Search the Community

Beaufort Mk.I Löök (674001 for Airfix) 1:72 Eduard This set contains a combination of pre-printed resin and PE parts to quickly and efficiently detail up your cockpit. There is a single resin part that replicates the instrument panel in front of the pilot, with glossy faced dials already painted for you on detailed black resin. The fidelity of the printing at this size and scale has to be seen to be appreciated, and stands up well even under 2.5x magnification. Additionally, the PE set of four-point belts for the pilot, plus a Y-shaped part that you fold in half to replicate a lever found on the right of the instrument panel. Review sample courtesy of

F-4B Phantom Update Sets (648682 & 644127) 1:48 Eduard Brassin & Löök (For Tamiya kit) The new Tamiya F-4B kit was a welcome addition to their line of new tool aircraft. Eduard now bring us some update sets for this kit. All are cast to their usual high standards. As usual with Eduard's small Brassin and Löök sets, they arrive in a flat resealable package with their range specific branding, a white backing card protecting the contents and the instructions that are sandwiched between. My only gripe is the amount glue Eduard use the mount the look panels & PE to the backing. F-4B Wheels (648682) Kit wheels are generally in two halves, which means you have the resultant joins to deal with, possible mould-slip issues on single part wheels, and sometimes less than stellar detail due to the moulding limitations of styrene injection technology, especially in the tread department. That's where replacement resin wheels come in, with their lack of seamline and superior detail making a compelling argument. They are also usually available at a reasonable price, and can be an easy introduction to aftermarket and resin handling, as they are usually a drop-in replacement. Inside are four resin wheels on their own casting blocks, with moulded-in hubs plus a set of pre-cut kabuki tape masks (not pictured). The wheels are all attached to their blocks on their contact patches, with additional wisps of resin supporting the wheel further and helping to reduce the likelihood of air bubbles within the moulds. These are easily removed with a razor saw and a swipe with a sanding stick that should leave all the crisp diamond tread intact. They’re a much better detailed drop-in replacement for the kit parts from thereon in, and have no annoying mould seams to deal with. F-4B Löök Cockpit Set (644127) This combination set of pre-painted resin and Photo-Etch (PE) arrives glued to the backing card, and care must be taken when removing them to avoid bending the PE. It’s best to separate them using a sharp blade pushed between the parts and the card, then clean up the glue residue from the rear where necessary. The resin parts cast in black & Dark Grey, with the instrument dials, black bezels and their glossy overcoat printed directly on the resin, giving a highly realistic finish. It is easily removed from its block by cutting through the delicate fingers that attach the panel, and minimal clean-up should be needed here. We get panels for both cockpits as well as side panels. Full belts and firing handles are provided to use on the kit seat. Review sample courtesy of

Lancaster B.Mk.I Detail Upgrades (for HK Models) 1:48 Eduard & Eduard Brassin After their successful 1:32 Lancaster, HK Models have since brought out one for modellers of the 1:48 persuasion, leaving the old Tamiya kit a little bit further toward the back of the stash. Eduard's new range of sets are here to improve on the kit detail in the usual modular manner. Get what you want for the areas you want to be more of a focal point. 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. Wheels (648656) This wheel set contains the two main balloon tyres on separate resin casting blocks, while the grooved anti-shimmy tail wheel is found on another block. Although the tyres of most WWII Lancs were treadless, there are a number of circumferential lines on the shoulder and sidewall, all of which is depicted here along with the manufacturer’s name and data stencils, all in raised lettering that is crisp and legible, providing you have the eyesight or magnification. In addition, a set of kabuki tape masks (not pictured) have been cut to shape in order for you to cut the demarcation between tyre and hub with very little effort, and no wobbles due to a twitch of the paint brush. Löök Set (644118) This set contains a combination of pre-printed resin and PE parts to quickly and efficiently detail up your cockpit. There are four resin parts that make up the large instrument panel and its pedestal with throttle box in front of the pilot, with glossy faced dials already painted for you on black resin. Additionally, the PE set of four-point belts for the pilot, and another six sets of lap belts for the rest of the crew in their various positions and seat-types. Undercarriage (481062) This larger bare brass set contains some important upgrades to the landing gear bays, beginning with removing a small shackle off the gear legs to replace them with more accurate and detailed parts. Inside the bays, the sidewalls are skinned with a riveted panel on each side, then the web-work that blocks the view of the inside of the wing is given an overhaul with stiffener plates all over the joins at the top and bottom, all of which are riveted for extra interest, as per the real thing. In the roof of the bay, two curved stringers are made up and glued into the roof panel, joined by the front bulkhead that has the moulded-in detail in the top section removed to install the new more detailed skin and rib parts, with the moulded-in lateral rib adjusted slightly to accommodate the new stringers. To either side of the stringers are a pair of formed ramps that help to cradle the landing gear when in the bay. This of course is carried out twice to cover both bays. Review sample courtesy of

Löök Resin Instrument Panels & Seatbelts – December 2018 Eduard 1:32 Continuing their line in the LOOK series of instrument panels, Eduard have released two more sets. These are for the Tamiya Spitfire Mk.IX Late, and Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6, both in 1:32 scale. As with the previously released sets, the modeller is provided, in these cases with the main instrument panel. Each set also includes a sheet of etched steel for the seat belts. The panels have all the correct markings and placards painted on them and the faces of each instrument is glazed, making them look very realistic, particularly with a bit of weathering to get away from that newly built look. Conclusion This series is a great resource for those of us who are unable to replicate all the markings on a panel, all in one easy package. They are certainly a neat and innovative idea from the masters of aftermarket. Review sample courtesy of

Löök Resin Instrument Panels & Seatbelts – November 2018 1:48 Eduard You may have seen Dave's recent review of some of the 1:32 Löök sets that have begun to filter in from Eduard, and these sets are just the same, but in 1:48 Just like Eduard's Photo-Etch (PE) and Mask sets, they arrive in a flat resealable package, with red themed cover and a pale grey backing card protecting the contents and the instructions that are found to the rear. Each panel and set of seatbelts are glued to the backing card, and while they look nice, the glue is pretty strong, and needs a blade or metal ruler to tease them away from the card without damage – especially true of the seatbelts. The instrument panels are made of black or grey resin as appropriate, and are likely the same parts that you can find in any of Eduard's cockpit sets, but with a crucial difference. The instruments, stencils and markings for the panel are printed onto the resin, with a glossy clear coat over the dials to give a realistic looking "glass" to finish off the parts. You can quite literally drop them into your finished cockpit once you've liberated them from the casting blocks, which are also colour printed with the Eduard logo. A massive time-saver for anyone that either doesn't have the skill to do good instrument panels, or just wants to crack on with the painting of the exterior. Different modellers have different skill sets and interests, so if you want to partake you don't need to feel guilty in any way, shape or form because it's your hobby. The seatbelts are the new thinner and more flexible STEEL belts, which In case you don't already know, are actually Photo-Etch (PE) steel (the title gives it away, doesn't it?), and because of their strength they can be etched from thinner material, which improves realism and flexibility in one sitting. Coupled with the new painting method that adds additional perceived depth to the buckles and other furniture by shading, they are more realistic looking and will drape better than regular brass PE. The instructions are tailored to each set, showing any specifics for each model, and a set of diagrams that talk you through assembling the belts and draping them over the seat of your model. The first batch of sets are as follows: Bf.109G-6 Löök (644001 for Tamiya) Fw.190A-5 Löök (644002 for Eduard) Bf.109G-6 Löök (644003 for Eduard) Bf.109G-10 Löök (644004 for Eduard) Fw.190A-8/R2 Löök (644005 for Eduard) Spitfire Mk.IX Early Löök (644007 for Eduard) Spitfire Mk.IX Late Löök (644008 for Tamiya) Conclusion Detail is up to Eduard's usual standards in both departments, and is a great time-saver for anyone not wanting to spend too much time on the cockpit. The glue holding the parts in place could be a little less grippy, but I managed to get seven sets off their card without damage, so it's not really an issue, just a precaution to make note of. Of course they're not for everyone, and if the very idea mortally offends you, then why have you read this far into the review? Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Pre- Painted Instrument panels Eduard LOOK 1:32 Continuing their line of LOOK series of instrument panels, Eduard have released two more sets. These are for the Tamiya Spitfire Mk.IX Early, and Hasegawa Fw 190A-5, both in 1:32 scale. As with the previously released sets, the modeller is provided with the main panel, side panels and centre panels as required. Each set also includes a sheet of etched steel for the seat belts. The panels have all the correct markings and placards painted on them and the faces of each instrument is glazed, making them look very realistic, particularly with a bit of weathering to get away from that newly built look. Spitfire Mk.IX Fw 190A-5 Conclusion This new series is a great resource for those of us who are unable to replicate all the markings on a panel, all in one easy package. They are certainly a great and innovative idea from the masters of aftermarket. Review sample courtesy of

Pre- Painted Instrument panels Eduard LOOK 1:32 The first release of this new series was for the Revell P-51 Mustang (reviewed here). Eduard have now released three more sets of these innovative panels. These are for the Tamiya P-51D, and D-5 and the Tamiya F4U-1A Corsair. As with the first set, the modeller is provided with the main panel, side panels and centre panels if required. Each set also includes a sheet of etched steel for the seat belts. The panels have all the correct markings and placards painted on them and the faces of each instrument is glazed, making them look very realistic, particularly with a bit of weathering to get away from that newly built look. Tamiya F4U-A Corsair Tamiya P-51D-5 Tamiya P-51D Conclusion This new series is a great resource for those of us who are unable to replicate all the markings on a panel, all in one easy package. My only concern is if a model was to be put into a competition without the modeller declaring they have used a LOOK set, as, to me, it’s a form of cheating still stands though. Review sample courtesy of

North American P-51D-5 Instrument panel Eduard LOOK 1:32 Not long ago Eduard introduced a new concept in modelling accessories the LOOK range. Each set contains a completely finished instrument panel, which includes all the instruments, levers and instrument glass on a pre-painted panel, this goes for the lower central panel and the switch panel beneath that. This set is designed for the Revell P-51 and is for the D-5 version, the earlier D version is also available. The quality is excellent and is a direct replacement of the kit part. The set also comes with etched steel seatbelts which are also pre-painted and when folded really look the part with the separate clasps and fixings.. Conclusion This new series is a great resource for those of us who are unable to replicate all the markings on a panel in one easy solution. My only concern is if a model was to be put into a competition without the modeller declaring they have used a LOOK set, as, to me, it’s a form of cheating. Review sample courtesy of