SHEET:

Cutting Edge 48-200: FW-190A

PRICE:

$9

UNITS:

See Review

REVIEW  :

Scott Van Aken

NOTES:

Reich Defenders part 3

 

Here is the third sheet of FW-190As that are mostly from JG 1. Again, these JG 1 schemes come from the Classic Publications book "Defenders of the Reich, JG 1 Vol 2" book. They are somewhat early planes and so require the CE modification set to properly build. Dragon did do an A-4 version that could be built as such right from the box, but cannot be used as a later A-5/6/7 version because it has the shorter nose. The A-8 kit cannot be used as is as the upper cowl guns are larger and so have a greater bulge that what was with the earlier versions. The only other option is to do cutting and hacking on two kits to get the one you want. Cheaper to get the conversion set, I would think. Unlike the earlier sheet, this one does not include any 1/72 markings.

As with the previous CE reviews, I'll use the drawings to the left as the basis for the descriptions.

First is a15./JG 54 A-8 version from the later part of the war. Yellow 1, and all the rest, is in RLM 74/75/76 with a lot of mottling. The yellow ID markings are on the lower rudder and lower cowling. The blue Reich Defense band will need to be painted on in blue.

Next is an A-4 variant from I./JG 1. This is the Technical Officer's plane and has the then common white/black bands on the nose. The lower cowling is yellow and the exhaust area is painted black. Mottling is very light.

Black 3 is an A-6 from 5./JG 1. It has a white nose with red on the lower cowling. This aircraft has no mottling on the fuselage at all.

Finally an A-4 version from II./JG 1. This is also the Technical Officer's plane and has rather heavy mottling on the fuselage side. The many white rings on the spinner are supplied as decals. It will be a bit of a challenge to get them all on and properly squared away!

As with other CE sheets, a full set of data stencils is provided, however, there is no placement guide as is usual with CE decals. Perhaps it is just an omission on this particular sheet.

Review copy courtesy of

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