FW 190A-5/U-3, prob. II/JG.2, Tunisia winter 1942 (Monogram 1/48)

FW 190A-5/U-3 (Monogram 1/48)

Total restyling of the old '65 Monogram kit, repackaged in the '70s. Those who know the model also know its strengths and weaknesses: for being a 1965 mold it presents parts with rather high standards for the time (such as the interior of the cockpit) and some solutions that leave a little perplexing with today's eye ( see the carriage retraction mechanism ...)

I have not been able to find any information about this version either on the net or in the documentation in my possession. Absolute darkness, not a profile or even a quote that spoke of a tropical FW 190 with the insignia of a Geschwaderoperationoffizier. However, my research has revealed a singular fact. Contrary to what one might think, the FW 190s in Africa practically all kept the "continental" camouflage 74/75/76 and rarely adopted the tropical camouflage 78/79/80, and those who adopted it were only a few FW 190s stationed in Tunisia. Well, in Tunisia, as of November 1942, only three squadrons were operating: II/JG.2, III/ZG.2 and III/SKG.10. So, albeit in a circumstantial way, the only possible conclusion is that this aircraft was stationed in Tunisia in the winter of 1942, belonging to one of the aforementioned three squadrons. I bet on II/JG.2, but if anyone has more precise information about it, I will be delighted to correct the post.

(p.s. as usual, i beg your pardon for my horrible english)