In the January 2010 Eduard has launch brand new kit of the Focke Wulf Fw190D and this is continue of the very good series of the previous kit of Fw190A. This kit is in the 1/48 scale and kit number is 8184. As usual for the new Eduard products, this one coming as the Profi Pack and inside is decal sheet for the few versions of the model, protective masks and pre painted photo etched parts. Interesting to note is that kit is done in simplest possible way but simplification was not absolute possible.

Focke Wulf Fw190D by Eduard

The rest of the build are more easy and whole kit could be completed in several days, I have build this kit in five days. What is the most important is to start building from the back pages and choose which final version you are going to build. This will make later easy to follow all steps from instruction as well there is given variation of the used parts, depend of the final model. I have noted just few issues with kit, but nothing critical. First is the missing details of the locks of the engine access door at the nose bottom and the second thing is that tip shape of the sliding canopy is a little bit longer and this need little sanding. But as I said, this is nothing bad.

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I did not take any measurement of the finished kit but it look very correct in shape and appearance and very pretty on desk. All camouflage schemes from instruction kit is interesting and Eduard is give top reference available in bookshop as source of the info. Focke Wulf Fw190D kit No. 8184 is excellent kit and I warmly recommend to all who like 1/48 scale as well Luftwaffe airplanes. You can buy kit direct here!

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Sample kit is provided by Jan Zdiarsky from Eduard.

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After the end of WW1 there was a number of available German airplanes and Finland had an interest to obtain this machine for their air force. The whole process was plagued by France which had primary interest to sell their own airplanes. Finally in 1919 three OAW built machines arrived in Utti. These machines encountered propeller troubles but no matter of that, they were put in active service and French pilots were to fly them in Finland. Interesting to note that this Fokker D.VII performed first aerobatics in Finland. Two machines was lost in 1920, one was lost in January and the another in February. Remained Fokker D.VII serial 1C 352 was some later recoded into 1C 357 and finally to 1.D.357 This machine was damaged in July 1922 due to a pilot error. The airplane was repaired and it received new experimental splinter camouflage of four colors. It was assigned to the Flying Unit 1 at Utti and was used for fighter training. The aircraft was lost due to a very bad weather on the 30th of January 1924.

Fokker D.VII in Finland experimental camouflage

Most interesting part of this model building project was the final camouflage painting. Camouflage colours are described as Vaalean sininen (Light Blue FS 35526), Vihreä (Kaki FS 24098), Mustan ruskea (Dark Brown FS 10032) and Tumman sininen (Dark Blue FS 35045). All of these paints I have found in the range of the Humbrol and Vallejo acryl colours. I used Light Blue as base coat and then with intensive protection with tape, I have sprayed all of the other colours. As images of the original plane show some amount of dirt, I have taken wash all over the surface to get the desired look.

The national insignia caused real trouble. As I did not have any good decal in my spare box, I had to do them with template. First coat was white base and over it was painted blue swastika. On the fuselage was serial 1.D.357 and I had to make it with combination of the spare decals and brush retouch.

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The final result was a very nice looking model and this is one of the most favorite building work related to WW1 fighter types.

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This model build is sponsored by Eduard.

Special thanks to the Göran Bruun and Pentti Manninen for their great help!

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2. Fokker D.VII detail set Eduard FE402
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Many areas in the basic kit was empty and there was good place to apply Eduard photo etched parts. Undercarriage bay was almost based on this etched details and not only airframe details are made there, inside is also most important wires on the undercarriage legs. Interior is consisted in couple of the independent sections which are made as sub assemblies and there is engines, nose wheel bay with nose cone, air intake duct, cockpit interior and the wheel bay in wings. One of the most important part is the ejection seat, which replace original seat from kit and it is resin made part.

Finished Lightning kit

During the assembly of the kit I have made several changes in step. First at all I have skip mounting of the intake cone, part 14, to the intake assembly, as well it is better to leave this for the very end of assembly. Cone is finished in green color and this will avoid any need for protection during spraying of the entire model, this is better to complete finish and just put it on its bearing. Inside is enough of space to put lead for weight. I will also recommend you to put fuselage extensions, parts 43- 39- 40- 42, before you place wings of fuselage as well if you put wings first (as the instruction recommend), you will later have problem to sand cement if it leak from the edge of extension. But most of the other steps from the assembly instruction, could be followed with easy.

Four attractive machines were provided to be finished and decal sheet is very large and excellent printed. Proposed machines are from 111 Sq., 56 Sq., 92 Sq. And 19 Sq. I decide to make Mk. 1A from No. 111 Squadron. It is attractive and here you are few info from the operational service of Mk. 1A machines in this unit.

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By the September 1961 No. 111 Sq become fully operational with the Lightning F Mk. 1A. In October 1962 units machines were converted to carry in flight refueling probes and one month later unit has take part in the high altitude interceptions and perform successful interception of the hight flying U-2 from USAF/CIA service. From the March 1963 some of unit machines was deployed to the Cyprus. In 1964 unit get well know Black-Yellow unit colors and that was result of the competition and the winning scheme was painted on Airfix plastic kit of Lightning in 1/72 scale (kit released in 1963)!! During the summer 1964 unit was participated on the annual exercise on Cyprus. Lightning F Mk. 1A end its service in 111 Sq. In November 1964, when the machine was replaced with Lightning F Mk. 3.

I would not like to say that it is easy kit to built, no it is not, much of care have to be take during the assembly and painting but the final results are more then satisfactory! Finished kit look really nice and if you decide to left cockpit canopy open, many of the excellent interior detail would be seen. You can buy this kit direct here.

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Sample kit is provided by Jan Zdiarsky from Eduard.

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Subject of this kit pack is the another US Navy air ace, Lt. William C. Moseley. His Hellcat was F6F-3, BuNo 40090, from VF-1, USS Yorktown, June 1944. Machine is provided as replacement for the previous machine lost in combat with Japanes Rei Shiki fighters. Feature of this machine, presented in kit, is that it still wear ferry numbers hand brushed on the engine cowling and it used with the regular unit code and insignia. I know for only one image of this machine, show on the deck of flat top, and all machine is very dirt and wethered.

Grumman Hellcat

I warmly recomend this kit and you can get it direct here

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Sample kit is provided by Jan Zdiarsky from Eduard

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Fokker Dr. flown by Mafred von Richthofen

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Fokker S-14 Machtrainer

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Fokker fighter prototype

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Frank Luke last flight

This digital art present his last combat fight when he was shoot down and just some later he died. Art was digital work and made as promotinal illustration for the book about the Frank Luke.

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