discussion Eduard Fw190 A3

[matto21]

Hi there,

Been building this Eduard Fw190 A3 in captured RAF colours on and off for a few months now. Finally approaching the finish line...





Thanks for looking.

Matt

 

[scottie3158]

Looking good.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Matt
Looks nice. All ready for the decals.
Jim

 

[Andy the Sheep]

A nice build, Matt (Matto in my language means "mad", so Matt sounds a lot better to me:tongue-out3 and an original idea about the painting scheme.

Andrea

 

[Mini Me]

Now that is different..........I like it!:thumb2: Rick H.

 

[matto21]

Thanks for the comments guys, appreciated!

Some subtle chipping on the prop...



Matt

 

[matto21]

Hi all,

I've struggled with the decals, but am finally winning the battle!

 

[Mini Me]

Very Nice.:thumb2:

 

[Mark1]

Looking good

 

[stillp]

Looks great! Does the P mean the driver has only just passed his test? :smiling:
Pete

 

[adt70hk]

Cool!! Very different!!!

ATB.

Andrew

 

[matto21]

Looks great! Does the P mean the driver has only just passed his test? :smiling:
Pete

I'm not 100%, but I think the P means Prototype. Although I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will know more.

 

[boatman]

Looks great! Does the P mean the driver has only just passed his test? :smiling:
Pete

Well Pete i think it stands for prisnor as it is a captured aircraft from the lufwaffer lol
chrisb

 

[stillp]

I googled, and found it's the code for a number of flying training schools:

P	No. 202 Advanced Flying School RAF	202 AFS
P	No. 207 Advanced Flying School RAF	207 AFS
P	No. 1 Flying Training School RAF	1 FTS
P	No. 2 Flying Training School RAF	2 FTS
P	No. 3 Flying Training School RAF	3 FTS
P	No. 6 Flying Training School RAF	6 FTS
P	No. 7 Flying Training School RAF	7 FTS
P	No. 9 Flying Training School RAF	9 FTS
P	No. 22 Flying Training School RAF	22 FTS
P	No. 207 Flying Training School RAF	207 FTS
P	No. 9 (Advanced) Flying Training School RAF	9 (A)FTS
P	No. 10 (Advanced) Flying Training School RAF	10 (A)FTS
P	No. 22 Service Flying Training School RAF	22 SFTS

No idea if it was the same when this aircraft was around.
Pete

 

[stillp]

Searching for MP499 produced some photos from the Imperial War Museum, with this caption: "Captured Focke Wulf Fw 190A-3, MP499, taxying at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, Hampshire, with the RAE's chief test pilot, Wing Commander H J "Willie" Wilson at the controls. Although formally transferred to the Air Fighting Development Unit in July 1942, MP499, was retained by the RAE, undergoing extensive evaluation by flying and technical staff, including a programme of trials with contemporary Allied fighters."
Pete

 

[stillp]

I'm not 100%, but I think the P means Prototype. Although I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will know more.

You're right Matto - I found this:
"Air Ministry Order (AMO) 513/41 dated 10.7.41 specified prototypes to have yellow undersides.

From 1942 (AMO 664/42 dated 2.7.42) specified yellow undersides and the letter ‘P’ in yellow encircled by a yellow ½” ring of equal diameter to fuselage roundel. Air Publication 2656A Vol 1, Sect 6, Chap 2 (October 1944) goes into more detail of the dimensions of the markings."

I don't know why a captured enemy aircraft would be marked as a prototype though.
I found some more history: "This was the first Fw 190 to fall into Allied hands. Disorientated following air combat, Oberleutnant Armin Faber, a mostly deskbound staff officer of III/JG 2, mistook the Bristol Channel for the English Channel and landed at RAF Pembrey, Wales on 23 June 1942."

Pete

 

[stona]

The 'P' was for prototype.

It was part of the markings, along with the yellow undersides etc. applied to British prototype aircraft and captured enemy aircraft which were to be flown and tested in British airspace.

Hopefully this would prevent either British fighters or anti-aircraft artillery from shooting them down!

Some received even more exotic markings, like the Bf 109 G-14, which got 'Special Marking', a.k.a. invasion stripes to afford a little more protection.



No serial number given and it seems painting a circle around the P was not considered essential.



I made a model of this aircraft some years ago!

 

[matto21]

Thank you for all the useful and informative information above about the "P" markings.

@stona , that is a very interesting and tempting prototype for a model!

 

[stona]

Go for it Matto!

Terrible photo, but you get the idea :smiling3:



It's so old that I don't even remember what kit this was based on!

 

[Guest]

I don't know why a captured enemy aircraft would be marked as a prototype though.

Probably so it doesn’t need to be assigned a British military or civilian registration code, yet can legally be flown. Similar to sticking dealer plates on a car that isn’t insured, has no MOT, etc. when taking it for a test drive.