Special Hobby

1/72 Focke Wulf FW-58C "Weihe"

Kit Number: 72077

Reviewed by  Brian R. Baker, IPMS# 43146

MSRP: $37.95 Parts: 84 Injected plastic parts, 17 photo etched parts. HISTORY Designed to a Luftwaffe specification for a six place light transport in the early thirties, the prototype first flew in 1935. Powered by two 240 hp. Argus 10C inverted "vee" air-cooled engines, the aircraft was a low wing monoplane of mixed construction and fabric covering. Few FW-58A's were built. The FW-58B had a glazed nose and a dorsal gun position, and was intended as a crew trainer, although it was armed with two 7.9 mm MG-156 machine guns on swivel mounts. The FW-58BW was a floatplane. The major production model, the FW-58C, had a solid nose, and was intended primarily for light transport and air ambulance duties. Most served throughout World War II in those roles, although many were used as multi-engine trainers and for communications work. A few were exported to Sweden and South America. It is not known if any survived. Specifications included: Span, 68' 10-3/4 in; Length, 45' 11-1/4 in; Cruising Speed, 150 mph; Service Ceiling, 18,372 Feet; Normal Range, 497 Miles. Compared with other airplanes in the same category, this airplane seems to have been excessively large and underpowered. However, it was rugged and reliable, and even though it featured external bracing and fixed pitch propellers, it proved to be an efficient airplane, although no match for aircraft like the Beech 18 or the Oxford. THE KIT Since I have decided to try to build at least one model of every possible 1/72 scale kit of aircraft produced up to the end of World War II, I could not resist this kit in a local hobby shop. And to top it off, it is extremely unusual for me to buy a kit and have it built within six months. So when I saw this on the shelf, I bought it. Nuff sed! Special Hobby has come a long way since they began, and this kit is an example of their best products. The kit appears to be accurate, and it has a nicely detailed interior. In fact, it has detail in the rear cabin area that is impossible to see through the tiny windows in the cabin sides, and I wondered why they included that detail at all. There isn't even a door that you could open to expose it. Cockpit detail is excellent, with etched brass rudder pedals, trim wheels, an instrument panel, and seat belts. There is good cockpuit side detail, something that more modern kits from major manufacturers are just starting to include. Although this model depicts the FW-58C, a serious modeler could backdate it to the glass nosed version, as the glass is provided, although a dorsal gun position and assorted details would have to be scratch built with a fair amount of kit bashing. Since another kit of the "B" model has been produced, this would be pointless unless you couldn't obtain the B model. The landing gear is particularly petite, and although I looked at it at first with apprehension, it went together easily when I followed the directions, for once. ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS The instructions consist of two small four sided sheets. The first gives the aircraft history, a very clear sprue diagram, and two pages of three view drawings, giving two color schemes for different aircraft. The colors are given in RLM colors, which is very helpful. The second sheet gives assembly instructions, showing the construction sequence clearly enough that written instructions are unnecessary. Of course, of a kit of this price and complexity, only fairly experienced modelers would be expected to buy this kit, so detailed instructions are really unnecessary. ASSEMBLY The assembly sequence is perfectly logical. First detail the interior, putting all components into place. Then join the fuselage halves and begin major assembly. I opted for Krystal Klear instead of the small rear cabin side windows, as you can't see anything through them anyway. White glue would have worked just as well. Very little filler is required for the seams, and the wings are tailplane are easy to align. The canopy fits perfectly, although the nose cone needed a little adjusting to get it to fit. PAINTING Once the basic airframe was assembled and the canopy masked off, the model was ready for painting. Two color schemes are given in the instructions, and I decided to do the 70/71/65 aircraft, coded BB+SB. This aircraft was assigned to A/B 32, based in Bohemia-Moravia during 1943. It has Russian Front yellow markings to add some color. The alternative color scheme is for an aircraft assigned to LKS7, which operated with a Luftwaffe training unit in Germany during 1943. This has RML 71 on the nose and fuselage with RLM 02 on the rest of the airplane. I didn't install the main wing struts or tailplane bracing struts until after painting was completed. FINISHING AND CONCLUSION The finished product is, I think, an impressive model. It certainly fills a gap in my collection, and represents a type that, while not a combat aircraft, was certainly important in the operation of training schools, without which no air force can continue to operate. Although expensive, it certainly was worth buying, and I certainly got my money's worth. Get one while you can still find one.

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