Spitfire Mk. IX Photo Etch Detail Sets for Eduard Kit - 1:72 Eduard

[Paul A H]

Eduard Spitfire Mk. IX Photo Etch Detail Sets for Eduard Kit

1:72 Eduard

 

 

Over the past few years, Eduard have become very good at supporting their new injection moulded plastic kits with an instant supply of aftermarket items – particularly so with the addition of their new Brassin range of resin accessories. Their new 1:72 scale Spitfire Mk. IX (reviewed here) is no exception to this trend. We've already seen a resin cockpit, four sets of resin wheels and a couple of sets of resin exhaust stacks. Now we've got a couple of sets of photo etched brass details and a set of pre-cut paint masks to go with them.

Spitfire Mk. IX

1:72 Eduard

 

 

This set appears to be designed to accompany the Profipack edition of the kit, as it includes a fair selection of bits and bobs but omits the pre-painted gubbins such as the instrument panel and harnesses from the small fret included with that kit. On the single fret, you get a complete replacement seat, together with the armoured plate and fixing bracket, as well as throttle controls, rudder pedals and various small items such as pipework for the oxygen bottles. The rest of the airframe benefits from a smattering of parts too, including parts for the radiator, the rudder and the landing gear. The replacement main landing gear doors look great, but will need to be shaped carefully in order to capture the look of the real thing accurately.

 

Spitfire Mk. IX Landing Flaps

1:72 Eduard

 

 

Although they look complex, Eduard's photo etched landing flaps are usually quite straightforward to assemble and fit. You will need to cut away some of the plastic from the kit's wings in order to use the flaps, but the relevant parts are clearly marked in the instruction sheet. The flaps themselves are constructed from relatively few components, with most of the work involving some clever folds rather than gluing hundred of tiny parts together. These flaps won't be for everyone, but those that persevere will be rewarded with an extra level of detail beyond that achievable with plastic alone. 

 

Spitfire Mk. IX Pre-cut Masks

1:72 Eduard

 

Last but not least is a set of pre-cut paint masks. Masks are provided for the canopy but not the wheels, the hubs and tyres of which are separately moulded anyway. As usual, they don't add any detail, but are a nice little time saver. 

 

Conclusion

 

Just like its 1:48 scale brother, Eduard's new 1:72 scale kit is the best kit of the Mk. IX available. The ready supply of extra details and accessories direct from the manufacturer mean that the modeller can build the kit with as much or as little extra detail as he or she wants – the sky really is the limit. The quality of parts and standard of manufacture is up to Eduard's usual standards too. Recommended.

 

Review samples courtesy of