Airfix 1/72 Focke Wulf Fw 190A-8 Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Remember when Airfix's Series 1 kits could be found in bags or blister packs? They were easy build kits whose parts counts usually could be made in under 10. That was your dad's (or granddad's) Airfix. This is a new era. This is the all-new-tool Fw 190A-8 in 1/72 scale and this represents an all-new Airfix approach to Series 1 (today Airfix has their 'Easy Build' series for the entry level kits).

This kit is molded in light gray styrene and presented on three parts trees plus a single tree of clear parts. According to the data, there are 53 parts in the box and the kit looks really nice. Among the features and options in this kit:

• Nice cockpit with decals for upper and lower instrument panel clusters
• Optional pilot figure
• Positionable canopy
• Positionable boarding step
• Rear of engine detail visible through main wheel wells
• Positionable rudder
• Positionable landing gear
• Centerline external fuel tank

You can see in the parts images that there are two canopies provided - streamlined (stock) and blown. Only one is needed for this release but you can see from these parts and the inserts that there will be other Fw 190A variants coming.

Markings are provided for one example: Black 11, JG 10, Germany, 1944. The sheet also provides a nice set of airframe stenciling as well as the distinctive markings.

This is another nice release from Airfix and shows that Airfix is modernizing their design and tooling processes to render kits that easily compete with the other major global brands.

My sincere thanks to Hornby USA for this review sample!