September 25, 2026

Preview: MiniArt's 48th-scale Focke-Wulf FW 190D-13 Basic Kit

Details of MiniArt's new 1/48th-scale Focke-Wulf FW 190D-13 are with us today. We look at CADs, art, features & the real kites in our preview...


Preview: MiniArt's 48th-scale Focke-Wulf FW 190D-13 Basic Kit

Focke-Wulf FW 190D-13 Basic Kit
From MiniArt Models
Kit No: 48050
1/48th scale
The kit contains three marking choices in the box.
Clear parts, full engine and weighted wheels are included.
The Subject: The late-war Focke-Wulf FW 190D-13
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-13 represents the absolute zenith of German piston-engine fighter development during the Second World War [vintageaviationnews.com]. Affectionately known by Luftwaffe pilots as the "Langnasen-Dora" (Long-Nose Dora) due to its elongated profile, this variant was specifically engineered to counter the devastating high-altitude raids of Allied heavy bombers and their nimble escorts. Unlike the earlier radial-engined Fw 190 variants that struggled in thin upper-atmosphere air, the D-13 was built around the powerful, liquid-cooled Junkers Jumo 213 engine equipped with a three-stage supercharger. This massive powerplant required a radically lengthened nose, forcing engineers to add a fuselage plug near the tail to restore the aircraft's aerodynamic balance. The result was a sleek, lethal interceptor capable of exceeding speeds of 700 kilometres per hour, boasting exceptional handling characteristics that rivalled the best contemporary Allied designs.

The Luftwaffe aircraft graveyard at the Plzeň-Bory (Pilsen-Bory) airfield in Czechoslovakia, seen shortly after liberation in May 1945. The distinct features and identity of the aircraft in this image include: The Foreground Aircraft (Centre): This is the broken hull of Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-13 (Werknummer 836016). It is easily identified by its unique Black Double Chevron (<<) insignia painted on the side of the fuselage, a tactical designation reserved for a Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander). 
What truly set the D-13 apart from its close sibling, the D-12, was its streamlined and highly reliable armament configuration. Recognising that the heavy 30mm MK 108 motor-cannon was prone to jamming and severely limited in ammunition capacity, Focke-Wulf designers swapped it out for a 20mm MG 151/20 cannon firing directly through the propeller hub. When paired with two matching 20mm cannons synchronised in the wing roots, the D-13 provided pilots with a concentrated, high-velocity stream of fire that was devastatingly accurate. To further aid the pilot during high-altitude dogfights, the aircraft featured a pressurised cockpit and a state-of-the-art Bediengerät—an automated mechanical computer that automatically managed engine mixture, RPM, and supercharger settings, allowing the aviator to focus entirely on combat tactics.

Below, amongst other wrecked aircraft & hangers, remain as testimony of the war action at the military airbase at Bory, close to the centre of Pilsen, around 1 kilometre south of the Skoda works. One of the choices in this boxing is W.Nr. 836016, which is one of a batch of 20 (836000 - 836020) built by Weserflug in March 1945. From that tabulation it is apparent that this group of Focke Wilfs were Fw 190D-13s.
Despite its technical brilliance, the Fw 190D-13 arrived far too late to alter the course of the war, with only about 30 production airframes completed before the collapse of the Third Reich. Shortages of aviation fuel, fractured manufacturing supply chains, and a desperate lack of trained pilots meant that few of these apex fighters ever saw operational sorties. Today, the legacy of this rare machine is preserved by a single surviving original specimen: "Yellow 10" (Werknummer 836017), famously flown by Major Franz Götz of Jagdgeschwader 26. Captured by British forces at the end of hostilities and later shipped to the United States for evaluation, this beautifully restored aircraft stands as a testament to late-war aviation engineering, offering a glimpse into what was arguably the ultimate evolution of the classic propeller-driven fighter.

"Yellow 10", Werknummer 836017, flown by Major Franz Götz of Jagdgeschwader 26. Here you see it in German & in US markings.

The kit:
This kit represents the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-13, one of the final developments of the long-nosed Fw 190 family. The model combines the Dora-series airframe with finely reproduced surface detail, making it an excellent addition to late-war Luftwaffe aircraft collections.

Features of this kit:
We have some CADs showing the features of this new D-13 variant. 
The finely detailed and accurate exterior is furnished with finely reproduced panel lines and rivets
Detailed cockpit with instrument panel and seat
Optional open or closed canopy is included. Clear parts included for the canopy & transparent parts of the kit.
From the rear you can see the drop tank under the belly supplied with this kit, but it's seldom used on the fighter interception missions these aircraft flew mostly...
As you can see from the main gear down here and the underbelly of the kite, detail was put into the riveting in all areas of the kit. Miniart has spared not detail in the delicate but detailed landing gear well on this kit.
Flaps can be posed on this kit; photoetch is included for the thinner parts.
Marking choices & decals
There are three marking versions on one decal sheet included in the instructions with the national markings, nose art & serial numbers. The markings for the propellers & the instrument panel are included along with some serials & stencils that cover the aircraft.

That is all we know about this kit so far. See more about all of MiniArt's kits on their website...