Airframe & Miniature No.7: The Focke-Wulf Fw190 Radial-engine Versions by Richard A. Franks (Valiant Wings)
The seventh book in Valiant Wings much acclaimed series “Airframe & Miniature” contains a massive 224 pages, packed with vital information that no active modeller and Fw190 enthusiast should be without:
60+ pages of technical information
50+ pages of walk-around images and technical diagrams
10+ pages of camouflage and markings
35+ pages of model builds and modelling information
200+ photographs including wartime images
Colour side views and four-views by Richard J. Caruana
3D isometric views of all variants by Jacek Jackiewicz
Specially commissioned extensive 1/72nd, 1/48th and 1/32nd scale full kit builds by Libor Jekl, Steve A. Evans and Daniel Zamarbide Suarez
Specially commissioned front cover artwork by Jerry Boucher
A real bonus for the modeller are 2 sets of fold-out 1/48th scale plans .
Richard A. Franks’ seventh Valiant Wings Airframe and Miniature book covers all radial-engined (short nosed) versions of the Focke-Wulf Fw190 (mainly A, B, C, F, G, S, including many other variants plus prototypes).
The resulting volume, at 224 pages, is the biggest in the series to date. Richard has assembled a vast amount of information that he presents in a sequence that will appeal to the modeller, as well to the Aviation historian and Luftwaffe fan, interested in understanding the evolution of this aircraft. The result is an important reference of Fw190 research that is unlikely to be surpassed in the near future.
Like all Airframe and Miniature books this is not an operational history, and does not discuss the Fw 190’s contribution to Luftwaffe efforts to a great extent. The focus is on the technical aspects of airframe development and how to replicate the Fw190 in a scale model.
The book begins with a six-page preface summarising Fw190 evolution from the RLM’s 1937 design request, describing the A, B, C, F, G & S (two seat trainer) series plus the variants that got no further than the drawing board.
The next four chapters examine the development of the aircraft in detail:
Evolution: Prototypes and A-Series. Most Fw190s built were A-series aircraft. The early prototypes are covered, followed by the A-0, later V-series, A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7, A-8 and A-9. This chapter, over 30 pages long, is supported by 135 grey scale profiles, illustrating the differences between subtypes. There are also a number of black-and-white period photos of selected airframes.
The F and G-series: These close-support and long-range Fw190s are given the same thorough treatment as the A-series - 48 profiles cover all variants.
Conversions, Projects and New-builds: The 16 subtypes described and profiled in this chapter include the two-seat S-series trainers, the B, C and E-series prototypes, and the new build Flug-Werk Fw190 A-8/N replicas.
Camouflage and Markings: A close look at colours, RLMs, including early schemes, splinters, mottles, night operations, Eastern Front/winter operations, Mediterranean theatre, national insignia, operational markings, captured and foreign-operated aircraft. There are helpful black-and-white illustrations of national and squadron markings, while cowl, exhaust, RVD/”Defence of the Reich” tail bands, and theatre markings are shown in full colour. There are also 24 full colour, side view profiles showing a selection of camouflage and markings from the Fw190 A-2 to the Fw190 G-8.
The next four chapters are devoted to modelling the Fw190, starting with an analysis of radial-engine Fw190 kits in 1/144, 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24 scales. The accuracy of each kit is assessed against criteria including wings, wheel wells, undercarriage, fuselage, tailplanes, engine, propeller, interior, canopy and decals, before a final overall verdict is delivered.
The next three chapters are as follows:
Building a Selection: Libor Jekl builds four 1/72 kits (Airfix F-8, Hasegawa A-8/R-8, Revell A-7 and MPM/Revell S-8 two-seat), Dani Zamarbide builds two 1/48 kits (Eduard A-5 & Tamiya F-8) and Steve A. Evans builds Hasegawa’s A-4 “Tunisia” in 1/48 and an A-5 1/32 kit. All kits are built to a high standard with text and step-by-step photos. A verdict for each kit is also offered at the end.
Building a collection: This chapter uses no less than 84 quarter-view grey scale drawings to point out the relevant features/differences of each type and sub-type. Very helpful in identifying aircraft or models from photographs!
In Detail: This chapter is a walk around that uses wartime photographs and drawings along with modern photos of preserved and restored airframes to build up a complete picture of the Fw190 systems and parts. Specific areas addressed include cockpit and canopy, fuselage, engine, cowling, propeller, wings, tail, undercarriage, wheel wells, armament, racks, drop tanks, radio, electrical and camera equipment.
The book concludes with a two-page bibliography of sources, and two eight-page foldouts inside the back cover. The first is a set of 1/48 plans and cross-sections of selected radial-engined Fw190s. The second contains more plans and detailed parts diagrams and a guide to fitting engine protection covers.
All in all…
With so many books about the Fw190 (and many more to come out for sure!) it is very difficult to choose - especially if somebody is on a tight budget these days.
However if you were to pick just one book with a modelling focus, describing and depicting all the differences among the A – G types in an easy-going and clear way and having a lot more material to support your builds for the years to come, then you don’t need to look further than this one.
The team at Valiant Wings has done a brilliant job, that usefully complements the earlier Airframe and Miniature No.3 book (on the Fw190 D and Ta152).
Highly recommended to anyone interested in radial-engined Fw 190 kit build, regardless of the scale.
You can order this book using the following link:
http://www.valiant-wings.co.uk/airframe--miniature-no7-73-p.asp
