Focke-Wulf FW190 D-9 JG 301 White 12

White 12 of JG 301 with its colourful red and yellow reich defence band has been a popular scheme choice over the years. Eduard as well as this IBG kit both feature it as an option and on their box art. JaPo vol 2 includes a great set of images of this machine as well as their usual forensic analysis of its colours.  

However as with all things late war Luftwaffe, there is still debate about the colours particularly the wing uppersides. This is how IBG interpret the scheme. I spent more time researching this over the weekend than actually building it. The internet forums have countless late war Luftwaffe camo colour debates, but if everyone read the fantastic JaPo books, I reckon this would settle at least half the questions. What Japo have done is to base their analysis not just on photos, relics and orders, but also the evolution of these schemes at the level of production plants. Critically, these evolve fairly slowly and progressively and so by taking all the material avaialable on multiple aircraft from the same plant and putting this into production sequence, suddenly it is revealed how much consistency there was at plant level. Factories don't change things much between consecutive products, so Japo have solved many questions and can provide high probability answers on the remainder. Anyway, despite some speculation about white 12 by some, I can state that IBG have followed the JaPo research closely for white 12 and this scheme and the evidence is highly reliable that this schematic is accurate. 

The engine in the kit is as good as most resin ones. The decal sheet incudes the tiny placards. I added the CMK resin exhausts and scratched a couple of extra pipes. 

It's about 2.5cms long. 

Apart from the exhausts, the lower rear is the only part which will be visible when the model is complete. 

Interior components ready. 

Cockpit from the box, save some Eduard STEEL seatbelts. Side consoles are the plastic not photoetched option with kit decals added. They just need a little coaxing down with setting solutions. Then a coat of clear, oil wash and finally a matt coat.  

I opted to use the plastic instrument panel with decals too. I like the more 3D effect than is typical with etched panels. 

The engine bearers fit to the firewall will determine the alignment of the exhaust stubs with the cowling openings so I am keeping this unglued for now. 

The fit of these three assemblies is also less definite than I'd like so care will be needed. 

The wing spar detail is very nice. 

Cockpit finally assembled. 

I added a plug inside the rear starboard fuselage to support the canopy decking as this part had a little downward warpage.