Scale Aviation Modeller International — November 2017

Fw-190A-4 and Upgrades

Second look at Eduard 1/48 Fw-190A-4 and Upgrades

I

n September’s issue we

reviewed a test shot of

Eduard’s F w 190A-4. Although

our sample was not complete,

I was amazed at the quality of

the engraved detail, as well as

the way it has been engineered

to provide the basis for all Fw-

190 radial engine variants.

At E-Day, this kit was launched

to the general public, and at one

point I thought nearly everyone

at the show had an Eduard 190

tucked under their arms.

Now that I have a sample of the

production kit with instructions, I

am really looking forward to getting

it on the bench. But this does mean

I have a decision to make – which of

the five attractive options included

in the box to use on my model?

• Fw-190A-4, W.Nr.746, Obly
  S.Schnell, CO of 9. /JG 2, Vannes-
  Meucon, France, January 1943. The
  scheme I have always associated
  with the early 190 with the large
  Hawk marking along the side of
  the fuselage. This aircraft has
  the Hawk’s head on the cowling.
  RLM 74/75/76 with yellow under
  the cowling and rudder.


• Fw-190A-4, Maj. J Trauflott, CO
  of JG.54, Green Hearts, Soviet
  Union, 1943. This aircraft has
  the RLM 74/75/76 camouflage
  overpainted in white distemper.


• Fw190A-4 Nr.749, Oblt E Rudorffer,
  CO of 6. /JG.2, Sidi Ahmed, Tunisia,
  December 1942. This aircraft has
  the upper surfaces in RLM 79 sand
  and a white fuselage tail band. A
  yellow lower cowling and rudder
  add a splash of colour, while the
  swastika is painted over a square
  of the original RLM 75 finish.


• Fw-190A-4 W.Nr.760, FW. R.
  Eisele, 8/jg.2, Brest-Guipavas,
  France, 1943. Another classic
  RLM 74/75/76 with yellow trim.
  This example has a red wolf
  on the cowling and seven kill
  markings on the yellow rudder.


• Fw-190A-4, Oblt W Nowotny, CO
  of 1./JG 54, Staraya, Soviet Union,
  March 1943.
  This option is probably the most
  attractive: an unusual camouflage

of green and brown is the base,

with the addition of white patches

and large areas of yellow trim.

To accompany the kit, and also

released at E-Day, were the first

of what I am sure will be a flood

of optional extras. Though 90% of

modellers will be more than happy

with what is in the box, if you really

want to go to town on your 190A-4,

Eduard have everything you need.

ED 48936 FW190A-4 LANDING FLAPS

THIS SET SUPPLIES ETCHED BRASS

REPLACEMENT FLAPS. SOME SURGERY WILL

BE REQUIRED TO THE LOWER WING, SO THIS

SET IS ONLY SUITABLE FOR THE EXPERIENCED

MODELLER.

ED 48936 FW190A-4

THIS IS A GENERAL UPDATE SET. THE

MAIN AREA THAT GETS ATTENTION IS

THE UNDERCARRIAGE BAY, WHICH HAS

DETAILS FOR THE BAY SIDEWALLS AND

REPLACEMENTS FOR THE UNDERCARRIAGE

DOORS

EDFE 863 STEEL

SE AT BELT S

THIS SET SUPPLIES A

PRE-COLOURED SET

OF SEATBELTS IN MALLEABLE STEEL, WHICH

ENABLES YOU TO OBTAIN A MORE REALISTIC

DRAPE THAN BRASS BELTS.

ED 64351 FW190A-4 COCKPIT

THIS SET TOTALLY REPLACES THE PLASTIC

COCKPIT WITH RESIN AND BRASS. ALTHOUGH

THE KIT’S COCKPIT IS GOOD, THIS SET DOES

TAKE THE DETAIL TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

ED 64352 FW190A-4 ENGINE

THIS SUPPLIES THE COMPLETE ENGINE,

EXHAUSTS, REAR ACCESSORIES SECTION,

AND ENGINE MOUNTINGS. PERFECT IF YOU

WANT TO REMOVE THE COWLING FROM

YOUR MODEL.

ED 64353 FW190A-4 FUSELAGE GUNS

THIS SET SUPPLIES THE GUNS MOUNTED IN

THE UPPER FUSELAGE. A PERFECT SET FOR

THOSE WHO WANT TO ADD DETAIL NOT

SUPPLIED IN THE KIT, BUT DO NOT WANT TO

EXPEND A LOT OF TIME.

ED 64354 FW190A-4 ENGINE &

FUSELAGE GUNS

THIS SET COMBINES THE SET ABOVE

WITH THE REAR PART OF THE ENGINE SET,

ENABLING YOU TO OPEN UP THE FUSELAGE

SIDE PANELS.

ED 64355 FW190A-4 WING ROOT GUN

BAYS

ON THE ORIGINAL FW-190 MODEL, THE GUN

BAYS WERE INCLUDED IN PLASTIC, WHICH

MADE CONSTRUCTION...INTERESTING

(DIFFICULT?) ON THE NEW 190, THIS IS THE

WAY TO GO IF YOU WANT TO OPEN UP THE

WING BAYS. I LIKE THIS SET BECAUSE YOU

CAN USE THE BAYS ON ONE MODEL OR SPLIT

IT BETWEEN TWO KITS.

CONCLUSION

I am sure that this kit will be a

bigger seller than the original,

thanks to the simplicity of the

build. Even the internet trolls

have found little to criticise!

And if you want to go to town,

look no further than the resin

sets. However, if you want to use

them all on one model, it would

be worth waiting for the inevitable

Big Sin set that will include them

all at a discounted price.

WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM • NOVEMBER 2017 • 57

2nd LOOK!

052-57-FirstLooks-1117.indd 57 16/10/2017 15:32