Focke-Wulf
Fw 190D-9

1/32 Scale

EagleCals Decals

Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner

Eagle Cals #60-32 is available online from Squadron.com

This latest release from EagleCals sees four very different “Doras” represented.

Intended for the superb Hasegawa kit, these decals come on two sheets which have been custom printed by MicroScale. As a result the carrier film is very thin and there were no registration problems anywhere.

The instruction sheet acts as a mini reference book as EagleCals include some of the photos from which the profiles are derived. The captions are informative and add a lot to the modeller’s understanding of the aircraft they are building.

“Black 1”, Fw 190 D-9, W.Nr. 210003 flown by Oblt. Hans Dortenmann, 14./JG 26 (IV Gruppe), March 1945.

Certainly one of the best-looking Doras, this aircraft was an early example and thus had the 5-piece gun cowl. At a later stage it was retrofitted with a blown canopy and this is how it is represented in the included photo. As stated in the instructions, all antennas were intact.

Upper surfaces were finished in RLM 82 Bright Green and RLM 83 Dark Green over RLM 76 Light Blue fuselage sides. The undersurfaces of the wings were also finished in this latter colour.

Being a very early example, it is not surprising that the fuselage carried the 800mm black/white cross. A black and white Hakenkreuz was originally painted on the tail but the 420mm black H3 type later replaced this.

“Black 11”, Fw 190 D-9, W.Nr unknown, JG 4, Summer 1945.

The photo included in the instructions indicates that this machine has the 3-piece gun cowl. Although not visible in the picture, a flat canopy is provisionally applied to this aircraft profile.

It carries the Black/White/Black RVD bands of JG 4 on the fuselage although in this case the white has been over sprayed with Blue-Green. Upper surfaces are camouflaged in RLM 75 Grey-Violet and RLM 83 Dark green over a fuselage that is painted in RLM 76 Light Blue. This same colour was also applied to the under surfaces of the wing. The Blue-Grey makes another showing as it appears to be used for eliminating a previous marking aft of the fuselage cross. The large spots of mottle on the engine cowl are also considered to be in this shade.

National marking consist of the small 600mm B5 cross on the fuselage sides with a filling of the background RLM 83 Dark Green. Although not shown in the photo, a black 530mm H3 Hakenkreuz is assumed to have been applied on the tail. Upper wing crosses are of the B6 910mm type while those underneath have to be guessed at. The 900mm solid black B1b types suit the bill here.

“Blue 12”, Fw 190 D-9, W.Nr. 500570, II/JG 6, May 1945.

Sigh…just as you finish a build on certain subject, new information comes along to suggest that all may not be as originally thought. Such is the case with “Blue 12”. Originally this aircraft was believed to be “Black 12” but new information and colour photos have surfaced that contradict this. No doubt all will be revealed when Jerry Crandall has his forth-coming book on Dora aircraft published.

This aircraft had the 3-piece gun cowl, blown canopy and a full set of antennas.

Generally the camouflage consisted of RLM 81 Brown-Violet and RLM 83 Dark Green on the Blue-Green fuselage. The top of the engine cowl is believed to have had a light over spray of RLM 82 Light Green. Wing upper surfaces are interpreted as Light Grey and RLM 83 Dark Green.
The lower wing area is a patchwork of natural metal, RLM 75 Grey-Violet and RLM 76 Light Blue. Very colourful!

Fuselage crosses of the 800mm B4 type are displayed with a H3 420mm Hakenkreuz on the tail. Upper wing surfaces depict the common B6 910mm white outlines and 900mm solid B1b crosses appear underneath. Note that the arm on the starboard side has been painted over.

“White 11”, Fw 190 D-9, W.Nr. 213007, 13./JG 51, May 1945

This surrendered aircraft displays a 3-piece gun cowl, intact antennas and a blown canopy.

RLM 76 Light Blue is assumed to be the undersurface colour with the leading edge in RLM 75 Grey-Violet. Upper surface colours are RLM 82 Bright Green and RLM 83 Dark Green over a RLM 76 Light Blue fuselage.
Note the presence of the unpainted wing gun access panels as well as the fuselage MG 131 gun cowling.

Black 800mm B4 style crosses were painted on the fuselage sides with the tail showing 420mm H3 Hakenkreuz. Again we see the 910 B6 white outline crosses on the wing upper surfaces and the solid black B1b types below.


 

The inclusion of photos of the represented aircraft is a real bonus. It gives the builder a chance to see what sort of information EagleCals use as a starter in providing their subject interpretations.
This is the usual comprehensive product we expect to see from this company and can be wholeheartedly recommended.

Recommended
 

Thanks to Judy at Eagle Editions for the information and the preview images

EagleCals decals are available from Eagle Editions Website
or Hobby Retailers including Squadron.com.     

Preview Text Copyright © 2003 by Rob Baumgartner
This Page Created on 01 December, 2003
Last updated 01 December, 2003

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