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Reviewed by Mike Powlen
The Focke Wulf Fw 190 D-15 was the last development of the D-Series aircraft. In 1944 it was decided that the Daimler-Benz DB603 series engines should be adopted to Fw 190D's as an additional resource of power plants to the Junkers Jumo 213 engine which powered the type. The development of the TA 152C which also used the DB 603 was already in progress but the desire of another fighter design which could be brought into operation more quickly was urgent. The design work of the D-15 had been proceeded in parallel with the D-14 but in order to insure the ease of construction many of the various components of the Ta 152C and the Fw 190A-8 were utilized whenever possible which made the D-15 something of a "hybrid". Although many sources say that at least 15 Fw 190A-8's were brought into Daimler-Benz's Schtuttgart-Eftardingen factory in March of 1945 for conversion and that "very few" were produced. "New" updated information conflicts this and states that "no" D-15's were indeed produced. Nonetheless the D-15 was an interesting design - "what if or not".
The kit comes packaged in a sturdy cardboard box. The components are all packed separately in plastic, which keeps them from being damaged (scratched). A nice touch!
The white metal parts consist of 3 separate VDM-VP props and will take a little extra cleaning up. There is a photo-etched fret (by Extratech) for the various interior details and just one vac canopy. The decals (also by Extratech) consist of b/w crosses and black swastikas. The instruction sheet (if you can call it that), consist of just 2 sheets. They show a b/w side profile of the aircraft along with top/bottom wings and tail-plane profiles. There is a small paragraph about the history (or lack thereof) of the D-15. The second sheet shows the attachment of some of the photo-etched and resin components. The kit is made to be used in conjunction with the Italeri, Dragon DML or Trimaster Fw 190 kits. Although this is a "first look" review, I couldn't resist the temptation of dry fitting some of the kits parts to the above mentioned kits and what I found you may find very interesting… I taped together wings from both a Dragon Fw190D-12 kit (#5534) and a DML Fw19A-8 (#5502). What I found was; the fit of the A-8 wings were much better than that of the D-12. With the D-12 there are some rather huge gaps at the tail of the wing - root and not so much so with those of the A-8. Although, either set will need work and filler or card stock will be needed.
Other than the abovementioned problem, this kit is a quality product of a much desired late war aircraft. RV Conversions has plans for no less than 12 more Focke-Wulf Fw190 production and prototype aircraft in the near future. I look forward to building each and every one. Recommended. Review Copyright © 2000 by Mike
Powlen
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The kit
comprises of only 7 resin parts, which are the 2 complete fuselage sides, the
large TA 152 type intake, cowling and front engine plate and the spinner. These
parts are done very nice indeed. With some of the best panel lines I have ever
seen on a resin kit.