Focke-Wulf Fw190D-11/13 Combo - 1:72 Hasegawa

[Paul A H]

Focke-Wulf Fw190D-11/13 Combo

1:72 Hasegawa

The Focke-Wulf Fw190 was designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. His aim was to create a fighter that was fast and agile, but also reliable. It had a wide track undercarriage to improve ground handling and utilised electric rather than hydraulic controls to reduce the risk of system loss in combat. The early marks of Fw190 also marked a departure from aircraft like the Bf109 and Spitfire as it combined a 14 cylinder radial engine with a development of the NACA cowling system. This choice was crucial as it meant that the Fw190 would not create additional demand for DB 601 liquid cooled engines. It also allowed a low drag profile for such a powerful engine.

Despite early teething problems, the Fw190 first entered operational service over France in August 1941. It proved to be quite a shock for the RAF whose Spitfire Mk.V, the best fighter available at the time, was outclassed in terms of firepower and all round performance, particularly at lower and medium altitudes. The Fw190D-11 and D-13 represent what amounted to the ultimate incarnation of Tank's fighter. The D-11 differed from previous D series aircraft as it featured the Jumo 213F engine, a related development of the 213E used in the high-altitude Ta-152H. It mounted two 30mm cannon in the outer wings and two 20mm cannon in the inner wings. The D-13 featured a single 30mm cannon firing through the propeller hub instead of the cannon mounted in the outer wing.

What you get on opening the box are two copies of Hasegawas Fw 190D-9, along with a bag of resin parts for converting the D-9 to D11 or D13 standard. Enough parts are provided for two conversions, but you'll only be able to build one of each because only one set of the D-11's wing-mounted cannon muzzles and one D-13 propeller spinner are provided. The kit itself is beautifully moulded in glossy grey plastic, with crisp recessed panel line and fastener detail throughout. The resin parts look fine, but will need cleaning up as there is a fair amount of flash present on most of the parts, as well as the usual pouring stubs.

Hasegawa's D-9 is pretty well regarded by the modelling community, which bodes well for this limited edition D-11/D-13 boxing. Thanks to the way the original kit has been designed, no cutting is necessary in order to use the resin parts. Construction starts with the cockpit, which is fairly typical Hasegawa fayre in the sense that it is rather sparse. It is comprised of a tub, seat, instrument panel and control column. The sidewalls are devoid of detail and decals are provided to represent cockpit instruments and controls.

Detail elsewhere is pretty good, however. The original kit featured propeller blades that were moulded separately to the hub, so replacement of said items with the included resin alternatives is no great burden. The same applies to the decking in front of the cockpit, which is a straight swap for the original kit part. Construction of the wings and tail planes is conventional, and the main undercarriage bay is convincing both in terms of depth and detail.

The undercarriage legs and wheels are accurately represented, and the level of moulded detail is consistently high. The resin supercharger intake is cast in one piece, which is a distinct improvement over the two-part original kit version. A drop tank is also included to add some underwing interest. The cockpit canopy is moulded in two parts, so it can be posed in the open position.

Decal options include:

• FW190D-11 220009, Verbandsfuehrerschule, Germany, May 1945;
• FW190D-11 220014, Verbandsfuehrerschule, Germany, May 1945;
• FW190D-13 836017, Franz Götz, Stab/JG26, May 1945

All of the aircraft are finished in RLM82 and RLM83 over RLM76

Conclusion

Hasegawa's Fw190D-9 is well regarded by the modelling community, so it should serve as a sound basis for this conversion. The level of detail and the quality of moulding is excellent, and while the resin parts are not as polished as those by the likes of Aires or CMK, they should be up to the job. If you can find it for a reasonable price, then this is a pretty tempting package.

Review sample courtesy of UK distributors for

[Duncan B]

Nice review but the title states "1/72 scale - Revell".

Duncan B

[dfqweofekwpeweiop4]

The Revell mistake got me looking as well!

The Hasegawa D-9 is a nice kit, fits well, looks good when built, only problem is it's a touch expensive. I've got an AZ D-11 and Tamiya D-9 (with Loon D-13 conversion) to build, so I'll be able to compare fully when I've built them all.

thanks

Mike

[Paul A H]

Whoops, fixed now

[Giorgio N]

The Hasegawa kit is nice, although the lower central wing area is not 100% correct, however I have some doubts about this package: if I understand right, the engine cowling of the D11/13 was broader at the bottom than the D9's. Replacing the upper area only does not give an accurate D11 or 13.

I'm also not sure about the colour scheme for the D-13 as this same aircraft has been well researched and seems to have a much "wilder" scheme

[Steve86]

Thanks for the review, if I see one cheap enough I might just consider buying it!