Eduard 1/48 Fw 190A-5
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Overview
The Eduard 1/48 Fw 190 series has been much anticipated, and now that
it is here, it is easy to see why. We have recently reviewed the Fw 190A-8
kit here at Internet Modeler, both in the box and built up. As the Fw
190A-5 shares many of the parts of the A-8 kit, I will reference you to
those two articles, and just highlight the different parts and new decals
in the Fw 190A-5 kit.
The Kit
 The
main differences between the Fw 190A-8 and the Fw 190A-5 are the wing
and fuselage, and Eduard has tooled up entirely new sprues for these parts.
This kit comes with a new, correct fuselage, with a separate piece for
the small cowl gun bulges. The wing is also new, and like the A-8 kit,
comes with a solid lower piece and two upper halves.
The other new sprue included in this kit provides all of the smaller
details separating the A-5 from the A-8. This includes the earlier style
of wheels, different cowl guns, and a new multi-piece cowl. The pre-painted
photoetch is also different, with all the subtle changes present for the
interior details.
Aside from the parts changes, the assembly is identical to the A-8 kit,
and the build article on that should help out immensely in building this
kit.
 The
decal choices all are aircraft from 1943. Four aircraft are on the decal
sheet, and the instructions depict these aircraft in full color four-view
drawings. The first aircraft is Hptm. Walter Nowotny’s aircraft
from when he was the commander of I./JG54. This aircraft is camouflaged
in RLM 70/71 over over RLM 76, with yellow trim around the rear fuselage,
lower rudder, cowl underside, and outer wing undersides and has black
double chevrons. The second choice is Hptm Egon Mayer’s aircraft
from when he was the commander of III./JG 2. This aircraft is camouflaged
in the standard RLM 74/75/76 scheme, with an all yellow rudder and yellow
cowl underside. The double chevrons are white, outlined in black, with
a thin white band outlined in black around the rear fuselage.
Aircraft number three is Uffz. Walter Köhne of 1./JG 1. It is camouflaged
the same as Egon Mayer’s aircraft, but without the yellow rudder.
Instead of just a yellow underside of the cowling, the whole cowl is yellow,
and the aircraft, numbered yellow 7, carries the name “Uschi”
under the cockpit. The final option is the striking aircraft of Oblt.
Rolf Strohal, of Stab I./JG 1. This aircraft is camouflaged in RLM 74/75/76
and has the black and white stripes of JG 1 on the cowl. As Strohal was
the Technical Officer of the unit, this aircraft has the chevron circle
marking on the fuselage
The decals are beautifully printed, with excellent registration, and
include a full set of stenciling.
Conclusion
This is an excellent continuation of Eduard’s already impressive
Fw 190 line, and the colorful markings will make it a popular subject
indeed. My thanks to Eduard for the review sample. |
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