Doc72 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Hello everybody! Which book or booklet can you recommend as the best reference of the Fw-190? I've recently noted again that my library has a significant gap when it comes to Kurt Tank's famous creation. "Best", of course, is a debatable and highly subjective category. What I am looking for is a publications that tells the different versions apart and contains a lot of (WWII-era) photographic material. I am less interested in pilots' stories, surviving examples in museums or profile drawings (if not backed up by photos). Also, the radial-engined versions and the fighter-bombers in particular are of greater interest to me than the Doras/Ta-152. What would be your recommendation? Thanks in advance! Ole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-21 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Valiant Wings Publishing Airframe & Miniature No.3 Fw190D & 152, also Airframe & Miniature No.7 Fw190 Both Second Editions . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal LH Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Yes, I can second the Valiant Wings , Airframe and Miniature No. 3 the updated second edition, should give you a lot of what you ask for, I was going to suggest the Classic Publications 3 volume series by Smith and Creek ,until I looked at their availability and prices on Ebay and Amazon, OUCH! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Schilhart Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 I would recommend Kagero's "Fw-190" series. Features plenty of original b/w shots. Has become my one-stop-reference for all my Fw-190 A/F builds. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SafetyDad Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 20 minutes ago, Roman Schilhart said: I would recommend Kagero's "Fw-190" series. Features plenty of original b/w shots. Has become my one-stop-reference for all my Fw-190 A/F builds. Hi Roman I got their volume on the 190A, F, G and S versions for Christmas. As you say, some great pictures, but some of the captions are wildly inaccurate sadly. There's quite a few mistakes in there. The pictures are excellent, but some background knowledge helps when teasing out the supporting information Best SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Schilhart Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 (edited) 3 minutes ago, SafetyDad said: ...but some of the captions are wildly inaccurate sadly. There's quite a few mistakes in there. Oh really. I always thought the Kagero book had more accurate infos than the Vaillant book (which I also have). Edited January 1, 2021 by Roman Schilhart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SafetyDad Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 20 hours ago, Hal LH said: Yes, I can second the Valiant Wings , Airframe and Miniature No. 3 the updated second edition, should give you a lot of what you ask for, I was going to suggest the Classic Publications 3 volume series by Smith and Creek ,until I looked at their availability and prices on Ebay and Amazon, OUCH! Might be worth waiting a little while - Classic (Ian Allan) have reprinted a number of their harder-to-find titles recently. You've just gotta be quick when they appear! My go-tos on the 190 The Classic series 3 vols Try here https://www.whsmith.co.uk/search?q=Fw190&cgid=ALL for MUCH better prices SD 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SafetyDad Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 4 minutes ago, Roman Schilhart said: Oh really. I always thought the Kagero book had more accurate infos than the Vaillant book (which I also have). Sadly yes. Their technical information seems very strong, but they are a bit wayward with unit identification at times. Two examples: they refer to a collection of end-of-war airframes on p134 as 'possibly IV/JG51' when JaPo and Eagle caption these as JG6, and on p165 where the JG54 badge is described as 'originating from an area where the residents had green hearts'. Surely a translation problem with that? But, as I say, excellent pics and technical information (on the BMW engine and the Nachtjager version for example). These little errors let it down unfortunately. I appreciate your enthusiasm for the book - just trying to be constructive. A good choice for a supporting volume, but perhaps not the one-stop resource? SD 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Schilhart Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 2 minutes ago, SafetyDad said: Sadly yes. Their technical information seems very strong, but they are a bit wayward with unit identification at times. Two examples: they refer to a collection of end-of-war airframes on p134 as 'possibly IV/JG51' when JaPo and Eagle caption these as JG6, and on p165 where the JG54 badge is described as 'originating from an area where the residents had green hearts'. Surely a translation problem with that? But, as I say, excellent pics and technical information (on the BMW engine and the Nachtjager version for example). These little errors let it down unfortunately. I appreciate your enthusiasm for the book - just trying to be constructive. A good choice for a supporting volume, but perhaps not the one-stop resource? SD Thank you for detailled explanation of the issues! I mainly use the Kagero publications for technical details. As you say, they contain some very useful drawings, including alterntaive weapons, and their positioning. I will take all other captions from the book with a grain of salt, now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SafetyDad Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 And this from Rodeike - I have a copy (in German). No affiliation with the seller - I chose it because you may find this easier to obtain? https://www.vdmedien24.de/Focke-Wulf-Jagdflugzeug-Fw-190-A-Fw-190-Dora-Ta-152-H SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SafetyDad Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Just now, Roman Schilhart said: Thank you for detailled explanation of the issues! I mainly use the Kagero publications for technical details. As you say, they contain some very useful drawings, including alterntaive weapons, and their positioning. I will take all other captions from the book with a grain of salt, now! Thanks Roman - appreciated. I agree. SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc72 Posted January 1, 2021 Author Share Posted January 1, 2021 Thanks for your hints! I had also thought about the books from Rodeike because I own the Rodeike/Prien book on the Bf-109, which I like a lot. Rodeike's FW-190 unfortunately is difficult to get at a reasonable price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 On 01/01/2021 at 9:12 PM, Doc72 said: Thanks for your hints! I had also thought about the books from Rodeike because I own the Rodeike/Prien book on the Bf-109, which I like a lot. Rodeike's FW-190 unfortunately is difficult to get at a reasonable price. I just recieved the Rodeike book from berlinerzinnfiguren (German version though) for the normal price, not some of the insane prices seen on ebay and other book search sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc72 Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 Thanks for the hint! But I think, it only covers the fighter versions (A, D), and not the F and G. Or does it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 On 1/26/2021 at 9:50 PM, Doc72 said: Thanks for the hint! But I think, it only covers the fighter versions (A, D), and not the F and G. Or does it? indeed, only the fighters. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 I know it isn’t helpful that much but ca. 3 years ago at least Vol. 1 and 2 of the Classic Books could be had for ca 25 quid each, from places like Book Depository, Blackwell‘s etc. The prices for most from the series are rather gaga, regrettably. 262 Vol. 4 must have leaves of gold in it. If you can find them at a reasonable price, go for them. The Rodeike book is also very good, but new copies seem to have sold out in Germany- they have a fixed cover price of € 58.80 (at which I bought mine when long out of print and used ones were approaching 100). Closest you can get is a webshop in Austria at € 60.50, but plus postage, possibly double VAT etc. A month earlier it would have been cheaper! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Just recieved my 'Flugzeug classic extra' teil 4 on the Fw190...... A-7, B, Turbojäger are the subjects. Really really want Teil 1 und 2 now....😟 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalkeEins Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 On 1/1/2021 at 2:35 PM, SafetyDad said: These little errors let it down unfortunately. I appreciate your enthusiasm for the book - just trying to be constructive. A good choice for a supporting volume, but perhaps not the one-stop resource? SD .. Even if you never read a word of the text (mostly translated/corrected by myself) or attempted to decipher the photo captions ( nothing to do with me) the Kagero volume is miles ahead of anything else out there if you want decent pics and drawings at a sensible price. A lot of images are from one or two well-known expert ‘collectors’ and haven’t appeared anywhere else. Unfortunately they aren’t always correctly credited. Rodeike took my breath away when I first got it on publication although the paper quality is terrible... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SafetyDad Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 12 hours ago, FalkeEins said: .. Even if you never read a word of the text (mostly translated/corrected by myself) or attempted to decipher the photo captions ( nothing to do with me) the Kagero volume is miles ahead of anything else out there if you want decent pics and drawings at a sensible price. A lot of images are from one or two well-known expert ‘collectors’ and haven’t appeared anywhere else. Unfortunately they aren’t always correctly credited. Rodeike took my breath away when I first got it on publication although the paper quality is terrible... Point taken. I would wholeheartedly agree that the pictures are excellent as I said above. SD 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dog Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 On 12/31/2020 at 6:14 PM, T-21 said: Valiant Wings Publishing Airframe & Miniature No.3 Fw190D & 152, also Airframe & Miniature No.7 Fw190 Both of mine have very well worn corners and edges from the numerous times I get them out to check them for info. Covers all variants including prototypes with changes to each airframe, their colours and markings (if info/photos are available), Walkaround photos of restored aircraft and wartime photos of different areas of aircraft, a few builds of different scale kits, a very comprehensive review of all kits available, plus decals and accessories and a few some colour profiles. Very comprehensive and reasonably priced (against some others which I'd love to have but $$$) If you need more info on contents just ask. Cheers Red Dog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalkeEins Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 The OP might be interested in this. Now only available as an Ebook, Ehrengardt's two specials (in French) on the Fw 190s are well worth it..lots of rarely seen ECPA-D archive shots get it here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc72 Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 Thanks. Yes, I had looked at this before. It doesn't seem to be available as a Ebook via the German Apple shop. But I guess the original paper edition is still available on the internet (second-hand or used). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dov Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 Hallo Well, actually there are lots of books around. Like from each major WW2 type. As a modeler and technician over decades, I got sometimes lost in contradictorily statements. So I switched to original manuals. Flight and engine manuals. As well as literature written by pilots who flew this aircraft. So also noted is Eric Brown. Many of these manuals are free to download! BMW 801 Handbuch FW-190 Handbuch Happy modelling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Just noticed you @Doc72 are located in Germany (not visible when posting from the phone), so double VAT etc will not be a problem if you order from Austria. I can recommend the Rodeike book which has extensive captions to the mostly large photos, but it's not one stop shop. I probably should not mention the JaPo paperbacks - they aren't one stop shop either and possibly a bit dated, but I think all JaPo books contain the fruits of a lot of original research; anyway, you need a lot of luck to get any of the older JaPo books at a reasonable price. I personally would really like their Dora camo books, but I'm simply not prepared to the money asked if and when one becomes available (just like the completely unrelated Chenel/Moreau/Liebert Mirage books vol. 1 to 3). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted February 12, 2021 Share Posted February 12, 2021 On 1/1/2021 at 2:24 PM, SafetyDad said: Might be worth waiting a little while - Classic (Ian Allan) have reprinted a number of their harder-to-find titles recently. You've just gotta be quick when they appear! My go-tos on the 190 The Classic series 3 vols Try here https://www.whsmith.co.uk/search?q=Fw190&cgid=ALL for MUCH better prices SD Drat! Deliver to UK only AND dispatch time 1-2 weeks, which means they have no stock and will order it from publishers or wholesalers.....who have no stock either.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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