1/48 Focke wulf Fw-190A Graf

Gallery Article by Rafi Ben-Shahar on Jan 26 2011

 

I thought that the variation to the theme of Major Hermann Graf's Fw-190A4-5s would be a suitable contribution that concludes my submissions to the ARC.

The 3 models represent two aircraft that were the mount of Major Graf during his short service in the Western Front. The A-4 is made of Hasegawa kit. The A-5 is of Eduard and the A-5/U7 is Dragon. I used Lifelike decals for two of the models whereby the Dragon is much OOB.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

Having sold the Dragon model, I was lured back to the topic by the attractive color configuration. While the Eduard model is the most accurate and detailed, building the Dragon model was much more fun whereas the Hasegawa stands somewhere in between. The problems with the Eduard model are almost overwhelming. It is imperative to leave engine cowling and wing gun troughs open if you want to retain the fun in the building process. Yet, with the engine cowling open, many details are missing. In addition, you would need to slide the cockpit floor aft 1.5mm to have the parts fit properly and "squash" the engine about 1mm to attain an authentic look in the fan area. I forgot about the latter this time.

I take the opportunity to thank Steve Bamford for his support and maintaining this great site. I trust that I was not talking to myself in my earlier submissions and that you got useful information that enabled you to enjoy building the topics that I presented.

After building some 400 or so models over the past 15 years and exhausting favorite variations within the vast WWII Luftwaffe theme, I feel it is high time to move to other areas where I start from scratch.

Rafi Ben-Shahar

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

  

Photos and text © by Rafi Ben-Shahar