HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

Background

The Focke-Wulf Ta 152 was developed from the radial-engined Fw 190 A-series, and not the in-line engined D series as is sometimes assumed.  In fact the D was a stopgap design to provide better high altitude performance pending the development of the Ta 152H.

The Ta-152 was intended to use Fw 190 tooling wherever possible, but at the same time adopted a number of quite different construction features. It was intended to develop a number of Ta 152 versions optimised for low, medium and high altitude, as well as heavy fighter, fighter-bomber and other variants.

The Ta 152 came at a time when German industry was increasingly under enormous pressure due to allied bombing, as well as experiencing all manner of other difficulties and general shortages. Perhaps surprisingly, it was the most difficult to produce version, the high altitude H, that actually saw service; and ironically often at low and medium level. The number of Ta 152’s built and operated remains unclear.

The Ta 152 was undoubtedly a thoroughbred, and like several other end-of-war designs it approached the pinnacle of piston-engined fighter development. But as with many mid to late-war German aircraft projects it was to have little influence on the final outcome of events.  

The Book

The book is attractively produced with glossy pages, well-reproduced photos, and good to read English text. By this I mean it has no obvious signs of being a translation with the somewhat awkward phrasing that sometimes occurs. At 50 I have one minor complaint, and that is the print is a bit small and there are no gaps between paragraphs. This makes reading a little tiring, especially if you lose your place, as some pages are essentially a solid block of small print. Larger print and blank lines between paragraphs would mean more pages, but I feel many readers would appreciate such a change.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

After its introduction the book provides a history and summary on the Ta 152 A, B, C, E, & H, and the Ta 153. It also goes into some depth on the Fw 190 A-3/U7, Fw 190V13, V18, V21,V30/U1m, & V32/U1, as well as the Fw 190C. These test and prototype aircraft were to have some influence on the Ta 152 H high altitude project and their background provides an insight into the H’s development.  There are also operational and post-war histories provided.

A technical description and armament section deals with airframe, engine & boost, armament, specific Ta 152H-1 technical data, and avionics. This is followed by a production summary.

I can’t comment on their accuracy, but some very comprehensive and well-drawn plans to 1/72 scale are included. They cover the Fw 190 variants mentioned above and of course the Ta 152C & H variants actually built. These are in a foldout format with multiple views and cross-sections.

The colours and markings section gives background details, RLM colour chips, and several pages of attractively produced colour plans and profiles. Schemes for 12 aircraft cover both some developmental Fw 190 versions as well as the Ta 152 prototypes, C and H variants.

The book finishes with a photographic section, much of it in a colour photo walk-around format of the unrestored USA’s National Air & Space Museum’s Ta 152H-0.

Conclusion

This high quality booklet succeeds in providing the historian and modeller with an excellent account of the Ta 152’s development and very brief operational history. It covers several developmental versions of the Fw 190 that contributed to the Ta 152 as well. Superbly drawn plans, attractive colour scheme artwork and a walk-around of the real thing all serve to help the modeller.

Larger print and/or spaces between paragraphs would help middle-aged readers like myself, but this is a relatively minor point.

Recommended.

Thanks to 4+ Publications, for the review copy.

Review Copyright © 2010 by Mark Davies
Page Created 28 May, 2010
Last updated 28 May, 2010

Back to HyperScale Main Page