Revell 1/32 FW-190D-9 (late), previewed by Scott Van Aken

The FW-190D was an attempt to improve the performance of the already very good FW-190A. It was felt that the addition of the more powerful Jumo 213 inline engine would provide the high altitude performance the earlier version lacked. Indeed, the resulting FW-190D-9 did improve the plane's performance at higher altitude, however, it was never used directly against bombers, but was used against escorting fighters. It was also used in the ground attack role, though perhaps not as successfully as the radial engine versions because liquid cooled engines are more prone to damage from light arms. The type was the springboard for the superlative Ta-152.

THE KIT

This is a reboxed Hasegawa kit and had the benefit of being a bit less expensive though I don't remember what I paid for it. Like most big scale Hasegawa kits, this one comes with a pilot figure. The cockpit is adequate for most modelers, but many will at least want to add a harness. The kit provides a full engine accessory section as it is easily seen from the wheel wells. The fuselage comes with a separate tail section and this kit is one of the reasons why. With the interior and accessory section built and painted, they, along with the backing sections for the exhaust, can be glued into the fuselage halves and the halves close. There may be those of you who prefer to glue the separate tail halves to each fuselage half and before adding stuff to the inside of the fuselage would be a good time to do this.

The kit provides both the broad and a standard tail piece and one of the three options is a standard plane. Which ever you choose, attach the tail gear assembly and join the halves. Instructions have you glue the stabs together at this time and set them aside. Then you move on to the forward cowling and install all the pieces that attach to the nose.

Wings are next with a hefty spar assembly which then fits into the lower wing. Flaps are then attached, followed by the upper wing halves. There is the option to do the flaps raised or lowered. Note that various holes can be opened in the lower wing section for the boarding step, antenna and a drop tank mount. With the wing attached, one moves on to the landing gear. Typical of Hasegawa, the mountings are good, but not perfect and there will be a bit of slop. Next all the underside bits are added before moving to the upper side. This includes the installation of either the early or later canoph to match whichever markings option you are doing.

Instructions are standard Revell AG fare with Revell paint references and some shades requiring mixing. The box art plane, brown 4 is in 75/83/76 with parts of the underside unpainted and the fuselage RLM 76 a fairly greenish shade. Black 6 is in RLM 75/83/81 uppers with 76 undersides and areas in unpainted metal. Some of the RLM 76 is also the greenish shade that some have called RLM 84. Finally there is yellow 10 in 82/83 again with parts of the underside unpainted and in the 'RLM 84' shade. This aircraft does not have the broad tail. Decals are nicely printed and do not include swastikas so you will need to source those elsewhere.

CONCLUSIONS

This is an excellent kit. I built the standard version in a Hasegawa box several years back and was very pleased with how it turned out. I expect this one to be the same.

KIT #:	04725
PRICE:	$
DECALS:	Three options
REVIEWER:	Scott Van Aken
NOTES:	2004 boxing