Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7408 FW 190 F-8 Northern Italy, 1944

1/48 scale pre-finished Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic. Professionally painted. All markings pad applied for superb results. Cockpit slides open. Comes with a pilot that can be removed. Weapons are supplied. Comes with display stand. Can be displayed with landing gear up or down.

The Fw-190F was developed for short-range battlefield ground attack using modified Fw-190A series aircraft fuselages. Of the 12 sub types the most numerous were the F-8s developed from the A-8. These first appeared in March 1944 with a modification allowing for increased performance at low levels for several minutes. Because of poor landing field conditions quite often the lower undercarriage doors had to be removed to prevent snow and mud buildup. Many F-8s were used as a test bed for anti- tank armament trials. Some sources estimate as many as 6,400 F-8s were manufactured.

In late 1943 all the various forms of ground-attack units were consolidated into one new ground-attack unit Schlachtgeschwader 4. The new unit consisted of I./SG 4, II. /SG 4, III./SG4. This reorganization created a single Geschwader equipped solely with Fw-190’s. After suffering losses in late 1943 I./SG 4 was transferred to Piancenza Italy to rest and re-equip with Fw-190 F-8. In February 1944 I./SG4 and II. /SG-4 were transferred to Viterbo Italy. The new Fw-190 F-8 was used to try and halt the Allied advances at Anzio and in the Cassino region. In July 1944 the entire squad was transferred to the northern USSR to help with the Defense of the Reich. It was quite common for I./SG 4 to wear desert camouflage and a spinner with a white spiral even when they weren’t in desert areas.

Specifications Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-8 Variant Role - Single Seat Specialized Ground Attack Variant First Battlefield Availability - March 1944 Users - German Luftwaffe and RHAF (Royal Hungarian Air Force)

Performance Engine 1 X 1,700 hp (1268 kw) BMW 801D-2 14 cylinder air-cooled radial engine Or 1 X 2,100 hp (1566 kw) with MW-50 methanol/water injection in emergency situations.

Maximum Speed - 408 mph (653 km/h) with boost on Initial Climb Rate - 2,350 ft (720 m) per minute Service Ceiling - 37,400 ft (11410 m) Range Using Internal Tanks Only - 560 miles (900 km)

Weight Empty - 7,055 lbs (3200 kg) Maximum Take-Off - 10,800 lbs (4900 kg)

Dimensions Wing Span - 34 ft 5.5 in (10.50 m) Length - 33 ft 5.5 in (10.2 m) Height - 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) Wing Area - 196.99 sq ft (18.30 sq m)

Armament 2 X 13 mm (0.51 in) MG 131 machine guns above the engine 2 X 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon in the wing roots 2 X MG 151/20 or MK 108 cannon in outer wings Plus 1 X 3,968 lbs (1800 kg) centerline bomb Or 1 X 1,102 lbs (500 kg) SC500 centerline bomb And 2 X 551 lbs (250 kg) bombs on wing racks