D.M.L. DRAGON

Wings Warbirds Series

DRW 50256 - Focke Wulf - Fw 190A-8/R2 “Yellow 17” 

12.(Sturm)/JG3, May 1944

Flown by a Luftwaffe Ace Unteroffizier Willi Unger

1/72 scale

This is the first Dragon’ model of FW 190A-8 “R2 Version”.  The 8 was the last A series of FW 190.

Inquire about a discount for regular customers. 

Willi Unger started his combat flying in March 1944 and he achieved his first victory on seventh flight shooting down four-engine B-24 “Liberator”.  By October 1944 he scored and astonishing 21 victories over 4-engines Allies Bombers.  In December Unger was promoted to Leutnant.  After his unit was transferred on the Eastern Front he shoot down P-39 Airacobra and two Pe-2 bombers of Russian Airforce.   In April he joined JG7 flying M2 262 jet fighter but didn’t achieved any more victories.  Willi Unger was credited with 24 confirmed victories in 59 missions.

ABOUT THE PLANE *

About the Fw180A-8/R2:
The Fw 190 A-8 entered production in February of 1944. The A8 model introduced the MW-50 supercharger that was to have been deployed in the A-4 model, but was not available in quantities at that time. The MW-50 introduced a methanol/water mix injector to boost horsepower in the BMW 801D-2 engines. The A-8 was equipped with a new wooden propeller easily identified by its wide paddle-shaped blades, and a new canopy design similar to the “bubble” canopies in widespread use by the Allied air forces. Nearly a dozen Rüstsätze kits available for the A8, including the famous A8/R2 and A8/R8 models which were outfitted with heavy armor including 30 mm canopy and windscreen armor, 5 mm cockpit armor and upgraded outer wing cannons to the MK 108 30 mm cannon that could destroy most heavy bombers with two or three hits. Over 6,550 A-8 airframes were produced, with at least 8 factories turning out the fighter. ”  www.dragonmodelsusa.com 

Dragon Wings – Warbirds Series.

This series includes high quality diecast models of modern and historical military aircraft. All items are true to scale, they include detailed markings, have removable weapons, detailed cockpits, moving wing flaps and even opening canopies.” ***

Comes with two sets of landing gears and a stand.

In my personal opinion as a collector models from this line are probably currently the best models on the market in this scale, and priced very competitive if not to say low.  Even with a price increase, so far affected this model only, the price still be very reasonable.  

Models from the series are very good sellers, usually sold out very fast.  

FOCKE WULF – Fw 190

In 1937 Reichsluftministerium – German Air Ministry suggested that Focke – Wulf should develop an interceptor fighter to complement the Messerschmitt Bf 109.  Kurt Tank, who was the Focke Wulf’s technical director, chose the BMW 18 cylinder radial engine, which was still in development stage instead Daimler Benz DB601 in line engine.  The prototype first flew on June 1, 1939 and flight tests went very well.  It was the fifth FW 190 prototype that was re-engined with the new air-cooled radial BMW 14-cylinder 801C-0 engine with 1660 hp output, which met all the Luftwaffe requirements.  First production model FW 190A-1 went into service with JG 26 at Paris, in August 1941.  The FW 190 proved that radial-engine fighter could be as fast or even faster compare to inline-engined rivals that were more popular at the time. Its engagement with the RAF show that FW 190 outclassed, the latest at the time, Spitfire Mk V in all aspects but radius of turn.

The plane was constantly improved and modified.  The last in the “A” series was 8, followed by Series D originally designed as a high altitude interceptor and proved to be an excellent fighter. The plane in fact had been powered by 1776hp Junkers Jumo liquid-cooled engine with an annular radiator duct that gave it a radial-engined appearance.  It had a lengthened nose in order to accommodate the larger size engine. D-11 was equipped for ground attack, and D-12 and D-13 with more powerful 2060hp Jumo 213F engine.

The F series were intended to be close support aircraft. It consisted of F-1; F-2s; F-3s; F-7s and unknown number of F-9s produced with 2270hp BMW turbocharged engine.

The plane armament consisted of two 7.9mm MG mounted in front of the pilot on the upper decking of the fuselage and two 20mm MG 151 cannon were mounted in wingroots.   Most FW 190 had provision for wide range of under-fuselage and under-wing bombs and rockets.  Some variants were equipped with larger caliber machine guns and or cannons; and later versions as A 8 had four 20mm cannons.  The pilot was protected by armor on both sides and behind him the front vision was poor therefore canopy was redesigned.  To entering or exiting the aircraft the entire canopy and faring slid backwards.

The plane proved to be of very successful design and used very effectively by Luftwaffe in many roles. 

Though produced in a lower number compare to Me Bf 109 the FW 190 was the German fighter.

The following specification is for FW 190A-8, which was the last new-build variant of the FW 190A series with a total production of 1334 aircraft.  It was fitted with a nitrous oxide power buster system and an extra fuel tank in the rear fuselage.

Crew 1

Powerplant 2100hp BMW801D-2 radial engine with water-methanol boost

Max Speed 406mph / 654km/h at 19,68ft / 6000m

Service ceiling 37,402ft / 11,400m

Max range 914miles / 1470km

Wing span 34”5’ / 10.5m

Length 29” /8.84m

Height 13” / 3.96m

Weights 6989lb / 3170kg (empty)

Armament two 7.92mm MG in nose up to four 20mm cannon in wings; provision for wide range of under-fuselage and under-wing bombs and rockets.

Inquire about a discount for regular customers.