References

I often enjoy providing several references to supplement my review notes. I initially pull out one of favorites: from the series of hard bound books, their Focke-Wulf Fw 190 by Robert Grinsell and illustrations by Rikyu Watanabe. This book among its other 1990 illustrations is a great series of cutaway drawings and a three-page drawing of Wurmheller’s Fw 190 with the color scheme and markings very close to the model and markings. I am unsure about the availability of these fine 48-page books, though I highly recommend them.

Additionally, there are many internet sources of background information about the Würger, including:

• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf_Fw_190
• War Thunder Wiki: https://wiki.warthunder.com/unit/fw-190a-4
• WWII Aircraft Performance: http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/fw190/fw190a4.html
• (including many a/c specifics in the original German text)
• Three different reviews of the Zoukei Mura kits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fACOwJ2GIO8
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CumtCdCQ5k
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JgiuiHBgHs

Kit Versions

Initially you’ll see that there are several kits from the same basic Fw 190 kit? As an astute modeler you will see that this kit was released as Super Wing Series No. 21 ‘Siegfried Schnell’ and later as No. 22 (albeit in different markings and no figure). You may also notice that each of these kits was initially released as a ‘pre-order release’ kit with the markings for only two a/c in each release. And this later kit was available only during the period March 30, 2024 through August 12, 2024. From further notes there appear to be potentially more A-3/-4 kits on the horizon.And the ‘Die Bauanleitung’ (instruction booklet) for this kit is the is the same for both kits.

When you first look at this kit, you are greeted with over 314 separate parts, molded in a medium gray plastic with twelve sprue trees (or ‘runners’), a set of paint masks and a large sheet of beautiful Cartograf decals (and no PE fret). This is where you need to quickly make some early decisions about is your intention to build either the ‘Yellow 4’ or the Chevron Double Bar (shown in the instructions as ‘<II’) shown in a top washed white winter camouflage scheme.As you move through the instructions, you’ll begin to pick out the details and just how these details differ between the two a/c.

Building the SWS Fw 190 A-4 requires a bit of modeler’s strategy. In short this means that you’re advised to spend a considerable amount of time in your analysis and review of each of the individual step called out in this 59 page instruction manual.

Watch the leading edges of the wings where alignment is critical, and I found some basic sanding was needed. My building experience also required some careful dry fitting and some minor ‘surgery’ to insure the best fit. In my case I feel this boils down to just how much of the aircraft details are shown and believe me, there are a huge number of places for you to clearly display your approach to details. With that caveat, I still found myself using my trusty Vallejo Plastic Putty (# 70.401) to bridge the gaps in my construction of this kit.

As mentioned previously, I ran into several steps where this kit simply didn’t ‘fall together.’ I found this to be especially bothersome when constructing the cowling area (steps 3-4.N through 3-4.P). While constructing the MG 17 machine guns and installing them in the top cowl support frame and the machine gun cover matched the drawings perfectly, I wound up with rather large gaps around those pieces. The same problems were evident with the upper and lower engine cowl sections. Plastic putty is how I solved (or attempted to solve) these issues.

Installing the main gear was a bit of a slog as well; the positioning of both wheels requires them to be canted both inward towards the fuselage and forward. You need to reference several detail drawings to insure they are positioned correctly, and the main gear struts and support arms (G-15 & -19) are just right, at least I achieved the correct stance and gear angles (draw. 3-4.W).

Paints Used

In my choice for painting the infamous ‘butcher bird’ I chose the following Real Color paints.

As an aside there seems to be some confusion about just what these paints are, and do they differ from what they are listed as ‘NEW Real Colors Acrylic Lacquer Paint’. I know I was forced to investigate this a bit further just to understand is there a difference a ‘lacquer‘ and ‘acrylic lacquer’? Even though the latest bottles of the Real Colors paints clearly list them as ‘lacquer‘ paints, the confusion is one of semantics when their advertising an ‘acrylic lacquer’with anew improved format. The bottom line seems to be that these are still lacquer paints and they need to be thinned or cleaned with their High Compatibility Thinner (RC 702). I am continuing to use Mr. Hobby’s Mr. Color Leveling Thinner (#T-106:300) performing my all my cleanup denatured alcohol (as suggested by John Miller).

I chose the first color scheme for the ‘Yellow 4’ aircraft flown by Staffelkapitan Siegfried Schnell of 9./JG 2 in January 1943. Of special interest are the stylized eagle head on the port side and rooster hear on the starboard side of fuselage.

Back to the Real Color paints I used:

• RLM 04 Yellow RC 267 rudder and cowl underside
• RLM 02 Grau RC 056
• RLM 65 Light Blue (1941) RC 272 underside & lower fuselage
• RLM 66 Black Green RC 273
• RLM 70 Dark Green RC 274 upper wing/fuselage camo
• RAL 7003 Grau * RC 052 * I found RLM 70 to be far too dark and mixed about 30% of Grau into the mix, which I hope more closely resembles the dark grey shown on the side/top view shown on pages 51, 53, 54 & 55
• RLM 74 Dark Grey RC 278 upper wing/fuselage camo
• Flat Black RC 001

(also used several AK Real Colors Markers for both touchup and to pick out small dials and knobs, etc.I am quickly becoming addicted to these water based acrylic markers.)

Followed by an overcoat sprayed coat of Alclad II Lacquer’s Aqua Gloss Clear (#ALC 600). This is my personal favorite which produces a great clear finish (though in the bottle it appears cloudy, not to worry).

My painting included a small amount of pin washes, using 502 Abteilung Brown Wash #ABT080. I completed my dry brushings, using my old standby Winsor & Newton’s Artist Oil color Naples Yellow Light, No. 426. I used JV’s ‘Got Metal?’ for the metallic dry brushing effect.

I used a small amounts of Microscales Micro Set #MI-1 and Walters Solvaset #904-470, which allows the decals to snuggle down and fit tighter when dry.

And I sprayed my overall final finish using Testors Dullcoat Lacquer (#1160).

Overall Impressions and Recommendation

I really enjoyed constructing this kit of one of the iconic Axis fighter aircraft of WW II. In several aspects, it was a challenging build, though the finished model was a rewarding project. In this specific boxing you are also provided with a beautiful 1/32^nd scale figure of Siegfried Schnell. I also was a bit concerned about the size of this kit, although I found it to no larger than many of the quarter scale kits I normally build.

I recommend this kit and my thanks to Zoukei Mura for the opportunity to build and review it.