the D-11. It disappeared from the shelves quickly though, and I do not recall it ever being released by Dragon.

In 2010, Eduard released a 1/48 scale Dual Combo Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-11/D-13 package. This box contains all the parts needed to build two complete kits - one Fw 190 D-11 and one Fw 190 D-13.

Eduard provided all of the different features of the Fw 190 D-11 and D-13 - new fuselage halves; flat upper cowl panels; new spinners (different for the D-11 and D-13); one new wing for each variant, fitted with appropriate armament (they are different from each other, so check the instructions carefully before committing to glue); and the big supercharger intake.

The forward fuselage of the Fw 190 D-11 and D-13 features a very subtle bulge. In fact, it is so subtle that I can barely make it out on the real aircraft (check HyperScale's Reference Library for photos of the real thing), but Eduard seems to have gotten it right.

More recently, around 2013, Hobby Boss released Fw 190 D-11 and D-13 kits. These are simple kits and easy to build, but they do suffer from some short cuts and important errors. In particular, the Hobby Boss Fw 190 D-11 and D-13 fuselages are the same as their Fw 190 D-9, whereas the rear D-11 and D-13 fuselage have different contours and bumps.

I think that this is the first time Eduard has re-released either the Fw 190 D-11 or D-13 kits, and the first time that they have been packaged as a single kit.

There is only one kit in the box this time around, but all the parts are there to finish it as either a Fw 190 D-11 or a Fw 190 D-13.

Eduard's new 1/48 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-11 / D-13 ProfiPACK boxing comprises 143 grey coloured plastic parts, 11 clear parts, one coloured photo etched fret, one masking sheet for the canopy and wheels and a new-style decal sheet covering six markings options.

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These two variants had different wings. The Fw 190 D-11 was fitted with outer wing guns and the Fw 190 D-13 was not.

This is not achieved via inserts. Two different sets of wings are supplied.

The kit has carried over a couple of minor errors from the original kit. The centre section of the bottom of both wings fair smoothly into the bottom of the engine cowling. This is definitely correct for the D-13, but there is still some question about whether the D-11 should feature the redundant recessed lower exhaust ramp, similar to the Fw 190 A series and the D-9. One other minor issue is that both wings feature slots for the shell ejector chutes between the wheel wells. In the case of the D-11, which did not have any cowl guns or hub-firing cannon, both these slots should be filled.

For the D-13, which had a single cannon firing through the hub, the starboard side slot should be filled. Eduard does actually supply a plug (Part V7), but if you are really picky you might like to enlarge the port-side slot to cater for the 30mm ammunition too.

Surface texture is very good with recessed panel lines and a number of recessed rivets too. The fabric ribs on the control surfaces are also convincing. It's not quite up to the standard of the re-tooled Fw 190 As and Fs, but it still looks good today.

Details are equally good. The cockpit is supplemented with the usual compliment of colour photo-etched parts including a layered instrument panel, switch panel and harness straps. For those who prefer to paint their cockpit, an alternative (and very nicely detailed) injection moulded instrument panel is also supplied, along with instrument decals.

In common with the D-9 kit, the wheel well features the correct see-through effect, with a rear portion of the engine and the supercharger supplied. This will be visible through the open centre section of the wheel well. Two styles of main wheels are provided. Check your references for your selected marking option.

The cowl and wing gun bays are also fitted out, although alternative parts are provided for modellers who would prefer to keep theirs closed. Some minor surgery will be required for the wings in this case.

Different parts are offered for open or closed cowl flaps.

The exhausts are supplied in one-piece each. The narrow ends are not hollowed out, but we will likely see after-market updates before long.

A chouce of a three-piece tail wheel assembly or a simpler one-piece assembly is also offered.

Ailerons and the rudder are separate parts.

A drop tank is provided. The instructions appear to illustrate the later smooth drop tank, but it is the earlier ribbed version that is actually supplied.

The canopy parts are crystal clear and thin.

Separate parts are supplied to permit the sliding canopy to be displayed open or closed. Parts are provided for the blown and flat hoods, but you will only need the blown version for these late variants.

Markings

Six attractive and varied marking options are included on the decal sheet:

• Fw 190 D-11, W.Nr.2200XX, Lt. Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Sachsenberg Schwarm of JV 44, München – Riem, May 1945

• Fw 190 D-11, W.Nr. 2200XX, VFS des G. d. J., Bad Wörishofen, March - April 194

• Fw 190 D-11, W.Nr. 220014, VFS des G. d. J., Bad Wörishofen, April 1945

• Fw 190 D-13, W.Nr. 836016, V./EJG 2(?), Pilsen – Bory, Czechoslovakia, May 1945

• Fw 190 D-13/R11, W.Nr. 836017, Stab./JG 26, Flensburg - Weiche, Germany, May 1945

• Fw 190 D-13/R11, W.Nr. 836017, Flensburg – Weiche, Germany, summer 1945

All six marking options are variations on the (relatively) chaotic application of late-war Luftwaffe camouflage.

The decals are Eduard's recent in-house style.

As usual, Eduard has supplied self-adhesive die-cut masks for the canopy and wheels.

Eduard's 1:48 scale Fw 190 D-11/13 makes a welcome return.

The first-generation of Eduard Fw 190 A kits had a reputation for diffcult fit but the Fw 190 Ds didn't get the same bad rap. Take care with the wing root gun covers and the rest of it should it should be pretty straightforward.

Even after more than a decade, this is still the best Fw 190 D-11 or D-13 available.

The lower price, thanks to just one kit being in the box this time around, will please many canny modellers too!

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2010 by Brett Green
Page Created 4 October, 2021
Last updated 5 October, 2021

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