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Airfix Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-8/A-8 1:72 – review

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1-HN-Ac-Airfix-Focke-Wulf-Fw-190F8A8-1.72
Ref: A02066
Price around £7.99 GBP
Review by Geoff Coughlin (Jan 2014)

Our thanks to Airfix for supplying our review sample. Get this impressive little kit here now at: www.airfix.com

A little bit of background

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was one of the most famous fighters of WWII; perhaps not as important as the Spitfire, Zero, Mustang or Bf 109 but its performances were equivalent. Late versions of type like the ‘D’ (“Dora” or Ta 152 were considered by many to be the best aeroplanes ever built at that time. The Fw 190 was a truly multi-role aircraft within the German Luftwaffe: fighter, night fighter, bomber, fighter-bomber, torpedo bomber …the list goes on! The basic design had excellent potential for development, much like the Supermarine Spitfire that enabled it to carry out so many and varied tasks so effectively.

A captured German Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8 (WNr. 681497, "White 11") of 5./JG 4 at St. Trond airfield, Belgium, circa 1 January 1945. This aircraft was flown during on 1 January 1945 by Corporal Walter Wagner who was hit by flak during the attack over St. Trond airfield. The engine died and he had to make an emergency landing. The weapons have obviously been removed. The photo was taken by the resident USAAF 404th Fighter Group.
A captured German Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8 (WNr. 681497, “White 11”) of 5./JG 4 at St. Trond airfield, Belgium, circa 1 January 1945. This aircraft was flown during on 1 January 1945 by Corporal Walter Wagner who was hit by flak during the attack over St. Trond airfield. The engine died and he had to make an emergency landing. The weapons have obviously been removed. The photo was taken by the resident USAAF 404th Fighter Group.

Here is my Hasegawa 1:32 Fw190A-8 that featured in my Osprey Modelling Manual book a while back that also featured “White 11”.
2a--HN-Ac-Airfix-Focke-Wulf-Fw-190F8A8-1.72

The A-8 version

The A-8 was an improved version of the A-7 with 115-litre extra tank behind the cockpit (note the correctly moulded fuel filler caps either side of the rear centre section on the Airfix kit). In addition, the aircraft’s electronics were upgraded to the FuG16YZ radio, FuG25a IFF and Molane antenna. The pitot tube was moved to the starboard wingtip (also correct in the kit). To adjust the position of centre of gravity, the radio equipment bay in the fuselage was moved one section forward and the position of the ETC501 bomb racks was moved 20cm forward (the ETC501 centreline rack is included with the kit). Many aircraft built after September 1944 were fitted with the “Galland Haube” canopy (slightly blown and rounded for better visibility) and this too is offered in the Airfix kit, along with the earlier, standard canopy.

Read the full Airfix Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-8/A-8 1:72 review…