Eduard 1/48 FW190A-8/R2 Overtrees
By Jacob Russell
The Plane
The Focke-Wulf FW190A-8 was built in greater numbers than any other variant, with over 1300 produced during 1944. The A-8 used the basic armament of the A-7 (two MG 131s in the fuselage and four MG 151s in the wings), and the BMW 801D-2 radial engine with the MW 50 (Methanol-Water) boost system. With the MW 50 system 1700 hp was available at takeoff and 1440 hp was available at 18,700 feet. The GM-1 nitrous oxide injection system was also an option.
The word Rüstsätze ("R") refers to Luftwaffe field modification kits. The R2 kit replaced the pair of MG 151 cannons mounted in the outer wing gun bays with MK 108 30mm cannons. The R7 kit was a set of external armor plates for the fuselage, windscreen and canopy, and the R8 conversion combined the R2 and R7 kits with additional internal armor for the MK 108 cannon. The aircraft equipped with these Rüstsätze were informally called Rammjägers (ram fighters) and they were assigned to specialized Sturmstaffeln (Storm Squadrons). Many of these planes dispensed with the upper fuselage machine guns. They were tasked with attacking the Allied bombers ranging over the heart of Germany in 1944.
The combination of the armor and wing cannons adversely affected the plane's flight characteristics, and made them vulnerable to the Allied escort fighters. The Luftwaffe therefore created Bf109 equipped Staffeln to follow the Rammjägers into combat and to protect them from the Allied fighters.
The Model
This is an Overtrees kit, and as such it comes in a plain cardboard box. There are no instructions, decals, masks, or photo etched parts. It consists of 160 injection molded parts on 7 sprues. The clear sprue include 12 parts in their own bag. This sprue also includes a pair of armored canopy glass panels and a gun cowling with streamlined covers over the gun barrel troughs. Some aircraft had the upper decking guns removed and used this cowling.
The rest of the parts are molded in Eduard's customary gray plastic. There is fine rivet detail on the wings and fuselage. The cockpit is a highly detailed, multi-piece assembly that will stand out with careful use of washes and dry brushing. One unique feature of this Overtrees kit is that it comes with 2 pairs of fuselages, one with the external armor and one without.
The BMW 801D-12 14 cylinder engine is a complex, 20 piece model in its own right. Despite the engine's wonderful detail most of it will be invisible behind the cooling fan. If so inclined you can simply add an ignition harness and call it a day. You can also build the model with just the forward cowling and oil cooler rings installed, minus the rest of the cowling, to display the radial engine. Just be sure you have lots of photographic references at your disposal, because the engine and accessory compartment were FULL of wiring, hoses, etc. You also need to scratch build the support structure for the oil cooler and forward cowl rings.
The gun bay behind the engine and the wing inner cannon bays can be depicted open or closed. Both of these areas will benefit from added detail (wiring, etc.) if they are displayed open. Other thoughtful details include 2 sets of wheels (treaded and smooth), single piece or 3-piece tail wheels, and separate ailerons and rudder. The wheel wells are also a multi-piece assembly that will benefit from careful detail painting, like the cockpit. There's also a drop tank and rack.
Conclusion
I like the Overtrees concept and I recommend this kit, but I feel that due to the multi piece engine and wheel wells it is best suited to experienced modelers. It is accurate, well detailed, and it's a first class product. I like that Eduard gives you 2 fuselages to choose from, plus you can pick and choose how to depict a particular plane; with or without canopy or fuselage armor, with or without upper cowl guns, etc.
Because it's an Overtrees kit you'll need to download instructions from Eduard's website. You can also decide how far you want to go in terms of detail. Eduard offers masks, stencil decals, photo etch sets, Brassin wheels, cockpit, prop, etc.
If you pass on an Eduard Zoom set, I would recommend a set of Mike Grant instrument decals for the blank instrument panel faces. The absence of Rammjäger decals is not a stumbling block either, as sheets are valuable from Eagle Editions, AeroMaster and others. I would like to sincerely thank Eduard for providing the review model.
References
Focke-Wulf FW190 In Action (second edition), Aircraft No. 170, by Brian Filley, 1999, Squadron/Signal Publications.
Focke-Wulf FW190, Volume I, by Krzysztof Janowicz, Kagero Publishing, 2003.