Focke-Wulf
Fw 190

Part 2

1/48 scale

Lifelike Decals

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron

Reviewed by Brett Green

After a break of five years, Lifelike Decals has added to their coverage of the Wurger with this new 1/48 scale sheet, "Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Part 2".

Lifelike has earned a reputation for high quality decals and unique subjects, and this new offering does not disappoint. Similar to their earlier offerings, Lifelike has not focused on a single variant. The four subjects are:

1. Fw 190 A-4 flown by Oblt. Siegfried Schnell, February 1943. This aircraft was finished in 74/75/76 with an overpainted fuselage band and yellow theatre markings..

2. Fw 190 F-8 in September 1944, finished in 74/75/76 and with very unusual fuselage markings enclosed in quotation marks! Lifelike is not sure if this is a Stab machine or from I Gruppe of SG 4, so both Yellow and Green markings have been supplied. The spinner is the same colour as the number, with a white spiral.

3. Major Walter Nowotny's Fw 190 A-4 in RLM 74/75/76, with wide yellow fuselage band under the fuselage balkenkreuz.

4. Fw 190 A-3, Yellow 28, which may have been attached to a training unit (hence the high number) or 2./EJGr. West. In addition to the unusual number, this aircraft features white bands on the fuselage and around both wings. These were campaign markings for Operation Anton, the disbandment of the Vichy Air Force.

The decals are printed by Microscale. They are very thin and carrier film is close to the edge of all the markings. Registration is good and printing is crisp. One full set of stencil decals is supplied.

Instructions are supplied on a folded A4 full colour sheet. The history and colours of each aircraft are called out over several paragraphs, and each scheme is thoroughly referenced.

This is an attractive decal package covering four very interesting subjects that permits the modeller to use the markings on several different kits.

Recommended.

Thanks to Keishiro Nagao of Lifelike Decals for the review sample.

Lifelike Decals are available by email at lifelike@eos.ocn.ne.jp or from

2-8-7-202, Kameari, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-0061, Japan
fax: +81-3-5680-6733