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

[Paul A H]

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

1:72 Eduard

 

 

Eduard's new range of Spitfires has just expanded to include the Mk.XVI. In the usual Eduard style, a range of extra goodies have also been released to enable detail conscious modellers to jazz their kits up a bit. So far we've received a couple of sets of photo etched brass details as well as a pair of pre-cut paint masks for both bubbletop and high back variants.

 

Spitfire Mk. XVI

1:72 Eduard

 

 

This set is designed to accompany the Profipack edition of the kit as it omits the pre-painted parts such as the instrument panel and harnesses. 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 range up upgrades 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. Parts have also been included for the bombs and bomb shackles.

 

 

Spitfire Mk. XVI 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. XVI Highback and Bubbletop Pre-cut Masks

1:72 Eduard

 

Last but not least are these sets of pre-cut paint masks. Masks are provided for both highback and bubbletop canopies 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. XIV 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 quality of parts and standard of manufacture is up to Eduard's usual excellent standards too. Recommended.

 

Review samples courtesy of