KIT REVIEWS: THE FOCKE-WULF FW 190 / Ta 152 IN 1/72 SCALE

By Brian R. Baker

Date: 27 December 2002

Brian’s Notes

This is a project I started several months ago to see how many 1/72 scale kits of the FW 190 and Ta 152 series have been produced by various manufacturers. As you can see from the below listing, there have been many, possibly more than for the Messerschmitt Bf 109 series (I sense another project coming on). I have listed the kits in the approximate chronological order in which I believe they appeared on the market and in the hobby shops. Confirmed dates are listed as such, while estimated dates are marked “c.” for the historical “circa”. I started building models when I was a kid back in the late forties, and so I experienced the entire course of the hobby, from using World War II templates for recognition models, up to the modern day masterpieces that we have become accustomed to. Most of the kits, especially the early ones, I have built, while some of the later ones, especially the odd types and resin offerings, I have only seen listings or reviews, or have received data from other people.

If anyone can add to this list, or provide more accurate information, I would appreciate hearing from you. I need copies of instructions, photos, listings, and other data, such as actual date of appearance, and catalog number for some of the kits. Some of my sources have included the kits themselves, Burns Kit Collector’s Guide, and inventories and kit listings I have saved over the years. My eventual goal is to produce an Internet or published work on the FW 190 in 1/72 and possibly other scales, although I have built exclusively in 1/72 scale over the past 50 years.

Brian R. Baker

aeronut43b@cox.net

Webmaster’s Notes

Although not a modeller myself, I think Brian’s listing is an important one. So if you have built FW 190s in 1/72 scale, please give Brian a hand to make this listing complete. Send any comments and corrections to his email address listed above.

Bookie, 18 May 2004

The Listing

World War II Recognition Models

Manufacturer	Year	Variant	Comments
Aristocraft	1942	FW 190 A	Black plastic recognition model produced for the armed forces training programs during World War II. Reasonably accurate model. British had similar ones, although I have only examined the American version.
USN BuAr.	1942-43	FW 190 A	Paper templates produced by the U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics for high school students to use in building wooden spotter models. These were issued to schools in the form of paper instruction sheets and thick paper templates to be cut out and used as guides in achieving an accurate outline. Although built of hardwood or pine, they qualify in this series because of their function and scale.

Immediate Post-War Kits

Manufacturer	Year	Variant	Comments
Frog Penguin	1946-50	FW 190 D	One of the first plastic kits, rare today. I’ve never seen one. Listed in Burns’ Kit Collector’s Guide.

Kits of the Fifties

Manufacturer	Kit #	Year	Variant	Comments
Airfix	101 1021 0-1021-0 0-1064-7 0-1070-1 0-3029-0 6-39 1223 2-11091	c. 1955	FW 190 D-9	Early model with flat canopy. Reviewed recently on Modeling Madness Website by Steve Messner. Original kit produced 1955 to 1975 by various producers, including Airfix-America and Craftmaster. Somewhat accurate in outline, and state-of-the-art for the time.
Frog	F.147 F.211/F 5904 F.522 393P	c. 1959	FW 190 A	First known plastic FW 190 A kit. Not an accurate outline, and had Frog’s traditional embossed lines representing decal and insignia placement, which was common at that time. Represented an early A Model. Low value collector’s item today. Issued in “Twin Packs” and also marketed in Australia by Minex. Also sold by Minicraft.

Kits of the Sixties

Manufacturer	Kit #	Year	Variant	Comments
Revell	H226(70) H62 (75) H661 76)	1963	FW 190 A	Early release in World War II fighters series, this was somewhat accurate in outline, although a later revision changed the propeller and added additional armament variations. The kit had no cockpit interior, normal for the time, but was still not up to modern standards. Also sold in “Twin Packs” with other aircraft, e.g. Revell Hawker Hurricane. Burns lists Revell H615 as FW 190 D, but this may not be accurate.
Lindberg	433 582	c. 1964	FW 190 D-9	One of a series of German fighters released by Lindberg in the early sixties, this kit wasn’t as accurate as the Airfix kit, but the molding was considerably better. Cast in olive drab plastic. Issued with series of Luftwaffe aircraft, including He 162 A, Me 163 B, He 100 D, Do 335 A, Ar 234 B, Me 410 A, and Hs 129 B.
Heller	L087 HC1702	1963	FW 190 A-5 to FW 190 A-8	Burns lists this kit as first appearing in France in 1963, but it did not appear in the U.S. until much later in the 1970’s. Cast in medium grey soft styrene, this kit was fairly close in outline (They had one in the Paris Air Museum to copy from) but had a few detail problems. Anything from an A-5 through A-8 could be built, and some interior detail was provided. Two canopies were included, and they could be positioned opened or closed. The prop was a little too wide-bladed, more like the FW 190 A-9, and there was no engine. Later marketed by Hobby Craft, Canada, in the 1970’s. May be the new Smer kit in current catalogs, as Smer has marketed other Frog products in the past.
Frog	F.236/FF.424 H-81 H-82	1965	Ta 152 H	First kit of the Ta 152 series, this kit was state-of-the-art for its time. It was reasonably accurate in outline, although it had little interior detail. It formed the basis for an acceptable model, and was not replaced until the Aoshima and DHL kits of the nineties. Later, molds went to Revell in the Frog-Nova exodus, and issued by Revell into the late-1970’s.

Kits of the Seventies

Manufacturer	Kit #	Year	Variant	Comments
Hasegawa		c. 1970	FW 190 A-5 to FW 190 A-8	First Hasegawa attempt at an FW 190, this kit looked very good in the box, but left something to be desired on assembly. Decals were a bit heavy, and outline and detail were not quite up to Hasegawa standards. Later retooled into an excellent kit.
Hasegawa		c. 1970	FW 190 D-9	Companion to their A model, this kit suffered from the same problems, although examination of my old ex-scrap kit shows better outline and detail than the A. Retooled in the 1990’s.
Lesney-Matchbox	PK-6 PK-51	1972	FW 190 A-3 FW 190 A-4	First really accurate, albeit not too well detailed FW 190 A. Kit depicted an early FW 190 A-3 or FW 190 A-4, with both radio antenna fitting on the fin. Kit was suitable for any variant from FW 190 A-1 through FW 190 A-4, although the fuselage rack was not accurate for any version. Later reissued as FW 190 A-4/R6 with additional armament (WFGr.21 rocket mortars) and a belly tank. Webmaster’s note – this is the only FW 190 model I own Decals: FW 190 A-3, Sch.G.1, Crimea, 1943, FW 190 A-4/R6, IV./J.G.1, German Bight, 1943. Newer issues make this kit obsolete.
Airfix	1064-7	c. 1976	FW 190 D-9	Finally, a retooling of the old Airfix kit produced a very nice “long nose”, although detail was still not up to modern standards. The basic shape was accurate, and the overall result was a good looking model that “captured the spirit” of the FW 190 D-9. A rack and fuel tank were cast in one piece, but some other details were minimal. Wheel well detail was very good for the time, and still acceptable, and I consider the kit to be useful today, although interior detail is poor. The kit was issued on cards with a vacuformed plastic container. Decals: IV.(Sturm)/J.G.3, Lt. Oskar Romm, Prenzlau, March 1945 6./J.G.26, Nordhorn, 1945.
Airfix	2063	1977	FW 190 F-8	Original issue of the radial-engined version. Later issues were combined A-8/F-8 versions with additional armament. Reviewed on Modeling Madness.
Italaeri	128	c. 1978	FW 190 D-9	This kit has been around for quite a while, and it is somewhat better than the Airfix kits in some respects, although nobody disposed of Airfix kits to replace them with the Italian kit. It is a good solid, basic kit, and is still up to a decent standard of modeling quality. Could be built with canopy opened or closed.

Kits of the Eighties

Manufacturer	Kit #	Year	Variant	Comments
Esoteric		c. 1980	FW 190 V1	Resin kit of the original prototype. No data.
Esoteric		c. 1980	FW 190 V1 Modified	Resin kit of original prototype, probably with later prop and spinner. No data.
Esoteric		c. 1980	FW 190 V2	Resin kit of second prototype. No data.
Airmodel		c. 1980	FW 190 V18/U1	Injection molded kit of rare prototype. No data.
Esoteric		c. 1980	FW 190 B	Resin fuselage conversion for Italaeri FW 190 A. Can be used to build the V13, V14 and V16 prototypes.
Airfix	78-4001	1982	FW 190 A-8 FW 190 F-8	A new kit to accompany the D-9, this kit appeared only in boxes. It was not related to the earlier D-9 kit in any way, and the design of the various parts was different. Exhibiting the molding standards of the day, this kit was the best in its class for a long time. It included parts for several variants, and included a drop tank or bomb for the center rack, and bombs and racks for the Jabo version. One major flaw was the canopy casting, which was impossible to cut from the sprue without damaging it. A vacuform molded gun breech cover could convert this type into an A-5 or A-6 version. Decals: Heinz Bär’s 'Red 23 + '.
Hasegawa	AP7	c. 1985	FW 190 A-5	Finally, Hasegawa retooled the FW 190 A into a really excellent kit, which formed the basis for a long line of FW 190 A/F/G variants that are available today. Accurate and highly detailed, this is one of the best FW 190 A’s on the market today. Decals: four aircraft.
Hasegawa	HE51303	c. 1985	FW 190 A-8	Revision of the A-5 kit, made a standard production A-8. Excellent kit.
Hasegawa	HE51304	c. 1986	FW 190 F-8	Revision of A-8 kit, depicts ground attack version.
Hasegawa	HE51305	c. 1986	FW 190 A-8/R11	Night fighter, presumably with radar antenna. Decals: Fw. Migge I./N.J.Gr.10, Germany, 1944.
Unknown		c. 1988	FW 190 V13	Resin kit from unknown, probably British source. Scott Van Aken reviewed this kit on the Modeling Madness site. No decals, vacuformed canopy.

Kits of the Nineties

Manufacturer	Kit #	Year	Variant	Comments
Hasegawa	AP6	1992	FW 190D-9	Excellent rework of original D-9, this kit is certainly up to modern standards. Decals: Hptm. Waldemar Wubke, J.V.44; Major Gerhard Barkhorn, J.G.6; Fw. Werner Hohenberg, 4./J.G.2; Oblt. Oskar Romm, I./J.G.3
Dragon DML	5008	1992	Ta 152 H-1	Excellent, if overdetailed, kit from China. Some parts do not fit well and require a lot of work. Engine is highly detailed, and can be built with cowling open. Reviewed by Scott Van Aken on Modeling Madness. Requires an expert modeler, but the results are impressive. Decals: J.G.301 aircraft.
Hasegawa	SP119	1993	FW 190 A-9 FW 190 F-9	Yet another variant of the Hasegawa FW 190 A series, this kit includes white metal broad chord prop blades and a 14 blade fan to replace the 12 blade unit in the A-8. This gives you an extra standard prop to use as a replacement for inferior kits. Decals: II./J.G.301, 1945; Aircraft of an unknown unit, 1945
Hasegawa	51629	c. 1993	FW 190 A-8	Standard A-8 kit with “D-Day” markings, probably Priller’s.
Academy	178	c. 1994	FW 190 A-8	This is a strange kit. It looks like a real loser in the box, and I had one for several years before trying it out. Although there are some serious inaccuracies and outline errors, it actually doesn’t look too bad when completed. Major errors include the shape of the tail unit, wheel doors and wells, and the prop. The kit is NOT related in any way to the firm’s later (and excellent) FW 190 D-9. MPM, a Czech company, markets the kit with a different fuselage as the FW 190 A-5/R14 torpedo fighter. Review by Scott Van Aken at Modeling Madness.
Unicraft Ukraine	7202	1994	FW 190 Turbojet Project	This is a vacuform conversion for the FW 190 A turbojet project that was probably a design study only. Drawing in Heinz Nowarra’s book shows a long nose but no real place for the jet exhaust. Interesting idea.
Hasegawa	51362	1994	FW 190 F-9 Panzerblitz 1	Has white metal rockets and racks, along with white metal prop and 14-bladed fan. Reviewed on Modeling Madness. Generic decal sheet for undocumented aircraft.
Italaeri	178	1995 (poss. 1991/ 1992)	FW 190 A-8	Basically good kit, but not quite up to Hasegawa or Revell-Germany standards. Listed on box as A-8, but Decals: FW 190 A-8 of II./J.G.300, Germany 1944; FW 190 F-8 of unknown unit, Germany, 1945
MPM	MP72032	c. 1995	FW 190 V1	Depicts the original prototype with ducted spinner. Decals for one civil registered prototype. Standard MPM quality with vacuformed canopy and brass etched parts. Could probably be converted into modified version with standard spinner with little trouble.
MPM		c. 1995	FW 190 V18	High altitude fighter prototype. MPM quality with vacuformed canopy and brass etched parts. Decals: for only example built.
Hasegawa	51375	c. 1995	FW 190 A-8	Yet another Hasegawa issue with new Decals: Heinz Bär’s aircraft
Hasegawa		c. 1995	FW 190 F-8/R16	Yet another issue, this time with two white metal BT-400 missiles.
Hasegawa	51368	c. 1995	FW 190D-9	Standard Hasegawa D-9 with different Decals: J.V.44 Platzschutzstaffel (airfield protection squadron). These aircraft, with red undersides with white pinstripes, protected J.V.44’s Me 262 jets while they were taking off and landing.
RV Resin	C72004	c. 1995	FW 190 F-8/M82	Conversion kit for Revell-Germany kit. This is a resin kit of the FW 190 F captured by the Soviets and tested with a Russian M-82 radial engine. Looks interesting.
RV Resin	72016	c. 1995	FW 190 C-0	Depicts the first three prototypes (V13, V15 & V16) of the high-altitude C model “Hohenjäger 2”. Resin, photoetched, and white metal parts.
Hasegawa		1996	FW 190 A-6 Nachtjäger	Radar antenna for wings and fuselage, new decals
Monogram	5943	1997	FW 190 A-8 FW 190 F-8	First issued in the Pro-Modeler series, this was a highly accurate kit with excellent detail. It can be built as any of the dash 8 variants. Although expensive, it is worth getting for the very detailed instructions, including detail photos of actual museum examples. Decals are particularly useful, and this kit is worth the price if only for the instruction sheet. However, the same kit with different decals and instructions has been issued by Revell-Germany, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense to buy very many of these. Decals: FW 190 A-8, 3./J.G.54, Germany, 1944 FW 190 A-8, Fw. Bindsell, 6./J.G.1, Germany, 1944 FW 190 A-8/R11 Fw. Migge, 1/N.J.Gr.10, Germany, 1944
Revell-Germany	4118-0389	1997	FW 190 A-8 FW 190 F-8	This is a reissue of the Monogram Pro-Modeler kit. Decals are simpler, and several versions were marketed. This is the one to get if you want to build a whole series of FW 190 As. The cost is a whole lot less, and you get the same kit. Also has R11 night-fighter radar array. Has been reissued as 4165.
Dragon DHL	5007-01	1997	Ta 152 C-0	Downgraded from the original Shanghai Dragon Ta 152 H-1, this kit depicts the short winged version of the basic Ta 152 design. The extensive engine detail is gone. There is no center section detail, and this needs to be filled in for realistic effect. Decals: Ta 152 C-0 (V7), W.Nr 110 007, CI + XM, February, 1945, Sorau, Germany. However, another of the prototypes could be built from this kit. Worth getting.
Aoshima	16503	c. 1997	Ta 152 H-0	Similar to the Shanghai Dragon offering, but lacking some of the detail, this kit is accurate and easy to assemble. Decals: Numerous Stab J.G.301 aircraft. The NASM’s Ta 152 H, 'Green 4 + ', can be built from this kit, and since this aircraft and its pilot are credited with at least one air-to-air victory, this is the one I modeled. Instrument panel details are decals.
Aoshima		c. 1997	Ta 152 H-1	The same kit as the H-0 this kit features, in some issued, a different sized box, and nearly identical moldings, although  the lower wing panel is different, with  different locations for access panels as on the original aircraft. The decal sheet is somewhat smaller, with fewer marking options.  Both are excellent kits.
RV Resin	72018	c. 1997	FW 190 C-0 (V21/U1)	One of the Hohenjäger prototypes, this aircraft looks like a cross between an FW 190 D and a Ta 152 C. Resin, photoetched, and white metal parts with vacuformed canopy. Decals: one aircraft
RV Resin	72020	c. 1997	FW 190 B (V27)	Prototype for Hohenjäger I program, this was an FW 190 A with long span wings. Resin, photoetched, and white metal parts. Vacuformed canopy, Decals: one aircraft.
RV Resin	72017	c. 1997	FW 190 C-0 (V2)	Prototype for the Hohenjäger 2 program, this aircraft featured central exhausts on both sides of the fuselage. Resin, photoetched, and white metal parts. Vacuformed canopy. Decals: one aircraft
RV Resin	72019	c. 1997	Ta 153 V32/U1	Prototype for the Ta 153 series, GH + KV. Resin, photoetched, and white metal parts. Vacuformed canopy. Decals: one aircraft, GH + KV
Hasegawa		1998	FW 190 A-7	Another variant based on the Hasegawa kit. Different Decals
Hasegawa		1998	FW 190 A-8/R8	Rammjäger with special decals.
Academy	1660-FA161	1998	FW 190D-9	This kit, unlike the firm’s FW 190 A, is an excellent kit, with excellent detail and molding. Decals are useful, and it depicts the blown-hood version. It is one of the cheapest kits to buy, and only has one drawback - the kit has to be built with the canopy closed unless you want to do a lot of work trimming down the fuselage to install a canopy from another kit. This kit is worth getting. Decals: G’kdr IV./J.G.3, Oblt. Oscar Romm, Prenslau, Germany, March 1945 Kdre J.G.4 Oberst Gerhard Michaelski, Frankfurt, Germany, March 1945 I./J.G.301 Fw. Hagen Forster, Germany, Spring, 1945
MPM	MP72030	c. 1998	FW 190 A-5/U1 FW 190S-5	MPM quality epoxy mold kit with photoetched brass parts and vacuformed canopy. Cowling s provided for A-5 and A-8 versions, but canopy only useful on A-5 version. Labor intensive kit, but basically accurate, although prop and spinner require replacement, and lots of putty is needed. A rare variant, although this aircraft could be scratched from any A-8 kit. Decals: FW 190S-5, unknown unit, Germany, 1944, FW 190S-8 of the Jagdschule, Altenburg, 1944
RV Resin	72024	c. 1998	FW 190 D-13	The D-13 was an FW 190 D with four wing guns. Resin, photoetched brass, and white metal parts with vacuformed canopy. Decals: 'Yellow 10 + ', of Major Franz Götz, Kommodore J.G.26, Flensburg, May, 1945.
RV Resin	72015	c. 1999	Mistel 3B	This monstrosity appears to be a resin and photoetched conversion kit for the Revell-Germany FW 190 F-8 and an original Junkers Ju 88 H-4. From the printout, it appears to be a “complete kit”, but lists Revell parts. I need more information on this one.
Tamiya	60728	c. 1999	FW 190 A-8	I don’t know if this kit exists or not, but have never heard of it or seen it listed except on the AIR Website. Their code is 0010107260728. Note that #60726 is Tamiya’s excellent FW 190 D-9. More information on this kit would be welcome. Possibly related to Tamiya’s excellent FW 190 A-3
Hasegawa		c. 1999	FW 190 G-8	Variant of the earlier Hasegawa FW 190 A-8 kits, the G-8 was a Jabo-Rei with flame dampers and long-range fuel tanks. Kit includes white metal flame dampers.
Hasegawa		1999	FW 190 A-5 Special	This kit includes the special supercharger intakes on the engine cowling sides that a few FW 190 A-5s carried, along with different decals.
Unicraft		c. 1999	FW 190 V19	Conversion for the Academy FW 190 A, the kit features resin wings and horizontal tail surfaces. Need data on this one.

Kits of the Two Thousands (The Naughties?:-)

Manufacturer	Kit #	Year	Variant	Comments
Tamiya	60751	2000	FW 190 D-9	Probably the definitive kit of the “Dora 9”, this kit is detailed and accurate, but only contains the blown hood of later versions of the aircraft. Decals: 4./J.G.301, Straubing, Bavaria, 1945; Stab J.G.4, Rhine Main Airfield, Germany, Spring, 1945.
Revell-Germany	4135 4169	c. 2000	FW 190 A-8 with BV 246	Standard Revell-Germany kit with Blohm und Voss BV 246 glide bomb added. Excellent kit. Reissued as 4169 with no apparent changes.
Revell-Germany	04147-0389	2000	FW 190 F-8/R14	As Monogram Pro Modeler kit with different fuselage, enlarged vertical fin, extended tailwhell leg, belly rack and torpedo. Interesting conversion, as few of these were built. Decals: FW 190 F-8/R14, II./K.G.200, Flensburg, April 1945 FW 190 F-8/R14, Erprobungsstaffel, Torpedo Waffenplatz, Gotenhafen, Hexengrund, Germany, 1944
Sword	SW72008	2000	FW 190 A-1	The first accurate early model FW 190 A, this kit depicts the first production model. It is a very nicely done kit, but does require some modeling skill. One feature not found on any other FW 190 kit I’ve encountered is a set of flaps that can be left in the up or down position. Decals: FW 190 A-1, Oblt. Walter Schneider II./J.G.26, France, 1941
Tamiya	60766	2001	FW 190 A-3	The definitive kit for early FW 190 As, this kit could be used for any of the early models. Accurate and easily assembled, this kit is highly detailed, and is possibly the best early model FW 190 A on the market today. Decals: 8./J.G.2, France, 1942 III./J.G.2 , G’kdr Hptm. Hans Hahn, France, 1942 Stab J.G.26, Hptm. Wilhelm Gath, France, 1943
SMER	SE0873	c. 2001	FW 190 A-5 FW 190 F-8	An original kit similar to the FW 190 D-9 issue. The quality of the moldings is reported to be extremely poor, with serious outline problems. See FW 190 D-9 description for details. Listed in Squadron’s 2001 catalog for US $6.96.
SMER	SE0874	2001	FW 190 D-9	This is a new issue, but judging from Scott Van Aken’s review in Modeling Madness, it is terrible. Photos of the kit on his site show faulty outline and sparse detail. Why anyone would do this with the profusion of good kits on the market is a mystery. If Smer’s A model is not the Heller issue, it is probably comparable to this kit.
Hasegawa	00172	2001	FW 190 A-7 with Slipper Tank	Reviewed by Scott Van Aken on Modeling Madness, this is a standard Hasegawa FW 190 A-8 kit with resin slipper tanks included. Expensive, but an interesting variant.
Bogu	#815	2001	FW 190W	Another Modeling Madness article, this “kit” depicts a Resin mythical floatplane version of the FW 190D-9, along with an “operational history” of the type. It’s not often that you see a seaplane fighter, and rarer still to see an FW 190 D seaplane.
Hasegawa	HAS268	c. 2001	FW 190 A-6	Yet another Hasegawa variant, this time a standard A-6 model with Galland’s markings. Listed in KPL Systems 2002 catalog.
Admiral	KPL72001	2001	FW 190 A-4 Jabo	Injection molded plastic parts and canopy, engraved panel lines, resin wheels, bombs, and cockpit tub. Decals: 'White 10 + ', I./J.G.54; 'Yellow 11 + ', 1./S.K.G.10. Listed in Squadron’s catalog.

If you can add to this listing, let Brian know. Thanks

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