Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner

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FirstLook

With this latest sheet, Cutting Edge has given the modeler a rather different collection of subjects than we are used to. In an effort to get away from the more familiar colour schemes, we are offered this interesting assembly of aircraft.

As usual with Cutting Edge decals, the printing of the sheet is first class with all the colours in perfect register. Where registration could potentially be a problem, the colours are printed separately and the modeler merely has to overlay the two decals.

The supplied stencil data is a welcome addition but a diagram for their location has to be found elsewhere.

The carrier film is commendably thin and will virtually disappear when applied.

Subjects on the sheet are:

Fw 190A-5/U8 “white 6”

flown by Uffz. Werner Öhme of 1./SKG 10, June 1943.

This was the aircraft of Uffz. Werner Öhme who flew as a member of 1./SKG 10. It followed the standards of the time and was finished in RLM 74/75/76. In recognition of its night duties, an application of temporary black distemper was applied to the fuselage sides, rudder and under surfaces. Care was taken not to obscure the Werk Nummer and the aircraft’s small “white 6” marking.

This aircraft was a visitor to Manston airfield when Öhme lost his way on 19 June 1943. He was to attack Ramsgate that night but became disorientated due to unexpected cloud cover and a faulty radio.

Fw 190A-5 “black 4” of 10.(Jabo)/JG 54, 1943

Finished in RLM 74/75/76, this aircraft carries a bomb rack for its fighter-bomber role. As with other aircraft of the Staffel, it displayed a chevron behind the Balkenkreuz as well as a black and white emblem denoting a bomb.

If modeling this machine, be aware that there were no cannons in the outer wing positions. A splash of colour is supplied by the yellow rudder and lower engine cowl.

Fw 190A-4 “white 10”

flown by Hptm. Wolfgang Kosse of 1./JG 5, October 1942.

Hptm. Wolfgang Kosse was the Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 5 and flew this aircraft which bares his personal marking on the engine cowl. Cutting Edge thoughtfully provides both left and right-handed versions for the port side, as photos of this area are not forthcoming. Finished in the standard 74/75/76, it carried a yellow rudder and lower engine panel. The spinner was the usual RLM 70 but with a white tip.

Kosse later became Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 5 but was forced to step down from this position after damaging an aircraft in an unauthorized flight. He later flew with Sturmstaffel 1 and it was here that he claimed six victories over bombers. After becoming part of IV.(Sturm)/JG 3, he was promoted and again became a Staffelkapitän, this time of 13. (Sturm)/JG3. He gained 28 victories in total before being posted MIA after an engagement with a Tempest on 24 December 1944. It was also the day he scored his last two kills.

Fw 190A-4/U8 “red 9”

flown by Uffz. Heinz Erhardt of 2./SKG 10, May 1943

Uffz. Heinz Erhardt’s aircraft was finished in the usual RLM 74/75/76 before having a matt black distemper applied. This was painted on the undersurfaces and fuselage sides only, taking care not to obscure the aircraft’s “red 9” or Werk Nummer. Most of the yellow rudder was also covered.
Modeller’s should note that only the two MG 151/20 wing root cannons were fitted and that the aircraft used an ETC 501 bomb rack. The spinner was RLM 70 with one-third painted white.

In May 1943, Erhardt was on his way to attack London. He became lost and soon started to run low on fuel. Despite information to the contrary, he landed at an airfield he believed to be in France. Much to his surprise he landed at RAF Manston and was immediately taken prisoner.

Fw 190 A-2 “black He”

flown by Ofw. Bruno Hegenauer of Stab/JG 26, France 1942.

This is the familiar aircraft flown by Ofw. Bruno Hegenauer of Stab/JG 26. He carried the first two letters of his surname on the fuselage sides of this machine, which was believed to be painted RLM 74/75/76. The rudder was painted yellow, as is the lower engine cowl for identification purposes.

Oblt. Wilfred Sieling was flying this aircraft on 30 April 1942 when a Spitfire attacked him. Neither Sieling nor the aircraft survived this encounter.

Ignore the radio mast on the tail in the instructions as it shows the version used on the A-4 series.

If you are looking for some of the more unusual markings to apply to your Fw 190 then this is the sheet for you. It’s well printed, well researched and…. different.

Recommended

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the preview information and images

Review Copyright © 2004 by Rob Baumgartner
This Page Created on 21 May, 2004
Last updated 20 May, 2004

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