1:48 Focke-Wulf Fw-190D landing flaps wooden 3D PRINTED

Eduard 1:48 landing flaps for the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D, wooden version

A set of 3D-printed parts in 1:48 scale from the Czech manufacturer Eduard for the plastic kit of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D fighter. It is not a kit but an accessory aimed at one particular place on the airframe: the landing flaps on the trailing edge of the wing, and that in the late version of wooden construction. The difference from the plastic parts in the kit lies in the thickness and in the surface, because 3D printing can produce a thin trailing edge and a surface texture that an injection mold will not manage. Anyone who wants to build the model with the flaps lowered also gains a more interesting wing silhouette.

The real subject

The Fw 190D is the version of the German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter with a liquid-cooled V-type engine, thanks to which it has a lengthened nose and tail compared with the earlier versions with a radial engine. In the late phase of production some metal parts of the structure on a number of aircraft were replaced by wood to save strategic materials, and that applied to the landing flaps as well. A model with wooden flaps is therefore a factually supported variant rather than a free interpretation, but it is tied to particular late machines.

Building and painting tips

Cut the flaps away from their supports with a saw or a very sharp scalpel and clean the cuts up; never snap them, because thin edges are fragile. Before painting, wash them in lukewarm water with dish soap and let them dry. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue, since modeling plastic cement will not join this material. Do not forget the primer. On the wing it is usually necessary to cut or sand the plastic part away so that the flap can be lowered, so sketch the position in advance and measure twice. Fit the flaps only once the wing is painted, otherwise you will break the edges while masking.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want to build the model with the landing flaps lowered.
• Builders who follow the differences between production batches and want the late wooden version.
• More experienced modelers used to cutting into plastic and gluing with cyanoacrylate.
• Those who prefer a targeted accessory to an extensive detail set.

This is an accessory for a kit, not a model in its own right. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.