Focke-Wulf : Fw 261

[Lrrr]

Since I don't see very many reviews / builds of this paper project, thought I'd give it a go.  Specs on this project I find more promising than the much more reviewed Ta-400 that came 2 years later.  Yet another opportunity missed due to lack of resources/foresight, if indeed the Luftwaffe would eventually find the need for a long-range maritime bomber to replace the Fw 200.   

Credit: Luft46
Focke-Wulf Fw 261 (0310225)   

Crew           7-9
Span       40 m         131' 3"    
Length         26.78 m        87' 10"    
Height          6.35 m     20' 10"    
Wing Area         187 m²       2013 ft²
Empty Weight        26760 kg       58995 lbs    
Bomb load     3000 kg         6614 lbs    
Flying Weight       50000 kg         110230 lbs
Ceiling        9600 m        31496'    
Range         9000 km @ 380 km/h          5593 miles @ 236 mph

More to come.

[PR19_Kit]

Wow, never heard of that one before. 

Right up Tophe's street, specially with only three engines and one tailplane. 

[Lrrr]

If it helps I didn't choose the paint in what is now my 'office' 

[PR19_Kit]

Superb job there, what scale is it and how did you build it? 

[Lrrr]

Thank you!

This started as an Antares Models 1:144 kit.  It came as a 5-plane package, "German Twin Boom Designs" with this being the feature plane since it is the only large 4-engine bomber. 


Review of the kit:
Fitment: 5/10    Many many parts needed to be shaved down in order to fit.  Some have bends in them that are incurable (starbird tail boom is 2mm off ground , port 0mm)
Durability: 10/10.   This thing weighs more than a 1:32 fighter.  Individual parts could be stepped on, and even the completed model could be dropped from a standing height and it might survive intact.   
Historical accuracy/practicality: 6/10.  I get that it's paper project and only Luft 46 illustrations for them to go off, but Gun barrel lengths are all over the place, even ones that should be same exact gun.   If telling yourself the front turrets are MG131 Zweitling, dorsal and ventral are c/30 Flak guns and rears are MG 151s then the scale makes sense, otherwise they seem a bit off to me. Also, the top/bottom turret don't even look like they could traverse up/down.   This is all minor not-picks, but since I'm reviewing, I'll throw it out there.  This actually isn't Antares' fault since it looks like they copied the Luft46 iteration 10/10!
Final product: 7.5/10!  Once you get past having to shave part on a sander to get them to fit it actually looks pretty good.

My customization:  decided to do a double-twin main bogey (came as 4 bogey under each nacelle), and tail dragger ( was a single front).  Used the bogeys available and doubled up on the boom nacelle. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Cool. 

[PR19_Kit]

I'd never heard of Antares Models until I read your post, so looked them up on the Net.

Looks like they do some great stuff in all sorts of scales, and they do that Fw-261 in 1/72 as well! The pics of the guns for that kit looks as if they are as different as you think.

[Hobbes]

That's a strange-looking bird. The wheels are a bigger diameter than the engines!

[Lrrr]

I'd never heard of Antares Models until I read your post, so looked them up on the Net.

When I first looked I noted they seem to have a variety of project planes.  I think they are catering towards the WHIF-type crowd, which is commendable