Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-15
Torpedo Bomber

IBG, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Afrer development of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 C was cancelled in 1943, the Fw 190D-14 was designed to mount the 1,750hp Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine.

The Fw 190 D-9 was based on the Fw 190 D-12, although the two D-14 prototypes were actually converted from Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9s.

Following test flights comparing the D-12 fitted with the Junkers Jumo 213EB engine and the D-14 with the Jumo DB 603, it was concluded that the DB 603 was the better engine at all altitudes.

The D-14 programme was cancelled on 31 January 1945 in favour of the D-15.

Development of the Fw 190D-15 superseded the D-14 on 31 January 1945. It was to be a basic conversion of the Fw 190 A-8 or A-9, with the DB 603 engine and longer tail.

One prototype may have been completed before the end of the war.

Fw 190 D-15 in 1/72 scale

I am not aware of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-15 ever being available as a 1/72 scale plastic kit, but Planet Models released a resin model in this scale around 2005 with several reissues since.

The main difference between the Planet Models offering and IBG's is that Planet designed their fuselage with the large tail.

I don't know of any photographs of the possible single prototype, so the choice is yours and nobody will be able to prove you wrong - orginal tail or big one!

Over the years there have been several resin kits and conversions of the Fw 190 D-15 in 1/48 scale from companies including RV Resin and High Flight Replicas. I think I have both of these buried somewhere deep in my model stash. They are long out of production.

IBG has released some impressive kits in the military vehicle and aircraft categories lately.

Tonight I review the IBG 1/72 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-15 Torpedo Bomber. This is a speculative variant as there was no more than a single prototype built, and possibly not even that.

IBG's 1/72 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-15 Torpedo Bomber comprises 90 parts in grey coloured plastic, around 50 parts on a single photo-etched fret, five parts in clear plus two decal sheets with three marking options and full stencil data.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

Thumbnail panels:

Speculative or otherwise, IBG has not taken any shortcuts with the unique characteristics of the Fw 190 D-5.

The fuselage is brand new with the large supercharger intake on the port side compared to the starboard side for the D-9. The subtle contours of the nose are quite different to the Dora 9 and look good here.

Also included is a DB 603 engine with its supercharger and unique mounts, the rear of which will be visible through the open wheel well.

A new and accurately shaped upper cowl rounds out the front end of the fuselage.

The lower wing is a new part too, with the smaller single shell ejector port that was used on the D-11, D-13 and D-15.

Surface texture is made up from fine recessed panel lines and rows of rivets.

These textures are crisp and fine, although the recessed rivets may not be to everyone's tastes. I think they look good, and they will look even better under paint.

My big studio lights and close-up photos also probably don't do the rivets justice. From the natural viewing distance with the unaided human eye, the rivets are fine and almost invisible from some angles.

The cockpit is adequately detailed with plastic and photo-etched parts. Decals are supplied for the instrument panels and side consoles, or you can paint the bezels, dials and switches yourself. Photo-etched harness straps, rudder pedals with foot straps and a tiny handle on the instrument panel are also offered.

The Daimler Benz DB 603 engine looks good. Full painting instructions are supplied. Exhausts are supplied as one-piece each. The narrow ends are not hollowed out, but good luck with that in 1/72 scale!

The engine mounts are attached to the front of the firewall, which doubles as the centre section of a single span wing spar, which in turn is attached to the forward cockpit floor and instrument coaming.

This engine and cockpit sub-assembly is then trapped between the fuselage halves.

Surprisingly, the kit is not designed to display the engine through open cowls. Instead, it is an original approach to the see-through wheel well.

The wheel well is highly detailed. It features the correct see-through effect, with the rear of the engine and the supercharger visible through the open centre section of the wheel well. The wheel well sidewalls, support structures and ceilings are photo-etched parts. I recommend test fitting thoroughly before gluing and, if possible, only fold the photo-etched parts once.

With the full-span lower wing in place, the upper wing halves are designed to slot into the wing root at around a 30 degree angle, then be pressed down into place. In theory, this should result in a gap-free wing root join.

The pitot tube is moulded to the leading edge of the starboard wing. I am almost certain to snap this off during assembly or painting, so I will most likely cut mine off cleanly and reattach it late in the assembly process.

The kit supplies a centreline torpedo and two outboard 300 litle drop tanks with streamlined fairings covering their mounts.

Of course, you don't have to use these.

A boarding step is also offered.

The cowl flaps are moulded shut.

Undercarriage legs feature photo-etched oleo scissors and a solid connection to the gear doors.

The two-piece main wheels are crisply detailed with raised tread and sidewall lettering.

The canopy parts are clear and acceptably 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.

Markings

Three marking options are included on the small decal sheet.

Registration and colours look great.

All these marking options are speculative, so you may follow the painting instructions or come up with something of your own whether based on fact or fiction.

The decals are printed by Techmod.

Stencil markings are provided on a separate sheet.

This is a very well-detailed small-scale Dora of a rare but interesting variant.

IBG has put a lot of thought into the breakdown of the kit and they have come up with some innovative solutions, especially around the see-through wheel well and engine bay.

Surface textures are crisp and fine although the recessed rivets will not be to everyone's taste.

The inclusion of 50 photo-etched parts adds to the fine detail.

This is not a kit for the beginner, but any average modeller with some experience working with photo-etch won't have any trouble with IBG's 1/72 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-15.

Thanks to IBG for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2022 by Brett Green
Page Created 26 January, 2022
Last updated 28 January, 2022

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page