Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4

Zoukei-Mura, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s and widely used during World War II. 

Along with its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Focke-Wulf 190 Würger became the backbone of the Luftwaffe's Jagdwaffe (Fighter Force). 

The twin-row BMW 801 radial engine that powered most operational versions enabled the Fw 190 to lift larger loads than the Bf 109, allowing its use as a day fighter, fighter-bomber, ground-attack aircraft and, to a lesser degree, night fighter. 

The Fw 190 A started flying operationally over France in August 1941, and quickly proved superior in all but turn radius to the Royal Air Force's main front-line fighter, the Spitfire Mk. V, especially at low and medium altitudes. The 190 maintained superiority over Allied fighters until the introduction of the improved Spitfire Mk. IX.

In November/December 1942, the Fw 190 made its air combat debut on the Eastern Front, finding much success in fighter wings and specialised ground attack units called Schlachtgeschwader (Battle Wings or Strike Wings) from October 1943 onwards. 

The Fw 190 provided greater firepower than the Bf 109, and at low to medium altitude, superior manoeuvrability, in the opinion of German pilots who flew both fighters.

Fw 190 A-4

Introduced in July 1942, the Fw 190 A-4 was equipped with the same engine and basic armament as the A-3. Updated radio gear, the FuG 16Z, was installed replacing the earlier FuG VIIa.

A new, short "stub" vertical aerial mount was fitted to the top of the tail fin, a configuration that was kept through the rest of the production Fw 190s.

In some instances, pilot-controllable engine cooling vents were fitted to the fuselage sides in place of the plain slots.

Some A-4s were outfitted with a special Rüstsatz field conversion kit, comprising the fitting of a pair of under-wing Werfer-Granate 21 (BR 21) rocket mortars, and were designated Fw 190 A-4/R6.

The most important innovation introduced by the A-4 was, however, the fitting of various Umrüst-Bausätze factory-refit packages.

Fw 190 in 1/32 scale

A number of large scale Wurgers have been available ovet the last half Century.

Hasegawa's line-up included two generations of 1/32 scale Fw 190 A.

The first dated back as far as 1970. This was a bit of a mish-mash with Hasegawa claiming it was an A-5, A-7, A-8 and G-3 in various boxings. Detail was basic and surface details comprised raised panel lines.

Hasegawa's second attempt was much better. Unlike its earlier effort, Hasegawa's 2001 Fw 190 A-8 is accurate and well-detailed. Fit was excellent and with only 112 grey plastic parts, it is a fast build too. This kit's biggest shorthcoming is that it is pretty much unavailable unless you have an unlimited eBay budget.

In early 2015 Revell released an all-new 1/32 scale Fw 190 F-8 followed by a number of Fw 190 A variants. These kits featured a good level of detail including full engine, recessed panel lines, subtle fabric surfaces, separate control surfaces and useful options. At the time of its release it was inexpensive too.

However, we have never had an early-version Fw 190 A as a long-run injection moulded kit in 1/32 scale. The closest we have come is a resin conversion from Montex, and Pacific Coast Models' short-run 1/32 scale Fw 190 A-1 / 2 / 3 / 4 kit.

Now Zoukei-Mura enters the large scale Fw 190 A market.

Zoukei-Mura's new 1/32 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4 comprises 291 parts in grey plastic, 14 parts in clear plastic, self-adhesive die-cut masks, markings for three schemes (including one aircraft at two different times) and detailed 76 page illustrated instructions.

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Thumbnail panels:

This is Zoukei-Mura's second boxing of the Fw 190 A-4, the first being released in 2023. The only differences are the marking options on the decal sheet and parts to build the two-gun Light Armament wing in the 2023 release.

The subjects in this boxing represent Fw 190 A-4s with the four-gun wing however Zoukei-Mura has still included the lower hatches for the Light Armament version. If you want to build the two-gun version you'll just need to use Parts N3 and N13 for the lower hatches, omit the MG-FF cannon inside the wings and fill the holes in Parts N4 and N11.

The parts breakdown is strikingly unique to Zoukei-Mura with full detail inside and out. This includes frames and stringers represented on the inside surfaces of the wings and fuselage.

On the exterior, surface textures are restrained with fine recessed panel lines, hatches and minimal fasteners and rivets.

Zoukei-Mura has supplied full engine detail. The engine is made up from 47 plastic parts described over 11 pages of instructions. The result will be very impressive. The instructions also note that you may build a display jig from the kit sprues.

The cockpit continues the detail theme with 43 parts. The plastic instrument panels are supplemented by detailed decals for dials, switches, stencils and more.

An optional clear plastic upper instrument panel is offered.

Surprisingly, harness and rudder toe straps are not included.

Fuselage cooling vents may be posed open or closed. Cooling slots are also supplied as an option for earlier production aircraft.

Control surfaces are all separate parts and may be posed to taste. Fabric texture is subtle and convincing.

Flaps are supplied as two optional pairs. The dropped flap option features deep structural detail on the inner surfaces.

Full gun details is supplied. All access hatches may be posed open or closed.

The early-style inner main undercarriage doors may be posed open or closed too.

Other options include:

• Alternative cross tread and smooth tyres

• Alternative main wheel hubs

• Alternative tail wheels

• Two styles of drop tank

• Poseable side fuselage hatch including oxygen bottles and radio equipment inside.

• Separate tail gear inspection panel that may be posed open or closed.

• Optional upper gun cowl (Part A23 - possibly for A-2 / A-3)

• Alternative pilot's head armour (although I confess I can't tell the difference!)

A set of sway braces appears on the sprue too, but no centreline rack.

Setting accurate rake and splay for Fw 190 main undercarriage legs is notoriously tricky. Zoukei-Mura has minimised this challenge with solid and precisely keyed undercarriage legs that are cleverly slotted into the front of the wings and secured with a leading edge insert.

The inserts conform with panel lines.

The fuselage is split with the empennage as a separate sub-assembly. This parts features a fixed tall antenna post on top of the fin.

The clear sprue is this and free from distortion. The sprue includes bulged and flat sliding canopy sections.

Two versions of each sliding canopy are included - one representing and open canopy and the other closed. On the real Würger, the canopy was somewhat flexible. This flexibility was further enhanced with a short hinge on the top. This was necessary because the canopy rails tapered inwards back along the fuselage, requiring the front bottom corners of the canopy to pinch inward when opening (ie, the width was narrower when the canopy was open). 

Other parts on the clear sprue are navigation lights, armoured glass, gun sights and the aforementioned clear instrument panel.

Decals are printed perfectly by Cartograf.

Stencil markings are printed onto the single large decal sheet along with the unique markings of the three subjects..

The inclusion of die-cut self-adhesive masks is a nice touch.

Instructions are exhaustive with 76 pages of illustrations and text. Zoukei-Mura offers multiple views from different angles to ensure that the modeller fully understands the sequence and position of assembly.

Do we need another 1/32 scale Fw 190 A? Well, we've never had one like this!

Zoukei-Mura has taken us to a different universe of detail compared to Revell's and Hasegawa's Fw 190 A kits with around double the number of parts and plus engine and interior detail.

Pricing is comparable to Tamiya's 1/32 scale super kits, and there are options to create a range of Fw 190 A-4 variants straight from the box.

This is a truly luxurious model. Wurger fans rejoice!

Thanks to Zoukei-Mura for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2024 by Brett Green
Page Created 1 November, 2024
Last updated 1 November, 2024

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