IBG 1/72 scale Fw190D plastic model kit review

Replacing the Focke-Wulf Fw 190’s radial engine with a supercharged inline Junkers Jumo 213 produced the Fw 190D and gave the Luftwaffe an excellent high-altitude fighter capable of holding its own against Allied fighters. IBG Models’ new 1/72 scale Fw 190D-9 Cottbus (Early Production) is more than capable of holding its own against the competition.

Thinly molded plastic parts with gorgeous surface features are complemented by photo-etched metal (PE) details. The open engine accessory bay and view of the engine and cowl guns looking through the landing gear bay — a feature often missing on Fw 190 kits — warns the builder they will need patience.

Options include two styles of canopy with separate parts to pose it open or closed, different drop tanks, and two types of engine mounts. Study the instructions carefully because the kit includes parts not required for this version.

Three marking options are included, along with a plethora of stencils. Even the engine has decals, even though they are not visible.

The engine deserves to be on display, but that’s not possible without leaving a gaping hole in the gear bay.

The cockpit is well detailed, with PE seat belts and rudder pedals. If the teeny pedals put you off, don’t worry, they can’t be seen tucked under the instrument panel. Nicely molded details mark the panel and side walls, but they are let down somewhat by the plain decals provided; painting your own may look better.

The cockpit assembly attaches to the forward bulkhead and wing spar. Take care to ensure the angles are correct for this and other joints, because the alignment aids are not especially authoritative.

I left the cowl gun and ammo can assemblies until after I put the fuselage together so I could get the angles right. This may have been a mistake, because they were difficult to insert at that late stage and the barrels needed to be trimmed a bit to allow the top deck to fit properly. Fortunately, the ends of the barrels can’t be seen anyway.

Inserting the cockpit into the fuselage and getting the alignment and placement correct proved tedious because the parts are thin and flexible. Use care when folding and placing the PE gear bay components; the inner bay ceilings (parts PE-27 and PE-28) require careful placement, because they seem too deep and will interfere with the upper wing if too far forward or aft. As a result, I had a gap at the leading edge of the wing that required filler.

The rest of the assembly was straightforward. I left most of the details until after painting. I used the closed canopy because of the uninspiring panel decals but be warned, the part numbers for the sliding sections (parts Y4 and Y6) are reversed. I ended up fitting the narrower open version before realizing the error.

I painted the Dora with Hataka Orange Line lacquers and applied the decals for the marking and many, many stencils before I added the small details. The landing gear is sturdy, but the legs were difficult to mount with sufficient forward rake — probably my fault.

IBG’s Fw 190D-9 demands patience in assembly, but rewards with great fit and decent detail and addresses a shortcoming of many Fw 190 kits with a correctly presented gear bay and engine section.

I spent just under 16 hours, but it seemed longer. Once the interior and gear-bay PE was sorted out the rest of the build went quickly. IBG has produced some great 1/72 aircraft, and this Dora hits the mark as well