Fw 190A decal question

[Rodders 61]

Hi,
I've bought a set of HAD models decals for the Tamiya Fw190A8/R2 in 48th scale which has two options both R2. I only have one other 190 which is the Revell FW 190A8 which comes in the Mistel boxing with the Ta 154. I think the 190 is the old Trimaster moulding but not sure. I may be wrong but if the aircraft has the R suffix it has had a kit added such as the extra armour, etc of the Tamiya kit. Which was added in the field i think. I wanted to use the extra set use on the Revell one which is just a plain 190. Just wondered if that is possible or was the R2 a big job due to the extra armour, etc and had to be done at the factory. Also, were they re-painted at the same time which means I can't use them.
Thanks for any help,
Cheers,
Rodders.

 

[Wurger]

The Rüstsätze were field modification kits produced for the German Luftwaffe during the WW2. They were packaged in kit form, usually direct from the aircraft manufacturer, and allowed for field modifications , predominantly fighter bombers and night fighters. Rüstsätze kits could be fitted in the field, as opposed to Umrüst-Bausätze kits, which were typically fitted in the factory.
The R2 ( Rüstsätze 2 ) extension of the Fw 190A marking says that the plane could be armed with the MK108 cannon mounted in wings instead of the outboard MG 151/20 guns or in gun pods under the wing. It had nothing in common with the additional armour that was designed as the Rüstsätze 7 and 8 (R7, R8). The R2 set could be used from A6 to A9 variant. The addition to the R2 set was a fuselage center line mounted WGr21 rocket launcher. But the launchers were used for the A8 only.
The installation of the R2 set didn't change too much the general appearance of the Fw 190A. If the guns were mounted in the wings just the barrles of the outher MGs were almost not protruding from the leading edges of the wing contrary to the ones of the MG 151s. The A8s with the MK108 guns in wings had the small rectangle covers at the wing tops. Also there could be the difference in the layout/shape of the shell ejection slots and the bulges at the underwings. The A8s with the MK108 guns had the larger, rectangle shell ejection slots next to the accessing bottom hatches.
I would suggest finding pictures showing both kites and checking on changings you have to introduce. But the A8/R2 variant didn't differ much in the general appearance from the plain A8.

To sum up ... not too hard work to upgrade the Revell Fw 190A8 model to the Sturmbock version ( I think you mean the variant ).

 

[Crimea_River]

The Revell kit's origins indeed go back to the Dragon offering and it may be that the Fw190 in turn stems from the Trimaster mould. I don't know much about that old kit but I built what was supposedly an A-5 from Dragon and there were a number of inaccuracies with the kit. If accuracy matters to you, you may want to check that what you get with the Revell kit is indeed an A-8.

 

[DDonSS3]

The Dragon Fw 190A-8 and D-9 (as well as the He 162) were originally Trimaster molds.