Eduard Spitfire XVI Cockpit (for Eduard) 1:48

[Mike]

Spitfire XVI Cockpit (for Eduard)
1:48 Eduard Brassin

Soon after my review of the Limited Edition Dual Combo of high and low-back XVIs here, here's a lovely new resin set to upgrade the detail in the cockpit from very good to exceptional. The set arrives in the familiar black box, and inside protected by a pair of foam inserts are four bags of resin and Photo-Etch (PE) that make up the set, as well as a fairly chunky bunch of instruction sheets.

Firstly, you should note that this set is for the low-back XVI only, and has parts specific to the different roll-over frame behind the pilot's seat, so don't buy it expecting it to fit the high-back that comes in the set reviewed above. There are thirty nine resin parts, a sheet of nickel plated and pre-painted PE, plus a small slip of acetate sheet with the shapes for the gun-sight glazing printed upon it in duplicate in case you lose one. Clean-up of the resin should be done carefully with a scalpel or razor saw, and the casting blocks have been sensibly placed to help with this. Give the parts a bath in warm soapy water (not hot, which will deform them), and they should go together like any other kit.

The instrument panel is made up from a lamination of three layers of PE and one of resin, with an optional resin only panel if you don't like the printed PE. This fixes to the frame through which the pilot's feet reach for the rudder pedals. The frame behind his head is backed with a PE armour panel and head cushion, while the cockpit floor is made up by the addition of the rudder pedals and their linkages, the wing spar and other equipment. The instrument panel frame slots into a groove in the floor, and the control column slots into another resin panel that is added from within the foot well. The pilot's seat is made up from a resin body, PE armour and connectors, with a resin frame, after which yet more PE is added to firm up the connections, add adjustment handles and the prominent flare rack that sits under the pilot on the front lip of the seat. The previously built up frame is added to the floor along with the frame behind it, and the seat is installed on the small mating points along with its belts.

Attention then turns to the sidewalls, which are based on thin resin skins that have the interior detail moulded in, with extra resin and PE parts added to complete each one. Before they are added to the sides of the cockpit assembly, and little bottle on a rib is added between the seat and next frame back, after which you have a proper cockpit tub. The upper sidewalls are detailed inside the fuselage with PE and resin parts, and once complete and painted, the assembly is placed within the fuselage halves. The low-back's roll-over protection frame is visible above the fuselage skin, so a resin bracing piece and PE strips are added behind the pilot's head, and a two-part additional armour panel sits half-way along the length to afford the pilot extra protection. The resin and acetate gun sight fits to the top of the instrument panel, and you have a choice of two types, with another choice of circular or rectangular rear-view mirrors for the top of the windscreen.

Conclusion
With careful painting you will have the ultimate cockpit for your XVI low-back, possibly only topping it by replacing the PE belts with the Fabric ones that are now available.

Very highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of