Revell – 03777 – Focke-Wulf Fw 200 C-5/C-8 Condor

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a German WWII Focke-Wulf Fw 200 maritime patrol bomber.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, particularly in its C-5 and C-8 variants, was a German long-range maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft used extensively by the Luftwaffe during World War II. Originally conceived in the late 1930s as a civilian airliner and transatlantic mail plane, the aircraft was later adapted for military use, and the modifications it underwent transformed it into one of the most iconic German aircraft of the early war years.

The C-5 and C-8 versions represented evolved, militarized forms of the Condor, equipped with reinforced fuselages, bomb racks, additional armament, and more advanced avionics. The C-5 variant introduced radar—specifically the FuG 200 Hohentwiel system—which gave it a major advantage in locating Allied shipping at sea, particularly in the vast expanses of the Atlantic. This radar equipment was housed in distinctive antenna arrays under the nose and fuselage. The C-8, developed later, featured further upgrades in electronic systems, refined defensive armament, and often carried guided bombs or torpedoes, adapting to the shifting needs of the Luftwaffe as Allied countermeasures improved.

The Fw 200 Condor gained notoriety during the Battle of the Atlantic for its ability to shadow Allied convoys and direct U-boat packs to their location, as well as for launching its own attacks with bombs or depth charges. It could fly at long range and loiter over convoy routes, posing a constant threat before Allied long-range fighters and escort carriers were introduced in larger numbers. Winston Churchill famously referred to it as “the scourge of the Atlantic” during the early war period, though this reputation faded as the Allies adapted with better air cover and radar-equipped escorts.

Despite its strengths, the Condor was never entirely suited for military use. It retained a relatively fragile structure inherited from its civilian origins, which made it prone to structural issues when heavily loaded or stressed in combat maneuvers. Landing accidents were frequent, and it never achieved the ruggedness of purpose-built military bombers. Still, its contribution to maritime warfare in the early 1940s was significant, and it remains one of the best-known German aircraft used in the reconnaissance and anti-shipping role.

This original Revell kit was tooled in 2006, initially released with this same exacta variants, C-5/C-8. Later in 2010 kit was updated and released as C-4 variant.

Kit include two Hs 293 guided bombs as characteristic armament and kit features some nice details with several parts which can be depicted open or closed at your own decision exposing engines, interior or bomb bay. The kit consists of 240 parts, making it a complex kit not suitable for beginners despite the good engineering.

One of the kit’s standout features is its functional elements—movable propellers, rotating gun turrets, a cordoned bomb bay or external ordnance, movable tailwheel, and dipole antennas—all contributing to a more engaging build. The fit is generally solid, with well-engineered joins and no major seam issues, though some modelers note that attention is needed around the gondola and engine nacelles.

Some critics point out that in comparison to Trumpeter’s more recent tooling, Revell’s engine and underwing detail stands out as more accurate and refined—particularly the wing fabric sections and engine cowling—but the Revell kit lacks some of Trumpeter’s extra interior complexity.

Overall, the Revell Condor is regarded as a satisfying kit that builds into an impressive display model. Its combination of exterior finesse, functioning gear, and distinctive silhouette makes it a favorite, even if some add-ons are used to deepen interior or turret detail.

*Note that the old 04387 2006 kit can appear mixed in the below Marketplace results.