Valiant Wings Fw 190 Radial Engine & Fw 190D/Ta 152 Updated Editions
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
The Focke Wulf Fw 190D and Ta 152
Airframe & Miniature No.3
Author: Richard A. Franks
Publisher: Valiant Wings
ISBN: 978-1-912932-07-8
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 176
The Focke Wulf Fw 190 Radial-engine Versions
Airframe & Miniature No.7
Author: Richard A. Franks
Publisher: Valiant Wings
ISBN: 978-1-912932-08-5
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 240
Valiant Wings has come out with new editions of two of their early titles, the Focke Wulf Fw 190 Radial-engined Versions and The Focke Wulf Fw 190D and Ta 152. For those who missed these titles the first time around, here's a second chance. Since these books originally were released, the modeling world has seen some new kits of these famous Focke Wulfs. The updates reflect those new additions, while maintaining the quality reference section in front.
For those not familiar with the Valiant Wings Airframe & Miniature series, these books combine a detailed overview and technical description of the subject, and combine it with a thorough outline of the subject's portrayal in the modeling realm. The Focke Wulf Fw 190 family has an extensive history and lots of documentation out there, so the history section should not be expected to be the most comprehensive out there. Still, what is presented is quite useful, with each subtype being described. Accompanying this are drawings that visually show the differences between the marks. A camouflage & markings section highlights the colorful schemes worn by the Fw 190 & Ta 152 through the use of color profile illustrations. Finally, in the back of the book are a set of detailed scale drawings that will be of immense use to the modeler.
Speaking of modelers, the modeling section is extensive. Both books begin with sections outlining all of the available kits in the major scales. After that are some quality builds of some of the better kits. The radial-engined book includes builds on the Airfix 1/72 Fw 190F-8, Hasegawa 1/72 Fw 190A-8/R8, Revell 1/72 Fw 190A-7 with Neptun radar, MPM/Revell 1/72 Fw 190S-8, Eduard 1/48 Fw 190A-2, Tamiya 1/48 Fw 190F-8, Hasegawa 1/48 Fw 190A-4/F-1, and the Hasegawa 1/32 Fw 190A-5. The Fw 190D & Ta 152 book has fewer builds (understandably), and include the Hasegawa 1/72 Fw 190D-9, Tamiya 1/72 Fw 190D-9, Aoshima 1/72 Ta 152H-1, Eduard 1/48 Fw 190D-9, Hobby Boss 1/48 Ta 152C-0, Zoukei-Mura 1/48 Ta 152H-1, Hasegawa 1/32 Fw 190D-9, and the Zoukei-Mura 1/32 Ta 152H-1.
Following the builds are sections in both books that show all the different variants, including prototypes and one-off test aircraft, with callouts identifying the specific changes found on that version. This is a very useful tool to have to decipher the 190 nomenclature of just what is an A-8/R11. Rounding out the rest of the books are sections providing detail references including close up photos and period drawings, and a comprehensive aftermarket list of both detail accessories and decal sheets.
If you are looking for a set of books on modeling the Fw 190, these two are the best to have. They provide all the nuts and bolts you need to build any one of the latest Fw 190 kits out there, either out of the box or superdetailed, and given how quickly the first editions sold out, I would not hesitate too long on these. My thanks to Valiant Wings for the review copies.