Eduard Focke-Wulf Fw190A-2 1:48 – build review

Full Review with Richard Allen

Just before we get started, here’s a look at how it all turned out..

Opening Thoughts

I have recently started a WW2 Luftwaffe themed project and decided on the Eduard 1:48 FW190A-2 as my first 1:48 scale aircraft to start off with. This early version of the FW190 otherwise known as the “Butcher Bird” (Würger) felt like a good place to start.

The aircraft itself, completely caught out the Royal Air Force, and was superior to the Spitfire V in almost all respects except turn radius, being dominant until the Spitfire IX was introduced in late 1942. The aircraft ended up in many variants remaining as the prominent Luftwaffe fighter until the end of WW2.

Although I have been critical of Eduard previously, they do have a fantastic range of kits and in this instance specifically Luftwaffe, also with the ProfiPACK kits, the inclusion of PE seat belts, enhanced cockpit parts and masks is a fantastic option for a straight out of box build. Eduard Weekend Edition, Airfix, Hasegawa and Tamiya probably come out at a better cost for the kits, however when you add on the extras the ProfiPACK provides, they probably work out a better buy.

References:
Scalemates web site
Eduard
Web searches

The Plan…

Extensive scrolling through various web sites, has provided me with some excellent images and information on the FW190. Fortunately, there is an airworthy FW190A-8N, in virtually the same scheme of JG.2 as I intend to build, which has numerous images available on the web, these images plus the excellent Eduard instruction and paint scheme, will be the foundation for my build.

The reason I went for this specific scheme is the eagle artwork on fuselage (I presume) which were worn by Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG.2), this particular frame was flown by Oblt. Siegfried Schnell, CO of 9/JG2, operating in France, during June 1942.

The kit comes in an open top box, with fantastic artwork by Eduard. The 7 sprues, with around 200 parts are included, most sprues are packed in separate bags, which helps protect the parts in transit, especially the clear parts, a policy Airfix sadly does not follow!

Read on…