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Fw.190As & Fw.190A-8/R2s (#173 & #175) 1:48 EagleCals by Eagle Editions Ltd We’re well-served with Fw.190 kits in all scales, as it was one of the mainstay fighters of the German Luftwaffe of WWII alongside the equally well-known Bf.109. Eagle Editions have released these two decal sets that will help you depict a number of Fw.190As in 1:48 (other scales are available), from the early A-2s and A-3s in set #173 through to the later A-8/R2s in set #175, which had their 20mm outer-wing cannons replaced with larger 30mm Mk.108s for extra punch when attacking the bomber streams or engaging with Allied fighters in the defence of the Reich. Each sheet arrives in a ziplok bag, with the double-sided A3 instructions folded into four to act as protection for the decal sheets within. Sheet #173 has two sheets, with the balkenkreuz on a smaller additional sheet, while sheet #175 manages to fit all the decals on the one sheet. The instructions show larger side profiles of each airframe inside, top and partial bottom profiles, plus a separate page depicting the airframe stencilling, and a good deal of written information about each subject that covers a full A4 page. The almost photo-realistic profiles are penned by James Bentley, and are of excellent quality. Decals are by Cartograf, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Swastikas have been supplied, but in order not to fall foul of territories where displaying the symbol is illegal or to suit your own personal tastes, they are supplied in two halves, having separate central sections that you can omit, or just leave them off all together if the urge takes you. From the sheets you can build the following: Fw.190As – 1:48 (Sheet #173) Fw 190 A-2 “Yellow 12” flown by Oblt Rolf Hermichen 3./JG 26 May 1942, St. Omer France Fw 190 A “Green 2” Geschwader Stab JG 5 Fw 190 A-3 “Yellow 12” 9./JG 2 Fw 190 A-3 “Yellow 13/”Old Shap”, pilot Ofw. Josef Heinzeller Fw.190A-8/R2 – 1:48 (Sheet #175) “Black 8” 11.Sturm/JG 3 Uffz. Willi Maximowitz June 1944, Dreux France “Yellow 2” W.Nr. 682181 6./JG 300 Fw. Hubert Engst Dec 1944 Löbnitz, Germany “Black 4” 8/JG 300 Lt. Victor Heimann Feb 1945 Löbnitz, Germany “Yellow 12” Muschi 6/JG 300 Uffz. Paul Lixfeld Nov 1944 Löbnitz, Germany Conclusion If you’re looking for some different decals than those included in your kit box, then you should certainly consider these as candidates for your off-piste decals. Well-printed by industry masters Gartograf with some methodical research and high-quality instructions. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of