Focke Wulf Fw 189 A2 by Great Wall Hobby

1/48 scale
Kit No. L4803
Decals: Two versions – both Luftwaffe, Eastern Front, WWII
Comments: Engraved panel lines and recessed rivet detail, highly detailed cockpit and cabin interior, two complete Argus V-12 engines, separately mounted control surfaces, extensive paint masks, photo etch details

History

The Focke Wulf Fw 189 “Uhu” (Owl), was a German twin-engine, twin-boom, three-seat tactical reconnaissance and army cooperation aircraft. It was the brainchild of Focke-Wulf’s chief designer himself, Kurt Tank. The prototype first flew in July 1938 and production aircraft entered service in 1940 and were manufactured until mid-1944. A total of 864 were built and the aircraft was used as the main reconnaissance aircraft of the German Army on the Eastern Front. Due to its success as an observation aircraft, it was known by many as “The Flying Eye.”

The Fw 189 was designed to carry a crew of three, although at times it carried up to five. With a maximum speed of 217mph, it had an operating range of 416 miles. And it was a tough and rugged aircraft — on one occasion an Fw 189 returned after combat with one entire tail boom missing! This was caused either by flak or possibly even a ramming maneuver. This is testimony to the sturdiness of the design. For ease of replacement, both booms were interchangeable to minimize the number of spare parts needed.

The aircraft had, as part of its defensive armament design, an innovative rear gun station designed by the Ikaria Aeronautical Equipment Company. This included a rotating conical rear turret which was manually rotated within a metal-framed glazed conical fairing. This provided the operator an open section for either a single or twin-mount machine gun.

The secret of the Fw 189’s success as a reconnaissance aircraft was the excellent all-round visibility enjoyed by the pilot.

The unique design provided not just an effective weapons platform but was also a very well thought-through, streamlined shape, which enhanced maneuverability considerably. Pilots often commented on the Fw 189’s smooth handling characteristics. In the role that it was designed for — reconnaissance — it was regarded as a superb aircraft. The Fw 189 managed to combine all the attributes needed on the Eastern Front — strength, maneuverability, toughness and reliability — with the capacity to operate from short, rough airstrips. It could also carry underwing bomb racks, two on each wing. These were fitted so that the aircraft could carry four SC 50kg bombs.

Called the Fliegende Auge (Flying Eye) of the German Army, the Fw 189 was used extensively on the Eastern Front with great success. The Russians nicknamed it “Rama” (“Frame” in English), referring to its distinctive tail boom and stabilizer shapes, giving it a quadrangular appearance. Despite its low speed and fragile appearance, the Fw 189’s maneuverability made it a difficult target for attacking Soviet fighters. The Fw 189 was often able to out-turn attacking fighters by flying in a tight circle into which enemy fighters could not follow.

Night Reconnaissance Group 15, attached to the 4th Panzerarmee in southern Poland during late 1944, carried out nocturnal reconnaissance and light bombing sorties with a handful of 189A-1s. These planes typically lacked the main model’s rear dorsal machine gun. Small numbers of A-1s were used as night fighters in the closing weeks of the war – the aircraft were modified by having their reconnaissance equipment removed and then fitted with FuG 212 AI radar in the nose and a single obliquely-firing 20 mm MG FF autocannon in the common Schräge Musik upwards/forward-firing offensive fitment also used for heavier-airframed German night fighters, like the Bf 110G. On the Fw 189 the installation was in the crew nacelle, where the rear dorsal gun was normally housed. The majority of the Nachtjager 189s were operated by NJG 100, based at Greifswald. Chronic fuel shortages and enemy air superiority over the 189 defense area (chiefly Berlin) meant that few aircraft were shot down by these late-war night fighters.

The Kit

The Fw 189’s interior has a level of detail rivalling Tamiya or Accurate Miniatures. The detailed cockpit features refinements such as a three-part control yoke, PE detail parts for seat straps and rudder pedals, side and wall-mounted instrument consoles to complement the interior sidewall detail, as well as spare drum magazines for the rear-mounted MG 81Z twin defensive machine gun. Decals are provided for individual dials on the pilot’s overhead main instrument panel.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the kit is that it includes two complete Argus V-12 engines, complemented by separate exhaust manifolds, engine mounts, and photo etched spark plug wires for an added measure of detail. Each of the main landing gear assemblies consist of 8 parts, with separate mud guards, PE details and radial tread tires. The rudders for the twin booms have painstakingly realistic stressed fabric effects.

When assembling the wings, modelers should take note of the fact that holes will have to be drilled in the parts for the wing undersurfaces if they intend to have the Fw 189 carry bombs. There are separately mounted ailerons and large PE parts for the flaps. Unique among WWII aircraft models, this kit includes a boarding ladder, as well as a set of paint masks for no less than 73 individual panels that make up the Fw 189’s greenhouse canopy.

Markings

The kit decals provide markings for one of two Luftwaffe aircraft on the Eastern Front. Their specific units are not identified, but the first machine, Serial 5D + FH, is painted in a splinter camouflage scheme of RLM 70 (Black Green) and RLM 71 (Green) over RLM 65 (Light Blue) and was based somewhere in Russia during 1942. The undersurfaces of its wing tips are yellow, as are the bands about two-thirds of the way back on both tail booms.

The second aircraft for which markings are provided is Serial 5D+CK, and it is painted for the Russian winter in overall RLM 21 (White), dirtied up a bit with translucent splotches of RLM 66 (Black Grey). Like the other version, the undersurfaces of its wing tips are yellow, as are the bands about two-thirds of the way back on both tail booms.

Conclusion

This is a great kit featuring impressive level of detail for a classic reconnaissance aircraft of the Second World War. Highly recommended.

References

• wikipedia.org
• https://www.avbuyer.com/articles/ga-buyer-europe/the-owl-left-in-the-woods-113354