Fw 190A-8 Radio Antenna Questions

[RickNelson]

Hello,

I am trying to understand how the radio antenna that runs from the rudder to the canopy is rigged inside the canopy of the Fw190A-8. I would like to model it correctly in the canopy open position but cannot understand how the canopy protion operates. Any close-up pictures or drawings would be appreciated. It looks like the device that is mounted on the top of the canopy has a cable roller/guide and that the antenna then goes aft inside the cockpit. However, the antenna always appears tight regardless of whether the canopy is open or shut. There must be more to the take-up mechanism than can be seen in photos.

Thanks,

[George Hopp]

The answer on the antenna attachment for the Fw 190 A-8, Rick, is a definite "It depends!" The following two photos are from pages 286 and 298 of Peter Rodeike's superb "Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug:Fw 190 A, Fw 190 "Dora", Ta 152 H."

The 1st photo is of Maj. Walther Dahl's 190A-8, Blue 13, taken in Dec '44, and it shows the multiple roller antenna unit. The antenna wire rolls over the canopy roller, then to another roller at a bulkhead within the rear part of the canopy, and back to a fixed point on the fuselage decking beneath the canopy. This, as you mentioned, keeps the wire tight both when the canopy is open and when it is closed.

The 2nd photo shows a later wire attachment to the canopy, with no method for keeping the wire tight when the canopy is open. The a/c is Fw 190A-8, Red 11 (sic), of Uffz. Dieter Goethel, which force-landed on 20 Jan '45. This method of attachment was also used in the later bulged canopy of the Fw 190s and Ta 152s.

[George Hopp]

Here is the diagram from page 66 of the above book, and should make more clear the comments from my previous note.
Hope it helps,
George