Focke Wulf Fw 190 Vol III

Kagero has been turning out some very interesting and well-researched monographs on many subjects. In this release, Kagero continues its coverage of the Focke Wulf Fw 190 as this is Volume Three of a four-part series. The other three volumes are reviewed in:

• Focke Wulf Fw 190 Volume I
• Focke Wulf Fw 190 Volume II
• Focke Wulf Fw 190 Volume IV

Published in both Polish and English, the author walks the reader through the wartime operations of the aircraft on all fronts, with a closer look at the close air support (mud movers) versions.

The coverage includes:

• Introduction
• The Fighter of Many Faces
• Africa & Sicily
• All Strak's Men
• "Fire Brigade" on the Eastern Front
• Jack of All Trades
• Hills, Mountains, & Monte Cassino
• To Stop the Red Bear
• From Normandy to the Rhine
• Defeat in the East
• The Hungarian Ally
• Hunting By Night
• Over the Atlantic
• Mistel
• Evaluation of the Fw 190

In addition to the operational history of the aircraft, the title contains line drawings of the Fw 190 versions not covered in the previous two volumes. There are also separate sheets of line drawings included for the Fw 190A-5 and Fw 190A-8 in 1/32 scale. The author has also provided a color walk around of the Fw 190 on display at the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum at the new Dulles Airport Annex. Coverage of this part ends with some excellent color profiles of the Fw 190A series.

As is customary for the Kagero series, a sheet of Techmod decals is included representing selected subjects from the color profiles in the title. In a new push, Kagero has elected to provide fewer subjects on the decal sheet in favor of providing those subjects that are covered in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32. All modelers win with this approach! The subjects include:

• Fw 190F-8, III./SG 3, M+I, May 1945
• Fw 190F-9, 7./SG 77, White 2+I, 1945
• Fw 190F-8, II./SG 77, White T+-, Feb 1944
• Fw 190F-8, Stab II Gruppe, Green <<+-, 1945
• Fw 190F-9, II./SG 2, Black 9, 1945
• Fw 190F-9, III./KG 200, Yellow 10, 1945
• Fw 190F-8, 7./SG 10, White 4, May 1945
• Fw 190F-8, Stab III./SG 10, Green 2+I, 1945

You'll definitely want to add this title to your reference library. You can find Kagero books at your favorite hobby retailer or directly through Squadron Mail Order.

My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail Order for this review sample!