Trumpeter 1/48 scale Fw 200C-4 Condor

Kit: No. 02814
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Trumpeter, from Stevens International, 856-435-1555, www.stevenshobby.com
Price: $129.95
Comments: Injection-molded, 296 parts (1 photo-film instrument panel), decals
Pros: Good detail, good fit, complete cockpit and cabin interior, easy to build
Cons: Limited optional parts, some marking proportion problems, wing flexes without a reinforcing spar

The Fw 200 Condor has been around in a few 1/48 scale resin and vacuum-formed kits, but Trumpeter's is the first in injection-molded plastic. The parts have sharp detail, not too many recessed rivets, and flash-free moldings. The clear parts are exceptionally well-made. Trumpeter offers few options, but the kit does have a complete interior. A pair of externally mounted bombs is provided, but I was surprised that Trumpeter did not include optional direction-finding loop antenna or radar aerials.

The extensive interior includes a floor built from three deck subassemblies. Each deck section contains appropriate bulkheads, seats, fuel tanks, ammo boxes, oxygen tanks, radio gear, and flight controls. Whew! There's even cabin-light details! The completed assembly, more than 13" long, dropped into the right fuselage half with no problems. Unfortunately, most of this detail will go unseen after the fuselage halves are joined. The many windows, installed from the inside of each fuselage half, have handy keyed tabs to assist the modeler with their installation.

The tail-wheel bay interfered with closing the fuselage, so I cut away the locating tabs from one fuselage half, and that solved the problem.
Cleaning up the long top and bottom fuselage seams was a problem, but the internal structure helped hold the assembly together as I sanded. A bit of gap-filling super glue here and there and careful use of a sanding stick made things right.

The wing is made from five parts, and has a lot of flex even after it's attached to the fuselage. I recommend placing a spar inside the assembly. IPMS Philippines has plans for one on its website: www.ipmsphilippines.com.

All the wing flaps, ailerons, tail planes, and rudder are separate parts so they can be posed deflected if you want. Be warned: Inside the flaps are big ejector-pin marks.

Each nine-part main-landing-gear assembly is well-done and strong enough to handle the weight of the finished model. All three machine guns have "drilled out" muzzles, a nice touch.

I used Polly Scale's Luftwaffe colors to paint my Fw 200. This range includes RLM 72 and 73 needed for the subtle splinter camouflage of the maritime scheme used on the Condor. This beats mixing the colors as listed on the kit's color guide.

Decals are provided for two aircraft from KG40, a primary user of the Condor. I wasn't happy with size and proportions of the cross decals for the upper wing surface and fuselage; I replaced them with spares. The lower wing surface crosses were close enough. The quality of the decals is good with minimal clear film.

My primary reference was Warpaint Series No. 13 Focke Wulf Fw 200 Condor and Wings of the Luftwaffe by Eric Brown. My Condor was completed in 32 hours. For such a large model, it was relatively trouble-free, and I enjoyed building it. If you have a little experience, you should enjoy it too.

- Jim Zeske