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Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9
Late Style Conversion

1/32 Scale

 

 

J. Rutman

 

S u m m a r y

Catalogue Number: Not Quoted
Price: USD$12.00
Scale: 1/32
Contents and Media: 5 pieces in cream coloured resin
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: Simple conversion with noticeable impact; accurate profile; nice surface detail; handy inclusion of late-style rack and drop tank.
Disadvantages: No instructions or notes; some modelling skills required for preparation of tail and cutting of kit fuselage
Recommendation: Recommended for moderately experienced modellers

 


HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

Reviewed by Brett Green

 

F i r s t   L o o k

 

At least one late-style Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 equipped with the large fin as fitted to the Ta 152 was photographed in an operational setting by war's end. This was the famous "Brown 4", attached to II Gruppe of JG 26. Additional late-style FW 190D-9s were probably in service with other units too.

This simple conversion from J. Rutman Productions will permit the modeller to depict this intriguing aircraft in 1/32 scale. It is also pleasing to see that the late-style centreline rack and cylindrical droptank are included with this conversion. Photos of Brown 4 show this aircraft equipped with the short, simplified rack.

Five resin parts make up this conversion - the empennage/fin, separate rudder, new rack and a two-part drop tank. It is designed for the Hasegawa Dora 9. The quality of the parts is very good, with fine surface detail and subtle fabric texture on the rudder - a massive improvement on the unsophisticated attempt at cross-hatch fabric on the Hasegawa kit. A few minor seams will need to be tidied up, and I recommend deepening the locating slots (and drilling out the elevator hinge-bar hole) for the horizontal tail before fitting these parts to the resin. The tail wheel well is quite shallow too. Some modellers may wish to hollow this space, but it will not be a problem to adapt the well to the kit tailwheel.

The fin includes the fuselage extension plug. This is thoughtful, as the join will be much easier to align, fill and sand on this relatively uniform surface. The casting plug on the front of the part should be retained. With minor trimming it should help create a solid bond with the kit fuselage. I was pleased to see that the back edge of the fin is recessed to fit the rudder. The rudder itself is well detailed with Flettner tab and navigation light in place.

One delicate sway-brace had broken off my rack in transit, but its reinstallation won't present any problems. The body of the drop tank is detailed with locating points for the sway braces, hoses and connections. Very nice. The nose cone features a well-detailed filler cap.

No instructions are supplied with this simple conversion but the surgery is simple enough. The kit fuselage is sliced straight along the panel line in front of the extension plug.

This is another welcome 1/32 scale excursion by J. Rutman Productions. Anyone with Hasegawa's big Dora who wants a different "look" for their model might find their answer here!

Recommended to moderately experienced modellers.

Thanks to Jerry Rutman for the review samples.


The full range of J. Rutman's kits and accessories may be viewed and ordered from his new website at http://jrutman.playnet.com/


Review and Images Copyright © 2002 by Brett Green
Page Created 28 January, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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