1:32 Focke-Wulf Fw-190A-4 tropical filter - closed

Quickboost 1:32 Fw-190A-4 – tropical filter in the closed position

Quickboost 1:32 Focke-Wulf Fw-190A-4 tropical filter is an accessory part for a model in 1:32 scale showing the dust filter over the intake in the closed state. It is intended to be swapped for the part from the kit; it is a single detail, not a model of the aircraft.

What the filter was for

Machines used in the Mediterranean and in North Africa suffered from sand, which got through the intake into the compressor and shortened the life of the powerplant. The answer was a housing with a screen in front of the air intake, which could be opened or closed according to conditions. Aircraft with this modification are recognized from their profile alone and tend to be a rewarding subject thanks to their striking desert camouflage.

Advice on fitting

First check which side of the fuselage the filter belongs on and how high it should sit relative to the panel lines. Clear the mating surface of unevenness so that the part lies against it over its whole area. It is advisable to round the transition to the fuselage gently so that it looks like part of the structure and not like a stuck-on piece. A deposit of sand around the intake then completes the whole impression: fine dust settled in sheltered places can turn an ordinary model into a machine that has seen service on a field airfield.

Who the accessory suits

• builders of machines used on the southern fronts
• modelers who want to tell the tropical modification from the ordinary one
• anyone interested in the Fw 190 family in the largest scales
• those who are building a desert scene with ground crew