Hobby Boss 1/48 scale
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 V18

by Roland Sachsenhofer

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 V18B-35

Hobby Boss' 1/48 Fw 190 V18 is available online from Squadron.com for only $36.99!

Hobby Boss has to be praised for its variety of rather exotic aircraft. A while ago I had the pleasure to build their quarter scale Bv-141 and recently I challenged the Fw-190 V18. Who would have expected these rare birds as injection moulded kits?

Both kits have been similar in being well executed, displaying proper fit and adequate detail. But, on the other side, both did suffer on strange deviation from reality on some areas.

The Hobby Boss Fw 190 V18 has, as an example, rather imaginary wheels and a rearward cockpit area which is surprisingly left completely empty, with no detail whatever. The appearance of the sliding canopy part is problematic, at least.

The modeller has to remove all the gun muzzles on the cowling and the wings, as the V18 had no build in weaponry. This is done fairly easy, replacement for the wrong wheels came from an old Hasegawa kit, and the detailing of the cockpit was scratched and further enhanced with an Eduard interior set. I attached brake lines and the two struts on the belly radiator.

Aside from that, the kit was an easy and joyful build.

This strange looking “190” has been constructed to prove the possibility of creating a high altitude fighter with an exhaust turbocharger and pressurized cabin. A few experimental machines were built and flown, the V18 having been the only one with all the mentioned features built in. These machines were intended to be the prototypes of the planed “C” variant, which did not reach serial production at all.

Quite interesting, this particular machine, the V18, was later rebuilt as the first Fw 190 D.

I am quite happy to have such an interesting and rare “190” in my collection- thank you Hobby Boss!

If you are interested in the building process, please have a look on these two sites:
Scalemates: https://www.scalemates.com/profiles/mate.php?id=10148&p=albums&album=32974
JAM Forum: http://www.razyboard.com/system/morethread-fw-190-v18-hobby-boss-148-raidenjack-2086023-6366717-0.html

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As ever, remarks will be appreciated: ro.sachsenhofer@gmx.at

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2017 by Roland Sachsenhofer
Page Created 25 May, 2017
Last Updated 25 May, 2017

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