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An example of a Fw 190D-11 as included in KommanDeur Decal Sheet KD4801FD. The flat cowl and revised spinner are obvious in this illustration (Decals are not included in conversion). |
| Catalogue No.: | Unknown |
| Scale: | 1/48 |
| Media: | Resin |
| Review Type: | In-bag |
| Rating: | Recommended |
S u m m a r y |
| Contents: | Eight Parts in Resin |
| Price: | Around US$16-20 |
| Advantages: | Simple conversion, sensible parts breakdown, interesting subjects and the only accurate way to build a Fw 190 D-11/12/13 |
| Disadvantages: | No instructions, chunky casting plugs |
| Recommendation: | Recommended to anyone wanting to model the last of the Butcher Birds. Nice, easy first time conversion for modeller's wanting to move to the next step; or for the more seasoned modeller wanting a simple project |
F i r s t L o o k |
KommanDeur Decals are well researched and beautifully printed waterslide markings for late war German aircraft. Their limited-edition releases to date include colourful schemes of interesting subjects. The only problem is that some of the relatively esoteric late war Fw 190 subjects are hard to find in 1/48 scale kit form.
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An example of a Fw 190D-11 as included in KommanDeur Decal Sheet KD4801FD. The flat cowl and revised spinner are obvious in this illustration (Decals are not included in conversion). |
KommanDeur have addressed this problem by releasing their own resin conversion set covering Focke Wulf 190D-11/12/13 variants. The conversion is designed to fit the 1/48 Tamiya Fw 190D-9. Anybody who has built the Dragon/DML Fw 190 D-9 will be grateful that KommanDeur chose to base their conversion on the Tamiya kit! (For more information about the fit problems of the DML/Dragon kit - including the amazing banana-peel fuselage - check out the Fw 190D-11 conversion article elsewhere on HyperScale).
The main visible differences between the Fw 190D-9 and later variants are the flat upper cowl deck, the big VS 10 propeller blades, a coaxial MK 108 30mm cannon firing through a modified spinner and a larger supercharger intake feeding the uprated Jumo 213F powerplant. The wing armament differed amongst the variants. Although DML’s recent re-release of Trimaster’s Fw 190D-12 depicts the big tail (more usually seen on the Ta 152) this was a very uncommon feature.
This simple conversion comprises a new nose split into two halves, a new flat top cowl deck, spinner, VS 10 prop blades and the large supercharger intake. These parts are cast in a light, honeycomb-coloured resin. Surface detail is fine and crisp (engraved panel lines, naturally) with no trace of pinmarks, bubbles or the orange-peel finish sometimes seen on short-run resin castings. Structural detail is well represented, including hinges on the cowling sides, the deflector above the starboard exhaust and the small scoop moulded on the cowl top. Quality is very good indeed.
The supercharger intake supplied is the broad type similar to the design used on the Ta 152.
Mould plugs on the cowling halves and top cowl deck are fairly chunky. Care will be required not to accidentally cut into the parts. Always trim less than you think is required then trim with a sharp hobby knife or file.
The contour of the nose assembly is quite unlike the standard D-9. The later Fw 190D-11/12/13 cowl was bulged to cater for the Ta152 engine mounts attached to the new Jumo213E engines. These bulges and curves have been completely missed by Trimaster/Dragon in their Fw 190 D-12 kits, and in other conversion offerings. In fact, this feature is ignored in drawings in my standard references - the otherwise excellent Model Art and Aero Detail books on the Fw 190 D-9. The new Fw 190 D "Walkaround" does illustrate this feature and has a number of photographs which clearly indicate the different contour.
The KommanDeur conversion is therefore the only accurate way to build a late variant of the Fw 190D.
The design of the conversion nose has been well thought out. The nose includes a section of the forward upper wing root moulded in place. This means that the only cut is straight down the forward vertical engine panel-line on each kit fuselage half. Also, the assembled nose halves leave an appropriate cavity for the kit wheel well insert.
The conversion requires the use of the kit radiator cowl and exhaust stacks. The resin conversion items have locators for easy fitting of these kit parts.
The replacement VS 10 propeller blades are very thin, and two of mine were warped in transit. This is neither unusual nor difficult to fix. Immersion in warm (not hot!) water then gentle bending will quickly fix the warpage.
C o n c l u s i o n |
My only complaint is the lack of instructions, and the omission of alternative wing armament fairings and ejector chutes.
These nitpicks aside, this KommanDeur conversion set is a very high quality offering. It represents the simplest way to create an authentic late production Focke Wulf 190D in 1/48 scale. I only wish that this conversion had been available when I was building my Fw 190D-11!
Recommended to anyone wanting to model the last of the Butcher Birds.
Thanks to E. Brown Ryle of Kommandeur Decals for the sample.
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More Focke-Wulf 190s on HyperScale
Tamiya
1/48 Fw 190 D-9 Construction Review
DML
1/48 Fw 190 D-9 in the Gallery
Tamiya
1/48 Fw 190 F-8 in the Gallery
Trimaster 1/48 Fw 190 A-8/R8 in the Gallery
DML's
1/48 Fw 190 D-9 Converted to a D-11
MPM Fw 190 S-5/S-8 Two Seater Review
Hasegawa 1/72 Fw 190 A8/R11 in the Gallery
