Fw 190A-8 - 1:72 Eduard Royal Class

[Julien]

Fw 190A-8
1:72 Eduard Royal Class

The Focke-Wulf Fw190 was designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. His aim was to create a fighter that was not only fast and agile, but also reliable. It had a wide track undercarriage to improve ground handling and also utilised electric rather than hydraulic controls to reduce the risk of system loss in combat. The 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 1440hp 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 Fw190A-8 was the ultimate evolution of the radial-engined fw190s and entered service in 1944. It featured improvements such as extra fuel, improved armour and nearly 2000hp output with emergency boost.

The Kit
Eduard have been making these Royal Class editions of a few kits now, this is the first one top been seen in the box by this reviewer and I have to say it looks impressive. There is plastic for four kits, four sheets of Photo-etch, 4 sets of resin wheels, a set of masks for all four aircraft, a beer glass, and lastly a piece of a genuine Fw 190 including a certificate of authenticity for this part. There are decals provided for 12 options. The plastic parts are for the new tool Fw 190A-8 which was released by Eduard this year, including parts for the first time to make an A-8/R2 Sturmbock and an A-8/R11 Night Fighter.

Each kit is made up of 92 plastic parts spread across of two sprues of dark blue-grey plastic and a single clear sprue with the now-familiar circular layout. As this is the Royal Class boxing with different aircraft the main parts sprue is included 4 times. Fuselage/Wing Sprue C is included twice, with Sprue E in once, the same as spure I. There are 4 identical clear sprues. The instruction book is a glossy, stapled booklet with full-colour painting diagrams. Care will be needed to study the instructions depending on which decal option being modelled.

The quality of the plastic parts is second to none. The mouldings are clean and crisp and there are no evidence of flash, or sink marks. The surface detail is recessed panel lines, and delicately engraved rivet/fastener detail. Eduard certainly have not skimped on the details. Main sub-assemblies such as the cockpit are comparable with resin items when it comes to the quality, and quantity of detail. The cockpit is made up of over thirty parts (including photo etched details), which is a truly something for a kit of this size. Care must be taken as the cockpit photo-etch for the night fighter variant is slightly different that the other ones (of note is there are three standard frets and one night fighter one). Photo etched details help to raise the level of detail, and cover the obvious items such as the rudder pedals, seat harnesses and instrument panel and side consoles, although for the latter two items there are plastic alternatives. Once assembled, the whole thing can be sandwiched inside the fuselage halves along with the firewall and the basic-but-good-enough-in-this-scale engine face (unsurprisingly a resin replacement engine is available from Eduard if you really want to goto town on this area).

Setting the semi-completed fuselage to one side for a moment, construction turns to the wings, Again care is needed here to select the right parts for the aircraft being modelled. The lower wing is moulded as a single span, to which the main spar (which also forms the rear wall of the main landing gear bays) must be added. The other parts which form the structures and details of the landing gear bays must be added at this point, prior to everything being fixed in place by the addition of the upper wing surfaces. The ailerons are moulded separately to the rest of the wing, which opens up some possibilities for the diorama builder.

Turning back to the fuselage, the rudder is also moulded as a separate part, although the tail planes are solid lumps. The landing flaps are moulded in the up position, however Eduard have included set 72-612 in this boxing which provides full detail parts to show the landing flaps deployed. In common with other kits of the type, the upper fuselage forward of the cockpit is moulded separately (in this case as two parts with a third for the cannon barrels), again a resin detail set is available from Eduard should the modeller want to model the gun bay open.

Once the basic airframe is together, its time to fit the undercarriage and other finishing details. Each of the main gear legs is made up of two parts, although you have the option of removing the plastic torque links and replacing them with photo etched versions. The wheels themselves are made up of nicely moulded tyres and separate hubs. This should make painting them much easier. Alternatively two different types of Brassin wheels are included for use in this boxing. Ordnance is taken care of with a drop tank and a single bomb, along with the associated racks and shackles. There are a number of small parts included to cover the final details, including the aileron balance weights and various aerials and antennae. The canopy deserves a special mention as there are four rear sections included; blown and unblown, with different parts for closed and open options. Two propellers are included as well, although only one is needed for the included options. Another upgrade from Eduard is a complete resin propeller and fan (though not included here). If making the night fighter version then the aerials are provided as injected plastic and need to be added to the wings.

Decals
The decal sheet has been produced by Cartograf and is top notch. Glossy with an absolute minimum of carrier film, it should provide no problems, other than which option to build. The kit comes with 12 options;

• Fw 190A-8 Flown by Josef Priller famously over the beaches on D-Day.
• Fw 190A-8 Flown by Hans Dortenmann CO of 2./JG 54 France June 1944.
• Fw 190A-8 JG 301 North Germany, May 1945.
• Fw 190A-8 Flown by Rudolf Artner, 9./JG 5, Norway Spring 1945.
• Fw 190A-8 Flown by Alfred Bindseil, 6./JG 1, Germany Spring 1944.
• Fw 190A-8 9./JG 54 France Summer 1944.
• Fw 190A-8 W/N 73372, II./JG 300, Germany Spring 1945.
• Fw 190A-8/R2 W/N 681323 Flown by Friedrich-Karl Frank, II.(Strum)/JG 4, Germany Sept 1944.
• Fw 190A-8/R2 Flown by Wilhelm Moritz CO of IV.(Sturm)/JG 3, Germany, July 1944.
• Fw 190A-8/R2 Flown by Paul Lixfeld, 6./JG 300, Germany, Late 1944.
• Fw 190A-8/R2 Flown by Willi Maximowitz, IV.(Sturm)/JG 3, France, June 1944.
• Fw 190A-8/R-11 Flown by Günther Migge, 1./NJGr.10, Germany, 1944.

In addition to the main decals there are 4 sheets of stencils provided.

Beer Glass & Fw 190 Part
As this is the Royal Class boxing Eduard have included a Bohemia crystal beer glass. Also included as a piece of wreckage from Fw 190A-8/R-2 Werk No.681323. This aircraft crashed in Czechoslovakia 11th September 1944. The pilot Fw. Friedrich-Karl Frank (JG 4) bailed out and survived, though died 2 mounts later in an accident.

Conclusion
While some will see this as "another" Fw 190 boxing, there is no doubting the aircraft does have a wide following. If you are a 190 fan then I am sure this boxing for 4 aircraft will appeal. I am not sure how much extra the Glass and piece of fuselage add to the value, however if you plan to make four of these then this boxing does represent the same value as four separate kits. Recommended, or highly recommended for the Fw 190 fan.

Review sample courtesy of

[sroubos]

Another excellent review. RRP for this boxing is 75 euros. Price of a single profipack is 18,75 euros (as you state 1/4 of the price of the Royal Class boxing). However, the Royal Class contains 4 PE sets for the flaps which are 9,95 RRP each and 4 sets of wheels at 4,20 RRP! Plus the glass and the scrap.

These are really good value for money. I wish they'd done one of these for the Hellcat, I've got five of those in my stash by now.

[Julien]

They did do one in 1.48 for the Hellcat but not 1/72.

[Antoine]

Wow, Julien, a review this early in 2016?

What's your trick to treat hangover so fast?

[Julien]

Wow, Julien, a review this early in 2016?

What's your trick to treat hangover so fast?

Not drinking I find helps!

[Bear Paw]

This is a very tempting proposition and is seriously tempting me off my path of abstinence from buying any new kits this year.

[Bear Paw]

............. and it is only the 5th January!

[Antoine]

Not drinking I find helps!

You were punished?

Did you do something really that bad?

[sroubos]

Question is, does it count as one or four kits?

[Julien]

One box one kit if the wife asks

[sroubos]

Is it likely they will do another royal class boxing for a different 190 variant or is that not Eduard's MO?

[Julien]

No idea TBH

[FalkeEins]

..nice! Must get on with my first Profipack though

[charlie_c67]

Is it likely they will do another royal class boxing for a different 190 variant or is that not Eduard's MO?

I guess they'd do it if there was enough "variation" or interest for it. Perhaps indicating such would help? After all, aren't they bringing out the F's soon as well?

[Antoine]

Usualy, Mr Sulc give the release plans of the year (in fact, only the first six months are for sure) in the Ed info of january (He does a review and the programme of the last six months in july).

I may have missed something, but he doesn't speak about another quattro combo for the FW in those first six month.

But I'm sure that one will show up latter, but maybe it'll cover more than the A-5?

[sroubos]

That's what I'm hoping for, an early 190 set.

[Drift]

Gonna buy this. Thread necro, I know, sorry.