1:48 Fw 190 D wheel bay plugs (for Tamiya)

Fw 190 D wheel bay plugs, 1:48 scale

This is a masking accessory, not a kit and not a part that stays on the model. The plugs are inserted into the open bays of the main landing gear, close them for the duration of spraying and keep the primer or the top color from getting into the interior of the bay. The shape matches the wheel bays of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 of the D series in 1:48 scale. The set is cut for the Tamiya kit - the shape and the depth of the bays differ between the individual boxings of the same type, so the right version matters.

The real subject

The Fw 190 D is the late development branch of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, in which the designers replaced the radial engine with a liquid-cooled V power unit. The machine thereby got a drawn-out nose, a lengthened rear fuselage and a tall rudder, which earned it the nickname Dora, or Langnasen-Dora. It was put into action in the closing phase of the war, among other things to protect the airfields of jet aircraft. Against the older versions of the A series it has different wheel bays and wing fillings, so masking from another version will not fit it.

Usage tips

• Clean the bay of dust and the remains of abrasive, or the plug will not seat.
• Insert it lightly, with no pressure, and check that it is flush with the outline of the opening.
• Spray thin layers and avoid spraying directly under the wing.
• Once it has dried, take the plug out and touch up any overspray on the edge with a brush.

Who the set is for

• modelers who paint the landing gear bays in a different color from the surface of the airframe
• builders who want a clean division without laboriously sticking tape on
• those who are building a Dora with open wheel bays and want them on view