WILDE SAU Episode Three: Until the Fall of the Empire 1/48

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was, after the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the second standard fighter aircraft of the German Luftwaffe and proved to be an exceptionally versatile and robust aircraft. The A-8 version was one of the most widespread production variants and became the backbone of the Reich’s daytime fighter defence during the final phase of the war. The later Fw 190D-9 variant, nicknamed ‘Dora’, featured the Junkers Jumo 213 inline engine with its characteristically elongated nose and represented a significant leap in performance, making it one of the best German fighters of the war’s final stages. From early 1944 until the end of the war, German forces fielded more than 6,500 Fw 190s in various configurations.

The designation ‘Wilde Sau’ (Wild Boar) refers to a night-time interceptor defence tactic in which single-seat day fighters attacked bombers over targets illuminated by searchlights and fires, without the aid of airborne radar. It is precisely this chapter in the war’s history that the units featured in this kit are dedicated to – Jagdgeschwader 300 and 301, which were closely associated with this tactic, and Nachtjagdgruppe 11. The edition thus documents the dramatic period of fighting over German territory right up to the very fall of the Reich, as suggested by the subtitle ‘Until the Fall of the Empire’.

This limited edition from Eduard, in 1:48 scale, is a Dual Combo kit, meaning it contains plastic sprues for building two complete models – one Fw 190A-8 and one Fw 190D-9. Model-makers will appreciate the extensive range of features: a total of 11 camouflage schemes, high-quality decals, pre-painted photo-etched parts to enhance detail (such as the interior and tracks), and paint masks. Resin parts are not included in the kit. The combination of both versions on a single sprues, together with the wide range of colour schemes, makes this kit an attractive choice for both Fw 190 collectors and modellers interested in the Luftwaffe’s final battles. The pack does not contain the paints or adhesives required for assembly.