1:48 Fw 109A-8/R2 landing flaps

The real subject

The Fw 190A-8 was the most numerously built version of the German Focke-Wulf fighter. The conversion designated R2 turned it into a heavily armed aircraft against bomber formations: it carried 30 mm cannons in the outer wing sections. Landing flaps are a rewarding detail on a model, because when they are lowered they change the silhouette of the wing and show a piece of its internal structure.

What the set contains

Photo-etched metal parts of the landing flaps for a kit in 1:48 scale. Against injection-molded plastic the metal has a fraction of the thickness, so on the edge the flap really looks like a sheet metal part and not like a wedge several millimeters thick. The metal also carries the finer pattern on the inner face of the flap, which an injection mold can only suggest. The manufacturer gives the parts list and the kit the set is cut for in the instructions.

Building tips

• Cut the parts off the sheet right next to the tab and sand the burr away rather than breaking them out.
• Make the bends over a sharp edge or in a bending tool, not between your fingers.
• Glue them with cyanoacrylate glue applied in a small amount on the tip of a toothpick.
• Degrease the metal before painting and use a primer for metal surfaces.
• The original flaps from the kit usually have to be cut off and the seat in the wing cleaned up, so plan for that before you glue the wing halves together.

Who it is for

For builders who want an aircraft with the flaps lowered and are not satisfied with the thickness of the kit part. Working with photo-etched parts calls for a sharp blade, tweezers and a calm hand.

The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.