Many
of us get an idea for a project from a period photo, and this is one of those
models. The excellent color photo below inspired my "long nose". The
heroism of the Luftwaffe pilots was not enough to defeat the Allies over the
continent. On May 8, 1945, Wrk. number 500570, "Black 12" of II/JG 6
was surrendered by its pilot to U.S. GIs. at Furth, Germany.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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History
The Fw190D-9 interceptor was considered by many
to be the finest piston-engine fighter in Luftwaffe service. Production of the
D9 began in August of 1944. It was powered with a liquid-cooled Junkers Jumo
213A 12-cylinder engine with 1,775 hp, boosted to 2,240hp with water-methanol
injection. This engine had previously been used exclusively on bombers.
Production was constantly threatened by Allied bombing and by the time JG-6
received D-9s in April 1945, the bombing campaign had so restricted fuel
supplies that only four aircraft could fly at a time. The D9 had a top speed of
430 mph at 20,200ft with a climb rate of 3,300 fpm and had a range of 480 mi.
Armament consisted of two 20mm MG-151/20 cannon in the wings with 250 rounds per
gun and two 13mm MG-131 cannon with 475 rounds per gun over the engine.
Approximately 600-700 D models of all variants were produced.
The Model
Tamiya’s excellent kit was built O-O-B with the
following exceptions:
- Eduard instrument and side panels
- Eduard seat belt/harness
- Quickboost exhaust
- Nylon thread antenna wire (that is slack
when the canopy is open)
- Drilled out gun barrels