Valiant Wings Publishing: Focke-Wulf FW-189 Uhu
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Author: |
Richard A Franks |
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Publisher/Distributor |
Valiant Wings Publishing |
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Price |
£16.95 MSRP at
www.valiant-wings.co.uk |
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Reviewer: |
Scott Van Aken
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Notes: |
116 pages, A4 Format, softcover,
ISBN: 978-0-9575866-8-0, Airframe Album #6 |
Hot off
the presses, (well at least still warm after its transAtlantic trip) is the next
volume in Valiant Wing's Airframe Album series. This particular one covers the
Focke-Wulf FW-189. This was a tactical reconnaissance aircraft that was the
result of a competition that also brought us the BV-141. Despite not being a
single engine aircraft as required by the specs, it turned out to be a spirited
performer and most of all, a stable platform, something required for a recce
bird, especially when it came to taking photos.
Design work started as soon as the previous aircraft to fill that role,
the Hs-126 was being prototyped. It is never too late to be developing a
replacement for a new type and I'm sure that there are designs out there to
replace the F-22 and F-35. Initially powered by Hirth air cooled engines, it was
soon found that Argus power plants provided an improvement in performance and
only the first two prototypes had the Hirth engines.
Production types were very similar to the prototypes as little in terms
of the overall airframe was changed, though the design of the main landing gear
was one of them. There were ten trainers built with more standard forward
fuselages, but that is pretty much it for trainers. Focke-Wulf also made
multiple attempts to create a ground attack plane using the basic 189 airframe
with an armored pilot and co-pilot position, but though prototypes and one
preproduction 189C was built, none ever saw action, the Hs-129 being the plane
that was chosen instead.
The type was also used by many of the allies of the Third Reich
including Hungary, Slovakia, Rumania and Bulgaria. As the war progressed and the
Luftwaffe lost local air superiority, losses climbed and were eventually
replaced to some extent by camera equipped fighter types. Despite this, the
FW-189 was able to shoot down several Soviet aircraft and its light bomber
capabilities were used nearly as much as it reconnaissance missions. None
survived to be preserved, though some in service with Bulgaria and
Czechoslovakia soldiered on until the late 1940s when scrapped for lack of
spares.
The series follows a tried and true format with a nice history on the the
development of the 189 that not only includes a history but a rundown on
the different variants, including prototypes. This section also includes the use
of the airplane by foreign air arms. We then go into a Technical description of the aircraft
that is divided into segments such as Fuselage, Undercarriage, Engine, Wings and
so on. Each one of these sections has drawings from the tech manuals as well as
period
photos. The only modern photos are of the Argus engine as several of these have
survived. This makes up a
goodly portion of the book and is just what the AMS crowd wants.
Next major section is on the evolution of the type.
This includes art work on Prototype, Production, and Planned variants. Here we
get to see the changes made to the aircraft from the initial prototype on
through the production run and even into versions that did not go past the test
phase.
A section I particularly enjoyed was that of camouflage
and markings. This is one that is probably to be well sourced by modelers. The
FW-189 went through quite a few different changes in markings and as you might
imagine, even when things were 'standardized', there were differences. Those
markings used by foreign air arms are also included. This is then followed by
several pages full of some great color profiles, surely enough to whet one's
appetite for the recently released Airfix 1/72 Mk.I.
The last section includes a listing of kits, decals,
accessories and book references for the Uhu. THere are even a couple of build
articles, one using the kit boxed by Italeri/MPM/Condor and the more recent GWH
version. Oddly, both modelers chose planes with a winter wash.
In all, it is another superb effort from Valiant Wings
and a book that easily gets my highest recommendation. It is an absolute must
for those who are planning on building one of the various kits. I would guess
that this one will sell out rather quickly so best to get in your order while it
is still available.
February 2015
For more on Valiant Wings, including getting this book, visit
www.valiant-wings.co.uk. Thank you
for the review copy.
If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly, please
contact
me or see other details in the Note to
Contributors.