Focke-Wilf FW-190 Fighter
Tiger Model (Chibi, no scale), Ref. TM110
After many long years, the new Tiger Model chibis have finally arrived! Among them is the Fw 190A, the famous German fighter of the Second World War.
The boxart is very nice and illustrates the Hong Kong brand's very sympathetic caricature, and in particular the very pointed canopy, which gives it a really funny look. Note, however, the name of the kit, ‘Focke-Wilf’, rather than ‘Focke-Wulf’... Perhaps this will make these first boxes rarities sought after by collectors one day! But it would be a shame not to make the most of it, because the subject offers countless possibilities, and the finished model will never cease to attract attention at exhibitions.
The first thing you realise when you open the box is that it's a little too small for the single cluster of light grey plastic; what's more, the sides of the box lid come off easily... Clearly, things aren't running smoothly at Tiger Model yet...! Still, it's no big deal, and it doesn't take long to get excited about the kit's well-made parts.
It's a very simple kit in appearance, comprising just 23 parts, two of which are transparent. It's these transparent parts that are of particular interest to us, as they don't have the big fixing studs that damaged the inside of the canopies on the first series of Tiger Model cartoons. That's a huge positive, and thanks to Tiger Model for listening to its customers! The transparent pieces are also pleasantly thin and crystal clear.
The 21 grey plastic moulded parts are beautiful, with no flash present, engraved and detailed to perfection. Admittedly, the gear wells are too shallow, but that's still a big step forward when compared with the much older Hasegawa Fw 190 Egg Plane. The difference in the cockpit, with its beautiful bathtub, separate instrument panel (and instrument decals) and separate control column, is even more striking. The Tiger Model landing gear is simple, just 4 pieces (the tail wheel being moulded with a half fuselage) with a nice finish and mounting studs that make it easy to fit and get the characteristic ‘look’ of the ‘Butcher Bird’ on the ground.
As extras, our Fw 190 can be fitted with a very nice, very large tank and/or 4 small bombs under the wings. No pilot (yet) in this box. That may come later, as was the case with the first cartoons.
The instructions come in the form of a small fold-out document, printed mainly in black and white, but also offering the paint scheme in colour, with references to Tamiya paints. Only one decal is offered, that of a JG300 ‘Wilde Sau’ night fighter circa 1944 (so the ‘bombs’ option is of little use here); the swastikas are replaced by ‘Xs’ and there are no servitude markings. Only decals are offered, as the first series of Tiger Model cartoons also offered stickers... These decals are rather shiny, and will no doubt be replaced by the majority of modelers who buy this kit.
In conclusion
We just can't wait to get started! Congratulations to Tiger Model for this magnificent cartoon, and we can only hope that we won't have to wait several more years to see the range extended even further.
Dominique Jadoul