ALFA MODELS Focke-Wulf FW-190

Model Airplane News, Oct 2004 by Bell, Rick

The servo tray has a cutout for the rudder servo, and an extra pushrod support is in the kit. Using the "That looks about right" method, I made a pushrod exit in the fuselage and snaked the outer sleeve from a DuBro micro pushrod (item no. 847) to the pushrod support. I installed the rudder servo and hooked up the pushrod to it, and the conversion was complete. Total time for this modification was about 1 hour.

With the servos in place, I added the receiver, ESC and battery. I used Velcro® to mount the receiver as far back in the fuselage as possible and the ESC on the side of the fuselage above the elevator servo. The rudder servo took up the space where the battery needed to be to balance the model, so I made a cradle for it out of te-inch sheet balsa and placed it on its edge between the servos. I applied the decals, and the FockeWulf was ready for its first mission.

FLIGHT REPORT

This fighter rocks! I had senior tech editor Gerry Yarrish hand-launch the plane for its first flight, and from the moment it left his hand, I knew I had a winner. The little FW-190 feels like a much bigger plane in flight and grooves like a pattern ship. With the 8x6 prop and the 3-cell battery pack, top speed is around 55 to 60mph. In true warbird fashion, the little fighter will perform any maneuver asked of it. Adding the rudder was a definite plus, as I could hold the model in a knife-edge attitude and it would do killer rolls. Strafing runs on the deck are just too cool!

BUILDER'S FINAL THOUGHTS

This is the first Alfa warbird that I've had a chance to fly, and it certainly won't be the last. The model assembles quickly without effort and flies better than it looks. The MP Jet Outrunner motor and Li-poly battery create a winning combination that will provide many hours of dogfighting thrills. Try one, and don't forget to "check your six"!

Alfa Models; distributed by Hobby Lobby.

APC Props; distributed by Landing Products (530) 661-0399; apcpnp.com.

AstroFlight (310) 821-6242; astroflight.com.

Du-Bro (800) 848-9411; dubro.com.

FMA (800) 343-2934; (301) 668-4280; fmadirect.com.

GWS USA (909) 594-4979; gws.com.tw.

Hitec (858) 748-6948; hitecrcd.com.

Hobby Lobby (615) 373-1444; hobby-lobby.com.

Jeti; distributed by Hobby Lobby.

Kokam; distributed by Hobby Lobby.

MP Jet; distributed by Hobby Lobby.