Eduard F-15I Upgrade Sets (for GWH 1:48)

[Mike]

F-15I Upgrade Sets (for GWH)
1:48 Eduard

Following the original F-15A/B release from Great Wall Hobby, new parts were added to allow them to release an updated Ra'am edition in 2015 and Eduard have adapted their sets for this edition. As usual with Eduard's Photo-Etch (PE) and Mask sets, they arrive in a flat resealable package, with a white backing card protecting the contents and the instructions that are sandwiched between.


Interior (49772)
This set consists of one fret of nickel plated brass that has been pre-painted, another in bare brass for constructional elements, and a small slip of acetate for the HUD glazing. The Ra'am is a two-seater, so the first port of call is to improve both ejection seats with handles, ancillary equipment and seatbelts, much of which is pre-painted for your ease, requiring only the smallest of areas to be removed from the front, and the perforated central column to be removed at the top rear. The side consoles are sanded back to receive new painted panels, as are the main instrument panels with their laminated instruments showing through the top layer. The pilot's coaming is upgraded with a new HUD unit with scale parts, and the opening side panel just forward of the cockpit side is detailed with a full set of fronts for the black boxes, as well as some pull-handles and interconnects to add life to the area. The radome is also detailed with a surface skin and more detailed T-shaped parts replacing the moulded in points for accuracy.

The canopy is detailed inside with additional sill parts and a run of locking "fingers" on each side, plus a new roll-over hoop skin with integrated rear-view mirrors. Finally, to use up a little extra space on the fret, a couple of small vents are added to the deck around the canopy rear and forward of the main bays.

Exterior (48888)
This set is a single large fret of brass, starting with the nose gear bay, which receives a lot of attention. New panels, wiring looms and latch elements are applied to the bay, while a new skin is added to both of the bay doors, with prominent hinges added from brass to add further visual interest. The nose gear leg is fitted with a towing eye, and the main gear legs get new oleo-scissors, and a wiring/hose fit out, with a detailed ring around the outer hubs of the wheels. The main gear doors are also detailed with small hinges and catches.

The dorsal air-brake is skinned with detailed panels, plus a little wiring, with additional grilles and blade antennae nearby and under the aircraft's nose. A new afterburner ring is applies to each engine face, a new set of slime-lights throughout, more surface panels, grilles and extra stiffening panels on the wing and tail tips. Detailed sway braces for the kit pylons are supplied, which also have the pylon's attachment points etched in for those leaving pylons unused.

Masks (EX516)
Supplied on a sheet of yellow kabuki tape, these pre-cut masks supply you with a full set of masks for the canopy, with compound curved handled by using frame hugging masks, while the highly curved gaps are in-filled with either liquid mask or offcuts from the background tape. In addition you get a set of hub masks for the wheels, allowing you to cut the demarcation perfectly with little effort.

Review sample courtesy of