From: "Submissions for ARC" To: "Dave Johnson" References: <4CABD787.6020008@wingnutfilms.co.nz> Subject: Re: HLJ - Eduard - 1/48 Focke Wulf Fw 190A-8/R2 Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:39:57 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252"; reply-type=original Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3664 Hi, I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today. Thanks again for sending it in. Steve Bamford Aircraft Resource Center http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com Live like there is no tomorrow; Love like you've never been hurt. Work like you don't need the money. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Johnson" To: Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2010 6:57 PM Subject: HLJ - Eduard - 1/48 Focke Wulf Fw 190A-8/R2 > > > Eduard > > 1/48 Focke Wulf Fw 190A-8/R2 > > Weekend Edition > > Product # 8428 (http://www.hlj.com/product/EDU8428) from HobbyLink Japan > (http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist.cgi?rel=nav&GenreCode=Air > ) > > Product Article by Dave Johnson on October 2010 > > History – > > The Focke Wulf 190 A-8 entered production in February 1944, it was > powered by an BMW 801. Changes that were introduced to the A-8 variant > included the emergency boost system fitted to the fighters engine. A > similar system with less power had been fitted to some earlier Fw190A, > raising power to 1,980 PS (1,953 hp, 1,456 kW) for a short time. From > the A-8 on Fw 190s could be fitted with a new paddle-bladed wooden > propeller, easily identified by its wide blades with curved tips. A new > bubble canopy design, with greatly improved vision sideways and forward > had been developed for the F-2 ground attack model, but was often seen > fitted at random on A-8s, F-8s and G-8s. The new canopy included a > larger piece of head armour. A new internal fuel tank with a capacity of > 115 liters (30 US gal) was fitted behind the cockpit, which meant that > the radio equipment had to be moved forward to just behind the pilot. > Other changes included an ETC 501 under-fuselage rack which was mounted > on a lengthened carrier and moved 200 mm (8 in) further forward to help > restore the center of gravity of the aircraft. This fuselage would form > the basis for all later variants of the Fw 190 and the Ta 152 series. > The Morane "whip" aerial was fitted as standard under the port wing. The > A-8/R2 replaced the outer wing 20 mm cannon with a 30 mm Mk 108 cannon, > was also fitted with heavy Armour including 30 mm canopy and windscreen > Armour and 5 mm cockpit Armour. The A-8 was the most numerous of the Fw > 190 As, with over 6,550 A-8 airframes produced from March 1944 to May > 1945. A-8s were produced by at least eight factories during its lifetime. > > The Kit – > > As most modelers know Eduard’s Weekend Editions offers a “No Frills” > option of their ProfiPack kits. The weekend editions are normally a > round the half the price of the ProfiPack, but does not offer any of the > Photo Etch parts or resin items (if there is any included), canopy masks > and only one decal option. The sprue’s are packed in the sturdy boxes > that Eduard uses, which also includes the side profiles and painting > guide. The kit is very involved with 174 olivey-green and 11 clear > plastic parts that is supplied on 7 sprue’s. Although 45 parts are not > used, but these parts could be used if you wished to build another > option/scheme. Some of the these extra parts are the two fuselages with > and without the extra side armour and the two different propellers are > also supplied. > > All parts are flash free and there is no signs of sink marks which is > great as clean up should be at minimum. Detail of the kit is fantastic, > even without all the extra parts that the ProfiPack would normally > supply. The cockpit, internal wing bay guns, undercarriage bays and the > nose cannons are all excellently reproduced, with crisp details. The BMW > engine that is supplied within the kit is superb, and consists of 21 > parts. The engine cowls can be modeled open to display the superb detail > of the engine. > > Also one of the items omitted from the weekend is the colourful > instruction booklet, which is now replaced with a 11 page A4 black and > white booklet. Paint callouts are in the Mr Color range, but are easier > converted to your favourite paint range. Decals are printed on one sheet > and are super thin and glossy. There are no misprints and in excellent > register. The scheme that is supplied with the kit is for Wihelm Moritz, > IV.(Sturm) / JG 3, Memmingen, Germany, July, 1944. > > Overall, the kit is well worth the money even thou its not a ProfiPack > option with all the extra goodies. The build may not be aimed for the > beginner due to the complexity of the kit. Its beautifully produced and > would be a superb kit for modellers with some experience under their belt. > > I would like to thank HobbyLink Japan (www.hlj.com ) > for this review sample. > >