Modelling a Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8/R8: In 1/32 scale

By Geoff Coughlin

Part of Osprey Modelling 27: Modelling the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A, F and G, a detailed, step-by-step guide to modelling the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8/R8 in 1/32 scale.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 is regarded as one of the best fighters of World War II. Designed by Kurk Tank, it first saw combat in the summer of 1941 and went on to be produced in several variants. It remains hugely popular subject for aviation scale-modellers.

Key aspects such as finishing techniques, including painting and displaying your model are covered.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Apr 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781780967080

Geoff Coughlin

Geoff Coughlin has been building scale models for over 20 years. He has written articles for Tamiya Model Magazine International and Scale Models International. For Osprey Publishing, Geoff has written World War 2 Luftwaffe Fighter Modelling in the Masterclass series.

Book preview

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Contents

Introduction

Tools and materials

Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8/R8

Special modelling ideas

Further reading and research

Museums and collections

Fw 190 kits available

Colour reference chart

Introduction

The box top artwork for Hasegawa’s 1/32-scale Fw 190F-8. A superb product.

There can be few more popular World War II subjects than Kurt Tank’s highly capable fighter, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Despite early teething troubles, the mount of so many famous Experten¹, like Hajo Hermann, Gerhard Barkhorn, Gunther Rall and Eric Hartmann, has always been very popular with scale modellers. Just about every manufacturer’s range features the Fw 190 in some form or another. Hasegawa’s 1/72-scale kits have always been quite neat, and, more recently Tamiya have scaled down their Fw 190A-3 and D-9 from the larger 1/48 scale – and very nice models they are too. Staying with the smaller scale for a moment, the Tamiya offerings are particularly nice as they feature finely recessed panel lines and accurate outline shape. Eduard do offer some excellent etched-metal detail sets for those who dare. However, for once Tamiya probably doesn’t take the cup for the best offering – this is reserved for Revell, with their superb Fw 190A-8/R11, a night-fighting version of the Fw 190. In addition to its minimal cost, some superb detail has been incorporated, such as the complex aerial arrangement above and below the main wings; finely detailed undercarriage units; thin trailing edges to the wings; and a detailed cockpit.

The 1/48 Tamiya Fw 190A-3. Tamiya also produce other excellent Fw 190s in quarter scale and 1/72 scale.

Moving back up to 1/48 scale, there have been some amazing releases over the years. Probably among the most desirable were those launched by Trimaster with etched-metal and vinyl parts. Although now unavailable, Dragon has released the same tooling for their Fw 190G-3 and A-8 kits (with an A-7 with wing-mounted slipper tanks listed for 2005/6), less the etched parts; even without these, they are still very nice. The moulds are wearing a bit now, with slight imperfections, and that irritating engine cowl still presents problems as it did on the original Trimaster offering. On the positive side, however, the kits feature just about the thinnest trailing edges on the wings and tailplane that I’ve ever seen; detailed cockpit, undercarriage and wheel well units; and probably the most accurate outline shape overall for an Fw 190 scale model. By adding either a Cutting Edge or SAM Publications resin engine cowl, the Dragon/Trimaster kits are much easier to construct.

If you want to build a really enjoyable quarter-scale Fw 190, you’ll probably go for the Tamiya A-3 or F-8. The fit is flawless and the construction phase will take you no time at all – leaving you free to concentrate on any one of the vast numbers of Luftwaffe schemes available in decal form. The A-3 is easily converted to an A-4, as we shall see