1/48 Tamiya Fockewulf Fw- 190A-3

by Rian Jones

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The first prototype FW 190 was flown on June 1, 1939 and soon proved to have good qualities for such a comparatively small craft including excellent handling, good visibility and promising speed (initially around 610 km/h), its wide landing gear made it a more versatile aircraft than the ground loop prone Bf 109 and a safer one.  The 190 did not reach combat units in any numbers until the Autumn of 1941. The Allies were entirely unaware of the new fighter and initial reports of a new German fighter were dismissed as merely Curtis P-36 Mohawks captured from the French.  However, the RAF soon learned of the superiority of the 190 over the Spitfire Mk. V as the Luftwaffe used the new aircraft for low level raids over the south of England and had much success in dog fights with Spitfires.

The British acquired an intact FW 190A-3 on June 23, 1942 when Luftwaffe pilot Oberlt. Armin Faber landed at the RAF field at Pembrey by mistake.  Apparently Faber became disoriented after a dogfight and flew 180 degrees in the wrong direction.  He and his aircraft we immediately captured and the 190 was studied extensively and flown in trials against Spitfire Mk. V's.  The Mk. IX Spitfire was a direct result of these trials and the data acquired from the captured Fockewulf went into the design of many subsequent allied aircraft including the Sea Fury and F8F Bearcat.

I chose to model my Tamiya 1/48 scale Fockewulf FW 190A-3 after Faber's aircraft.  Apparently this particular aircraft, "White Chevron", was actually the mount of Major Assi Hahn and was being flown by Faber at the time of its capture.

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The Tamiya kit is a wonder to build, but it can use some improvements in the details.  I had a partial fret of Eduard photoetch in my spares bin and used the oleo scissors and landing flaps from that set.  I scratch built the upper portion of the landing flap bay from plastic sheet and strips.  I added brake lines from fine wire and used True Details resin wheels.  The elevators were cut away from the horizontal stabilizers.  Half round rod was glued to the matting edge and sanded to size/shape.  A length of brass rod was used to connect the elevators together and then they were possessed in a raised position.

The cockpit is detailed with mainly scratch built details using fine wire, aluminum from a Coke can, plastic rod and strips and the seatbelts from the Eduard PE fret.  I also scratch built the Revi gunsight as the kit part is very basic.  The MG barrels were drilled out, the cannon barrels were replaced with brass tubing and the pitot tube was scratch built by telescoping two diameters of stainless steel surgical tubing.

I finished my model in RLM 74/75/76 using the Aircraftcolours range of acrylic paints sprayed through my Tamiya HG airbrush.  (I have not had particular success with airbrushing the Aircraftcolours range of paints and will probably not use them again on future projects.)  I used EagleCals decal sheet #EC53.  The painting instructions for that particular sheet give one the choice of 74/75/76 or 02/71/76 (or 65).  02/71/65 is probably the correct choice.  However I opted for 74/75/76.

After painting, I gloss coated the model with Future and applied the decals.  These went on perfectly with just a small application of Microsol.  Weathering was done with artist oils (black and burnt umber) mixed with Turpenoid and ground up pastels.  The whole model was sealed with Model Master Matte Clear Lacquer.  The antenna wire was made from stretched sprue, threaded through a hole in the canopy and attached to the interior canopy frame.  The insulators were achieved by using dabs CA glue.

Rian

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Photos and text © by Rian Jones