If you don't know the history of the Focke-Wulf Fw-190D-9, you need to have your Internet Scale Modeling License revoked!

THE KIT

     

     This new kit by Hasegawa has been most eagerly awaited by modelers since it was announced following the introduction of their very successful 1/32 Bf-109G series last year.  This kit continues what was started in that series:  a relatively-inexpensive, accurate, 1/32 scale model, which when built out of the box will provide a good-looking model, yet one that a modeler can put all the additional detail on that they wish in the form of aftermarket sets.  I personally like this strategy better than that exemplified by Tamiya's 1/32 A6M5, which is pricy and highly detailed, regardless of whether you want it for that or not.  Now, it's really unlikely most modelers are going to buy more than one Zero, since you can only do a green-gray scheme in green and gray, so a one-time kit sale probably makes marketing sense for Tamiya.  For the Bf-109 and the Fw-190D, however, there are literally hundreds of markings possibilities available in aftermarket decals, with great variation in camouflage schemes as well; thus, a modeler might want to do several of these just for the markings - at a price of US$45, this is not a financial impossibility.  This is a kit many people will undoubtedly do more than one of.

      So, what do you get for your $45.00??

      Dora Guru Jerry Crandall, who is the hands-down World Champion Nitpicker of Fw-190D Kits, has already built one and pronounced himself quite happy with it for overall accuracy.  To me, that's all the recommendation I need to proceed with this.

      The kit is crisply-molded, and engineered in such a way that it is obvious they will continue the Hasegawa policy of milking out every sub-type of an airplane that can be done with minimal changes to the parts selection.  With a separate tail, it is certain they will release a late Dora with the Ta-152-style vertical fin.  With the engineering in place for outer wing armament, it is entirely likely they will show up with a Fw-190D-11 at some point.

      Most importantly, this is the first Dora kit that has the open wheel well and provision of the rear section of the Jumo powerplant.

      Both flat and bulged canopies are provided - they are crisp and clear.

      The model falls down on two items:

      The cockpit is not really detailed enough to be worthy of the rest of the model.  If this kit was in 1/48, I'd be cheering this cockpit, but in 1/32 there is just too much to see in there.  Cutting Edge already has a Dora cockpit for the earlier Hasegawa kit, and is about to release a new cockpit designed specifically to fit this version.  I know Scott says he likes to build review copies "out of the box," but I am going to wait for my resin cockpit to appear in the mail.  It's going to make a good kit great.

      The kit decals are not accurate for the two JV44 aircraft provided.  Fortunately, Eagle Editions is reprinting and re-releasing their 1/32 "Doras of the Galland Circus" sheet this coming month.  If you want to do a Papagei airplane, the sheet will be invaluable, and worth the wait to get it.  Eagle Editions also has other 1/32 Dora sheets, and I am sure Cutting Edge will be doing some, too.  There will be no dearth of markings possibilities for this kit, all of them superior to what is there in the box.

      There is one thing people who are going to do Papagei airplanes should be aware of: the lower surface markings were not neat and symmetric, as the kit instructions - and just about every other set of instructions about these airplanes - would have you believe.  This was a field-applied finish, put onto airplanes that were sitting on their gear.  The stripes were not all the same width, they were not a uniform distance apart, and the photographs I have seen would indicate they are not all perfectly aligned with each other (some are at angles).  Rather than use the kit-supplied decal stripes, paint the lower surface white, then mask for the stripes, and make them non-uniform by a bit - in 1/32 scale, it will be noticeable.

CONCLUSIONS

     Overall, this kit is a winner and will look good made out of the box, or with every aftermarket item available put to use in building it.

 Review kit provided by HobbyLink Japan