Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-13
Weekend Edition

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Dave Wilson

Eduard's 1/48 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-13 is available online from Squadron.com

New model releases of late war Luftwaffe fighters seem to attract extremes amongst modellers. Detail enthusiasts like to debate a new release for perceived  accuracy issues while the “just build it” fans can’t see what all the fuss is about.

The consensus on Eduard’s Fw 190 D series however is positive. It takes us a quantum leap ahead of earlier Dora kits, of which there have been several renderings in 1/48th scale, notably from Tamiya and Dragon, with Eduard’s being the most recent kit.

Eduard’s Fw 190 D-9 was warmly welcomed on its release in early 2010 and Brett Green’s detailed review for HyperScale of the model from that time can be read by following this link.

Subsequently Eduard developed a welcome combo kit of the Fw 190 D-11/ D-13 and Brett Green’s review of that release provides the key information on what’s in the box.

More recently Eduard has shrewdly separated the D-11 and D-13 kits and re-packaged them into standalone “Weekend Edition” issues.

As the D-13 has already been reviewed in depth,  as has the Dora series, this in-box review is essentially confined to what’s contained in the stripped down “Weekend Edition” issue.

Any “First Look” review is really just a consumer report on the box contents to help people decide if the purchase is worthwhile. Without question the Eduard D-13 is worth its price.

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A key point is that Eduard’s D-13 is the only 1/48th scale model of this marque and for $US 24.95 there’s a lot in the box. Eduard’s “Weekend Edition” philosophy is a shrewd marketing move- reissue a high quality model but stripped of any PE frets, masks and multi marking decals and provide just the plastic parts with decals for just one subject, for significantly less than the original issue retail price.

First impressions upon opening the box are very positive. The kit’s 159 parts are protected in two individual bags and the fine quality clear parts are contained in a separate bag and are blemish-free.

The black and white instructions show shaded areas with ‘unused parts’ from the sprues and without being a Dora expert, it’s obvious there are parts here for other versions. A bonus for the spares box at least.

The supplied decal option includes swastikas (not depicted on the box art) and  a complete set of stencil data – an unexpected inclusion.

The parts are moulded in Eduard’s trademark olive/tan styrene and are crisply detailed and flash free. Two parts had separated from the sprues in the review sample but neither were damaged.

The subject for Eduard’s D-13 is perhaps fairly predictable, being the only D-13 to have survived the war.

Wk. Nr 836017 “Yellow 10” is understood to have been on charge with JG 26 in 1945, flown by Major Franz Gotz, a 63 victory ace.  Since its full restoration the D-13 has been housed at the Flying Heritage Collection at Everett in Washington State, America.

As such copious detail reference photos of the machine can be found in books and on the Net.

Although the chief colour guide is in black and white, keyed to the Mr Color range,  there are useful colour side views on the box top which also thankfully feature RLM colour callouts, something all model manufacturers should do.

Perhaps the best test of any model kit though is how the modeller feels on opening the box.

Handling the Eduard Fw 190 D-13 sprues generates a little voice saying “I want to make this!” in the mind and ultimately that’s about the best recommendation you can have.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2011 by Dave Wilson
Page Created 12 September, 2011
Last updated 13 September, 2011

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