Kagero Publishing Focke Wulf Fw.190A/S/F/G - Monographs Special Edition #12

[Mike]

Focke Wulf Fw.190A/S/F/G - Monographs Special Edition #12

ISBN: 9788366148727

Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK

 

 

Focke-Wulf’s Fw.190 was initially designed as a replacement for the ageing Bf.109, which was thought to be approaching the end of its development potential.  They managed to squeeze yet more performance for the old 109 though, and they often fought side-by-side in the defence of the Reich until the very end.  The British were shocked by its first appearance, as at that time the Spitfire had the edge over the 109, so when they were outclassed by the new, diminutive fighter it spurred the Spitfire’s evolution in that endless game of leapfrog that war begets.  The 190 went through many alterations and improvements too, until its airframe diverged so far from the original that it was renamed after its designed Kurt Tank, as the Ta.152.

 

 

The Book

This is number 12 in the Monographs Special Editions from Kagero, with English used throughout.  It is hardcover bound and contains 264 pages in colour and black & white, plus two sheets purposely blank.  It is written by Krzysztof Janowicz, with many of the photos sourced from private collections that are noted in brackets in the captions.  The first 210 pages are text interspersed with many pictures and their accompanying captions, followed by a few pages of statistics in tables.  The remainder is filled with drawings with a substantial number of 1:48 scale plans, and the last 8 pages plus another 8 near the centre are devoted to some handsome side profiles of various airframes.  The chapters break down as follows:

 

Introduction

FW.190A-1

Fw.190A-2

Fw.190A-3

Fw.190A-4

Fw.190A-5

Fw.190A-6

Fw.190A-7

Fw.190A-8

Fw.190A-9

Fw.190F

Fw.190F-1 & F-2

Fw.190F-3

Fw.190F-8

Fw.190F-9

Fw.190G

Fw.190G-1

Fw.190G-2

Fw.190G-3

Fw.190G-8

Fw.190S

Painting & Markings

Operations in Western Europe

Operations in Africa, the South & North of Europe

Ostfront

Profiles

The Fighter of Many Faces

Africa & Sicily

All Straks’s Men

“Fire Brigade” on the Eastern Front

Re-organisation

Jack of all Trades

Hills, Mountains & Monte Cassino

To Stop the Red Bear

From Normandy to the Rhine

Defeat in the East

The Hungarian Ally

Hunting by Night

Over the Atlantic

Mistel

Evaluation of the Fw.190

Endnotes

Bibliography

Plans

Profiles

 

 

 

 

There is a substantial amount of text throughout the book which gives a lot of detail on the development, entry into service, combat experience and its various sub-variants.  The photographs are of great interest to anyone with a historical bent, and coupled with the captions there will be plenty of reading time after which you'll be a bit of an instant expert on the type, and ready for the plans, which are in 1:48.  In addition, there are three loose sheets, one A3 sheet in 1:48 showing an A3 with an A-8/R8 over the page.  The other two sheets are on A2 in 1:32 showing an A-5 and A-5tp on one page, and an A-8 on the other.  They’re all printed on both sides for maximum information of course.

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

The diminutive and combative Butcher Bird is a firm favourite amongst us aircraft enthusiasts, and this book has an absolute wealth of information within its hard cover, that can’t help but broaden your knowledge in the process.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of