Fw 190F-8
Eduard 1/72 Fw 190F-8 by Carmel J. Attard
MANUFACTURER: EDUARD
SCALE: 1/72
KIT NO.: 74 40
PARTS: 110 GREY PLASTIC, 3 CLEAR.
TYPE: NEW-TOOL, NEW VERSION.T
he Eduard 1/72 series of Fw
190 aircraft are arguably
the best of the type in
this scale. Now the Fw 190F-8 is
released in Profi-Pack format,
making a very neat little package.
This boxing includes photo-
etch frets and die-cut masks
for the canopy. This kit, being a
bomber “butcher bird” version,
also includes an additional fret
with fine detail parts. This gives
more scope for embellishments,
such as variously sized bomb
fins, more cockpit interior
detail, and wheel well items.
Also included are a few bonus
spares for other kit versions.The set includes markings
for one Fw 190 belonging to SG2,
Hungary, late 1944/early 45,
finished in a wintry camouflage
of RLM 45 mottle, over flat white
camouflage upper surfaces, with
RLM 76 undersides. Alternatively,
one can make a model in
RLM 74, 75, and 76 standard
camouflage. Both liveries carry a
yellow stripe and panel areas.
Kit parts are nicely moulded
with almost negligible mould
seams, plus there is a wide
selection of under-wing stores
to use, based on one’s own taste:
bombs, rockets, or a centreline
tank. Parts also include two types
of propellers, wheel doors, tires,
guns, canopies, and a variety
of upper gun cowling panels.
The kit is essentially a reissue
of No. 70111, but it also containsEduard sets 73589, SS589, and
CX479. These are cockpit brass
photo-etch parts with colour-
printed instruments and coloured
seat belts. Both of the latter are
also issued as decal items.
Instructions indicate that
you must read carefully before
assembly, because there are lots
of detail parts and options, and
you must decide which to use at
an early stage. Parts not for use
(totaling around 55 items) are well
marked and should be placed aside.
Although the kit looks much
similar to previous issues, there
are subtle differences, such as the
inclusion of a centreline pylon,
gear doors extended at their ends,
and the lack of well doors that are
adjacent to the centre of fuselage.
The corresponding redesigned
shapes of the wheel well openings
are all completed with delicatelyengraved interior detail.
The kit provides for two
slightly different canopies,
giving you the choice of either
open or closed versions.CONSTRUCTION
Assembly starts with the cockpit
parts which, when built, form
a nicely detailed sub-assembly
that fits snugly between the two
fuselage halves. However, much of
the fine detail you have added from
the brass sheet is hidden. Likewise
with the detailed radial engine,
much of which is, unfortunately,
hidden behind the engine fan.
I chose to leave the canopy open
so the interior detail is not all lost
to view. The PE painted seat belts
were bent to suit the seat shape.
This worked very well and looked
pretty accurate to the viewer. I
preferred to add the gun sight,
D4, a little later than indicated.
It is a tiny transparent part, and
it is easier to attach it after first
gluing the coaming, A51, then
attaching the gun sight inside
the square slot on the coaming.
The version that I picked did
not carry the outer wing gun
positions so I replaced the two
inner guns with hollow needles
cut to the same lengths. I replaced
the pitot tube at the starboard
wingtip with a metal one, as I was
sure the plastic one would not
survive for long if it was glued on.74 • NOVEMBER 2017 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
KIT REVIEWS
072-77-Reviews-1117.indd 74 16/10/2017 15:51