Exotic Decals 72041 - 1:72 Butcherbird over England - Captured Fw 190 A-4/U-8 Wr.Nr 47155

Butcherbird over England – captured Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4/U-8 (Wr.Nr 47155) in 1:72 scale

Exotic Decals 72041 is a waterslide decal set for 1:72 models of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4/U-8 fighter, devoted to one specific airframe, Werknummer 47155 – a captured "Butcherbird" that passed into RAF hands after landing in Britain by mistake.

What's in the box:

• Waterslide decal sheet with markings
• Illustrated painting and marking placement guide (aircraft profile views)

Set specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Product code: 72041
• Manufacturer: Exotic Decals
• Accessory type: waterslide decals
• For: decals for a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4/U-8 (Wr.Nr 47155) aircraft model
• Material: waterslide decal sheet

Waterslide decals – schemes not offered in the box

Decals let you reproduce the national insignia, tactical numbers, unit emblems and stencilling of a chosen aircraft on your model. Decal makers usually focus on schemes and versions that are not included as standard with plastic kits, so you can build a specific, historically documented airframe or a less common operator.

These are waterslide decals, transferred onto the model after soaking in water. A common, recommended approach is to apply them over a gloss coat, which prevents decal silvering, and then to seal everything with a matt or satin coat depending on the finish you want. Decal setting solutions can help the carrier film conform to surface detail.

The decals are intended for models in the stated scale. As kits of the same aircraft from different manufacturers may differ slightly in dimensions and panel layout, it is worth checking that the markings fit your particular kit before purchase.

About the aircraft – Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4/U-8 (Wr.Nr 47155):

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190, nicknamed "Würger" (shrike, or "Butcherbird"), is a German single-seat fighter powered by the BMW 801 radial engine. After entering service in 1941 it proved a dangerous opponent for the Allied fighters of the day. The A-4/U-8 was a long-range fighter-bomber version adapted to carry underwing drop tanks and a fuselage bomb; to save weight, part of the wing armament was usually removed.

The airframe Werknummer 47155 was built by Fieseler in Kassel and served with SKG 10, a unit carrying out night fighter-bomber raids over southern England. In the early hours of 17 April 1943 its pilot, Feldwebel Otto Bechtold, lost his bearings and landed by mistake at the British airfield of West Malling in Kent, thereby handing an intact aircraft to the RAF.

The aircraft was repainted in British colours and given the serial PE882. It was evaluated by the Royal Aircraft Establishment and then used by a special unit demonstrating captured aircraft (No. 1426 Flight). Its career ended on 13 October 1944, when an in-flight engine fire caused the aircraft to crash, killing the pilot.

Specifications (Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4):

• Length: approx. 8.95 m
• Wingspan: approx. 10.51 m
• Height: approx. 3.95 m
• Take-off weight: approx. 4,000 kg
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: BMW 801 D-2 radial engine, approx. 1,700 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 660 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 10,600 m
• Range: approx. 800 km (more with underwing drop tanks)
• Armament of the basic A-4: two 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns above the engine and four 20 mm cannon in the wings; on the A-4/U-8 part of the armament was removed in favour of extra range and load

About the manufacturer – Exotic Decals:

Exotic Decals is a Polish aircraft decal brand associated with Toro Model (Tomasz Mankowski) of Konstancin-Jeziorna, Poland. Its range focuses on less obvious subjects: the colours of the Belgian, Romanian, Croatian and Italian air arms, as well as captured aircraft evaluated by the enemy. Many sets cover specific, historically documented airframes.

The decals are issued in the popular aircraft scales 1:72 and 1:48, with some subjects also available in 1:32. Each set comes with a painting guide featuring aircraft profiles to help position the markings on the model.