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Good morning, Britmodellers! Finally finished Hasegawa F/A-18F Super Hornet in 1/48 scale with Eduard BigED and Fightertown decals This bird took me about 3 months, but the result is ok for me! Enjoy the pics, constructive criticism is welcome! Regards, Oliver.

Bf.109-G Balkenkreuz & Swastika Decal Sets 1:48 Eduard I can't be the only one that has damaged a decal whilst applying it, or been trying to cobble together a set of marking from spares only to find I can't quite find the correct ones. These two sets of decals from Eduard should help out, especially if you have treated yourself to their Bf.109G Overtrees from their website here. Available separately, these decals have been printed in-house one the same bright blue decal paper as they have been using for the majority of their kit decals of late, supplied in a ziplok or self-adhesive bag with a header card to keep them from damage, as well as adding some useful positioning tips in the shape of diagrams. Balkenkreuz (D48027-OBT1) This is the larger of the two sheets, with a choice of cross styles from the range that were applied to this type during its service in late WWII. Printed in black and white, registration, colour density and sharpness are good, with a glossy carrier film cut close around the printing. The crosses without colour in their centre have carrier film in the centre, so you will need to make sure you have a good glossy surface on which to lay them to prevent silvering later. You get eight of the most common type, four of three other types, and two of a more unusual black only inverse crosses, which totals twenty two in all. Swastikas (D48028-OBT1) The smaller sheet of the two contains two types of Swastika, one in black with a white drop-shadow, the other plain black, split eight and four respectively. Again, printing is in black and white, registration, colour density and sharpness are good, with a glossy carrier film cut close around the printing. There is a very slight mark on one of the black Swastikas on my sample, but as it can easily be cut loose with a sharp blade, it isn't worth worrying about. The Swastika is prohibited or at least frowned upon in some territories, so if you live in such an area, this set might possibly be unavailable. Review sample courtesy of

Ju-87B-1 Update Sets (for Airfix) 1:48 Eduard Airfix's new 1:48 scale kit gets the Eduard treatment with these three sets from their powerhouse design workshops, which the modeller can choose from to suit their needs and budget. 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. Upgrade Set (49800) This set contains parts to improve the kit both in the cockpit and around the airframe, which are supplied on two frets, one of which is nickel-plated and pre-painted, the other in bare brass. The pre-painted parts are for the cockpit, including a complete overhaul of the instrument panel with a laminated PE; detail parts for the copious quantities of spare magazines for the rear gunner; seat details; a large number of sidewall details, including more instruments; a complete new set of radio gear to replace the kit parts. In addition there are a number of parts for the interior of the large multi-part canopy; bomb fin stabilisers and a more detailed ladder release mechanism; a frame for the pilot's floor vision panel; detailed skins for the wing armaments and their access hatches, and finally a set of trim tab actuators on the tail. Seatbelt Set (49801) A full set of crew seatbelts using the new ultra-thin STEEL PE, with shaded pre-printed colour throughout, and nickel plating to give the buckles a more realistic finish. The pilot's seat and gunner's seat are both complete with attachment points to their respective seats, and a back strap added behind the gunner's station. Masks (EX536) 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/tyre masks for the wheels, allowing you to cut the demarcation perfectly with little effort. Review sample courtesy of

Spitfire V.III Update sets, masks & decals - For Eduard Kit 1:72 Eduard The new Eduard kit is a good one, however Eduard are also offering their update sets for the kit. Here we have an update set, flaps, masks and additional decals. Update Set (72645) This is one brass fret. It contains parts for the cockpit bulkheads, pilots seat (and frame), rudder pedals, radiator flaps, undercarriage doors, tail wheel doors, canopy crash bar, and rear control linkages. Flaps(72646) This is one large brass fret which provides flaps, and wells for the kit. The ribs are those already attached which need to be bent into position. Some work on kit parts is needed. Stencil Decals (D72013) This small sheet provides the stencils the kit needs. Rather than a stand alone item this is ideally suited to the modeller who has purchased overtrees to use another of the kit main decal options, Masks(CX478) 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. Conclusion These sets will enhance your Spitfire model. Recommended. Review samples courtesy of

F2H-2 Banshee Update sets & masks - For Kittyhawk Kit 1:48 Eduard The new Kittyhawk kit is a good one, however Eduard are along as always offering their update sets for the kit. Here we have 3 sets; Update, flaps and seatbelts. Update Set (49809) This is one brass fret and one nickel one. The coloured parts on the nickel fret are mainly for the cockpit including the main instrument panels, side panels and controls, and cockpit sils. Inside the canopy new rails are provided. Other parts in the set include new back plate and foot rest for the ejection seat. New links are provided for the landing gear legs. New door are provided for the main gear. Flaps(48912) This is one large brass fret which provides flaps, airbrakes and wells for the kit. These are split on the kit with part on the straight wing, and part on the engine nacelle. The ribs are those already attached which need to be bent into position. Some work on kit parts is needed. Seatbelts(49810) This small fret provides a full set of coloured seatbelts for the aircraft. These are the new Steel belts from Eduard. They are etched from 0.1mm sheet, which looks like stainless steel because it doesn't rust, these new belts combine the best of both worlds. The resulting etch is thin at around 0.06mm, and the paint that has been applied after etching is included in that thickness. The paint itself seems to be more flexible too, and the designs have added details such as shadows printed near buckles and joints to give an added depth to the design. They appear less susceptible to fatigue and will stand up to repeated movements, and can be posed much more realistically due to the ease of bending of the surface. The paint is also a lot less likely to flake off at a sharp bend, which is a worry for standard PE belts. Masks(EX543) 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. Wheel Masks, and camera window masks are also supplied. Conclusion These sets will enhance your Banshee model. Recommended. Review samples courtesy of

So far 2017 isn't great for modelling for me - this is the third kit i've started - first an Amusing Hobby kit that I managed to spill cellulose thinners on, then started the new release of the Classic Airframes Blenheim, only to find that i've been given 2 resin starboard cockpit sidewalls and no port sidewall. So wanted to do a kit i know will fit - out with a Tamiya :-) I got this off ebay a while ago, came with the Eduard etch set as well so started by fitting etch Then a quick blast of primer, followed by some Mr Color RLM66 Peter

#4/2017 What the Versailles Treaty was for Germany, the St.Germain Treaty was for Austria after the end of WW1. Austria´s military wasn´t allowed to have a standing army bigger than 30.000 men, no heavy artillery, no tanks and no aircraft. Nevertheless, like Germany, Austria secretly formed a Fliegerkorps in 1927 with Austrian, British and German built aircraft. In 1928 the pilot training started, a technical infrastructure was built up and further aircraft ordered in Italy. The first of the latter ones arrived in 1933. Two Fliegerregiment were formed and stationed in Wien-Aspern and Graz-Thalerhof. And finally in 1936 the typical Austrian roundel was introduced. On April 22nd 1937 the Austrian Airforce ordered a single Bf108 which arrived in Wien-Aspern on July 27th 1937. In October 1937 a wing broke off during flight and the aircraft crsahed, killing all 4 crewmembers. Eduard kit (old black boxing), added handgrips on the roof and rudder joints from the sparebox. The aircraft was painted in blue, most likely Messerschmitt factory blue (RAL5008) so my dad made a selfmix. Wooden propeller from the Eduard Brassin line. The Luftwaffe style letter decals are from Fantasy Printshop. Couldn´t find the correct number style decals, especially in that small size, for the rudder, therefore used some US Navy style decals from Superscale. DSC_0001 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0002 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0003 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0004 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0005 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0006 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0007 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0008 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0009 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0010 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0011 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0012 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0013 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0014 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0015 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0016 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0017 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr DSC_0018 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Wheels 1:72 Eduard Brassin Both of these sets are for the new Eduard kit but can be used on any kit. 4 Spoke Wheels with Smooth Tyre (672146) & 4 Spoke Wheels with tread (672147) Each set of wheels comes with both main wheels, the tail wheel & leg combined and a set of mask for painting. Smooth Tyre Tread Tyre Conclusion There's nothing much wrong with Eduard's VII, but even the best kits can be improved on. Naturally Eduard themselves have provided the means to enhance their kit, and quality wheels always look good. Recommended. Review samples courtesy of

FFAR Rockets (672145) 1:72 Eduard Brassin The Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket (FFAR) is not to be confused with the later Folding Fin Aerial Rocket which share the same abreviation. They were originally developed as a 3.5" anti submarine warfare rocket with no charge designed to punture a submarines hull. Due to their accuracy they were later developed into a 5" explosive version by attaching a 5" shell to the original 3.5" rocket body. There were some limitations to the rocket carrying a 5" shell and the High Velocity Aircraft Rocket was developed to overcome these. The original FFAR was carried by the Duntless & Corsair aircraft. The set arrives in the familiar Brassin box, with the resin parts safely cocooned on dark grey foam inserts. There are eight rockets casts in resin with their rear fins. These are very thin and care will be needed to remove them. Each rocket then has two PE mounting clamps which need to be bent to shape, and a rear fuse line to add. Conclusion. These are highly detailed units and will contribute to the look of your 1:72 build. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

After two imperial aircraft and a bunch of post WW2 aircraft, my dad finally starts to add some models for our homeland collection that flew between the wars, starting with a 108.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI Brassin Resin Accessories for Eduard Kit 1:72 Eduard This brace of new resin sets for Eduard's Spitfire Mk.XVI mirrors those released for their Mk.IX a few months ago. As good as Eduard's kit might be, there are still limitations to what can be achieved with injection moulded plastic. The Czech firm have recognised this and delivered a suite of neat upgrades that should please every modeller keen to make the most of their new muse. Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI Top Cowl for Eduard Kit 1:72 Eduard Eduard have produced a resin upper cowling for the new kit, which is helpful if you don't fancy dealing with the seam caused by the division of the kit part into separate port and starboard halves. The replacement part is well made and will be handy if you wish to finish your model with an exposed engine. Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI Wheels for Eduard Kit 1:72 Eduard Nice as the kit wheels are, there is a limit to the level of detail that can be achieved with injection moulded plastic alone. Eduard have therefore produced these resin items as direct replacements for the kit parts. As with the cowling, the quality of casting is excellent. Eduard have included a set of paint masks too, and having used Eduard’s pre-cut masks on a number of occasions, I can vouch for their usefulness. Conclusion There's nothing much wrong with Eduard's XVI, but even the best kits can be improved on. Naturally Eduard themselves have provided the means to enhance their kit, and with a host of photo etched parts (reviewed elsewhere), this new range of kits and accessories is shaping up to be one of the premier modelling projects for fans of WWII subjects. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

I built three Eduard Spitfire IXs (two IXc late, and one IXc early) as my first builds of 2017. I weathered Henryk Dygala's "Pat", but things went south after that, so no more weathering for me for a spell.

Eduard Photo Etch Detail set for Trumpeter HMS Queen Elizabeth 1:700 Eduard It's been a while since anything in the patient man's scale (1:700) dropped onto my desk from Eduard. It's nice to see they haven't forgotten us small-scale naval modellers, particularly when their latest release is for Trumpeters excellent 1:700 scale kit. In usual Eduard style, all the parts are held on a single large fret, and as you would expect, the details are as impressive as they are small. Included on the fret is pretty much everything you will need to go to town on Trumpeter’s model, including a full set of anchor chains, ventilation ducts, ladders, funnel caps, stairways and ladders. Of particular note are parts for the radar arrays, the Supermarine Walrus, the ship's launch and life boats, cranes and the splinter shields for the anti-aircraft guns. The details even extend to a set of eight tiny caps for the ship's 15 inch main guns Conclusion Anyone thinking of building Trumpeter’s Queen Elizabeth should give very serious consideration to picking up one of these sets to go with it. I really can’t think of anything that isn’t included on the fret that should be there, and some of the finer details are stunning. Review sample courtesy of

Spitfire F Mk.IX Profipack 1:72 Eduard When the prototype Spitfire took to the air for the first time on 5 March 1936, few involved could have foreseen where the development of the type would lead. By the end of the Second World War, the type had earned itself a place in the history books as well as the nation's psyche. One of the ultimate Merlin powered variants was the Mk.IX. The Mk.IX was a response to the appearance of the Focke Wulf Fw190, which proved itself more than a match for the Spitfire Mk.V. Powered by the two-stage supercharged Merlin 61, the performance of the Mk.IX was a quantum leap over its forebears, enabling the Spitfire to meet its German foe on equal terms. By the end of the War, over 5,600 Mk.IXs had rolled off the production line at Castle Bromwich. The Spitfire Mk.IX is the latest all-new 1:72 scale kit to be released by Czech firm Eduard. In typical Eduard style, multiple versions are now appearing the initial release. The latest variant is the F Mk.IX with the Merlin 61 engine and C type wing. The kit arrives packed into a neat top-opening box adorned with high quality artwork. Inside are five sprues of parts moulded in blue-grey plastic and a single sprue moulded in clear plastic. Altogether there are well over 150 parts and, as this is a ‘Profipack’ edition, the plastic parts are accompanied by a small fret of pre-painted photo etched parts and a set of pre-cut paint masks. The instruction book is a glossy, stapled A5 affair which includes full-colour painting diagrams. The mouldings are up to the usual Eduard standard, with clean, crisp details and no flaws anywhere. As with other recent kits from Eduard, there is plenty of fine detail, with some of the cockpit parts comparable to high-end resin items. The surface detail on the outside of the airframe is exquisitely rendered, with fine recessed panel lines and delicately engraved rivet and fastener detail. Being a profipack, this kit has been sprinkled with a little extra Czech fairy dust. The cockpit is fabulous, with a seat made up of three plastic parts plus pre-painted harnesses and a choice of plastic or photo etched parts for the seat back armour. More photo etched details have been included for the control column, throttle controls and instrument panel. Unusually, the cockpit sidewalls have been moulded separately. I can only think this has been done this in order to maximise the amount of detail while making it easier to take advantage of Eduard's own optional resin cockpit set. Once the cockpit has been assembled and painted, it can be fitted between the vertically split fuselage halves, along with the engine firewall, a blank part into which the propeller is fitted later on, and the pilot's head armour. The leading edge wing root also has to be fitted at this stage, which is testament to Eduard's commitment to detail, if not buildability! The breakdown of the wing is no less complex. As you might expect, the lower wing has been moulded as a single span, with separate upper wing surfaces. Between the two you must sandwich seven parts which together make up the walls of the main landing gear bay. The ailerons and wing tips have been moulded separately, which allows multiple versions to be built from the same moulds. The upper and lower cowlings are moulded separately, with the former split along the middle. Again, Eduard themselves provide a resin replacement for this part if you don't like the thought of cleaning up that seam. Even the wing radiators are made up of six parts each, with the external surfaces of the radiators picked out in photo etch in this boxing. Turning the model over, the undercarriage is just as detailed as the rest of the kit. Each of the main landing gear legs is made up of seven parts, with the tyres moulded separately to the hubs and photo etched parts to represent hub covers (where fitted). The separate tyres will make painting easier, which is just as well as the included paint masks don't cater for the landing gear. A long range fuel tank and a couple of conformal fuel tanks are included. The wing cannon barrels are moulded separately, which means they can be added at the end of the build in order to avoid accidental damage. Two different canopies are included depending on whether you wish to finish your model with the canopy open or closed. This is just as well given all the superb detail in the cockpit. As this is a ‘profipack’ edition, a full set of canopy masks has been included. I’ve used Eduard’s pre-cut masks a number of times now and have always found them to be excellent for turning a time consuming chore into a quick and easy job. Eduard are usually pretty generous with the decal options in their profipacks, and this is no exception. Choices are provided for the following six aircraft: Spitfire BS392, No. 340 Squadron, flown by Squadron Leader Bernard Dupérier, Biggin Hill, Autumn 1942; Spitfire EN315, Polish Combat Team, flown by Squadron Leader Stanislav Skalski, Polish Combat Team, North Africa, Spring 1943; Spitfire EN133, No.611 Squadron, Biggin Hill, Early 1943; Spitfire EN354, 1st Lieutenant Leonard V Helton, 52nd Fighter Group, 4th Fighter Squadron, La Sebala Airfield, Tunisa, June 1943; The first and third aircraft are finished in a Ocean Grey/Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey, while the second and fourth options are finished in Dark Earth and Middle Stone over Azure Blue. Each option is illustrated with a four-view colour profile. The decals look crisp, thin and glossy and the colours used are nice and bold. Conclusion Given Eduard's track record with their recent 1:72 scale kits, it should come as no surprise that their Spitfire is so good. It is both accurate and highly detailed, putting it some way ahead of most other 1:72 kits on both counts. The addition of photo etched parts and masks makes this edition as close to a complete package as it’s possible to get, as well as being superb value for money. The only downside is the kit's complexity, with the part count exceeding most 1:48 scale Spifires. Other than that, this kit looks mighty impressive and can be highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Hello everyone. Just one model i managed to build last year. This Spit had a few chances to fly to the trash can (the kit itself is just brilliant - you know) but after all it survived. Don't ask me why, but i have only 2 pics ((

Eduard Photo Etch detail sets for Airfix Whitley GR Mk. VII 1:72 Eduard There's no doubt about it, fans of early WWII types such as the Defiant, Blenheim and Whitley have been tremendously well served by Airfix in recent years. Important and interesting types that were previously the preserve of tired old kits from the 1960s or limited run kits from Eastern or Central Europe are now staple fayre in model shops all over the place. Naturally Eduard are now doing their bit to help us reach modelling nirvana by releasing a slew of aftermarket parts – on this occasion for the recent Whitley GR Mk. VII kit. Whitley GR Mk. VII 1:72 Eduard Unusually for a model of this size, Eduard have chosen not to issue separate sets for the interior and exterior, combining them instead into a single set. The first fret contains the mainly pre-painted interior details and, as you would expect, there is a natural focus on the cockpit area. Included on this fret is a pre-painted multi-layered instrument panel, harnesses for the crew seats, details for the throttle controls, control column and cockpit sidewalls. On the second fret are parts for detailing the tail turret, the engine nacelles and the landing gear legs. The bombs also benefit from photo etched fuses and there are replacement bomb shackles for the bomb bay. Whitley GR Mk. VII Landing Flaps 1:72 Eduard This set comprises a single, fairly large fret which contains everything needed to deck the kit out with a set of detailed landing flaps. In typical Eduard style, the part count has been kept quite low by making use of folds rather than individual parts. The instructions don't show these folds in great detail though, so you'll need to pay close attention. Although this set appears to be quite complex, the flaps should be quite straightforward to assemble provided the right tools are used. Note that using this set will require some moulded detail to be scraped away. You'll also need to stock up on thin plastic rod in order to complete them properly. Whitley GR Mk. VII Radar 1:72 Eduard This set is a direct replacement for the antennas provided in the kit. Naturally all of the benefits of photo etched parts are present and correct, including fine, sharp detail and greater resistance to accidental damage. The usual drawbacks also apply, however, as all of the parts need to be folded in order to create a realistic scale thickness. These will be fiddly to use, but well worth the extra effort. Whitley GR Mk. VII Masks 1:72 Eduard Most of us are familiar with Eduard's pre-cut masks, so I won't say too much about them here. You get everything you need to mask all of the transparent parts as well as the main landing gear wheels. While these masks may seem extravagant for a smaller kit, they are much less so for a large, extensively glazed aircraft kit like the Whitley. Conclusion Airfix's Whitley looks to be a very good kit indeed (I'm certainly going to savour building mine) and in typical Eduard style, these sets will add detail where it counts. Some of the parts may be a little intimidating for those not used to working with photo etched parts, but once you get the hang of folding them up, you'll be fine. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Fokker DR.1 Weekend Edition 1:72 Eduard One of the best known and most recognisable aircraft of the First World War, the Fokker Dr.I was developed in response to the appearance of the Sopwith Triplane over the skies of the Western Front in early 1917. Although it couldn’t match other fighters for speed, either in a straight line or in a dive, its initial rate of climb was good and it was supremely manoeuvrable. The Fokker was used by a number of aces, most notably Manfred von Richthofen who scored his final 20 victories in the type until he was shot down and killed on 21 April 1918. This kit is the latest in Eduard's revamped 'Weekend Edition' series, which enables you to build a model as nature intended, unfettered by tiny bits of photo etched brass and a bewildering choice of decal options. Inside this particular box is a single runner containing just 35 plastic parts and a small sheet of decals. The plastic parts first saw the light of day seventeen years ago, and have been released umpteen times since then, including once by the mercurial Smer. The parts are nicely moulded, with no traces of flash but a respectable amount of moulded detail. The cockpit comprises six parts, including a floor, seat, control column and instrument panel. As this is a profipack, there are no photo etched parts, but a set of seat harnesses is provided on the decal sheet. Once the fuselage halves have been joined, he lower and middle wings can be added, along with the brace of forward-firing machine guns. The wedge shaped horizontal tail is moulded as a single, solid part, as is the vertical tail/rudder. The upper wing is the last major part of the airframe to be added, along with the outer struts, which slide through the middle wing to join both lower and upper wings together. A fairly basic engine is included, but Eduard to produce a resin replacement if you wish to add detail here. Once the engine and cowling have been fitted, all that remains to do to finish the model is to add the propeller, landing gear and tail skid. One advantage of the DR.1 is the minimal amount of rigging required to complete the model. Two marking options are included: 479/17, flown by Lt August Raben, Jasta 18, Montingen, France, October 1918; and 195/17, flown by Lt Hermann Vallendor, Jasta 2, Halluin, France, April 1918. The decal sheet is small, but nicely printed. Conclusion This is an appealing kit, largely because of its simplicity. In contrast to some of their more modern kits, Eduard made it no more complex than it needed to be, and as a result, it majors on modelling pleasure and buildability. What better way than to start a collection of WWI subjects? Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

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

Eduard Spitfire F Mk. IX Photo Etch Detail Set 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 Spitfires (Mk. VIII, Mk. IX and Mk. XVI) are no exception to this trend, and now we've got some photo etched details to go with the new F Mk.IX kit. This set is designed to accompany the Profipack edition of the kit as it includes a fair selection of parts but omits pre-painted goodies 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. Conclusion 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

Hi all! It could be said I have to many builds on, but dam it I want to build aircraft! Let's just hope I finish some. I currently have the hurricane GB to start and finish, the p47 GB to finish, the made in Britain GB to polish off really and possibly extend, and the corsair GB coming up soon Amongst all that I feel there is a bit of yanks with roundels theme on the go, so to continue that and as voted for at the end of my spitfire trio I will be building the Eduard hellcat. The kit is this Untitled by robert mulvey, on Flickr I was looking st the weekend edition due to cost, but managed to bag this one for £7 to my door... to much to miss really The kit its self is beautiful and one of the best kits I have seen in the box! It's also my first try at etch so should be a giggle for you all. I will be using the below transfer sheet Tech32015c by robert mulvey, on Flickr And will be using the lower scheme. It's actually almost a shame to not be using the one of the many transfer options that come with the kit but never mind....I will just have to buy more kits 😊 So I will be looking into the details of colours etc for these AC's in FAA service, mainly so I get internals like the CP wheel well etc the correct colour, for now and then plan to start work on this next week. Any info you have is always appreciated! Oh and just another big thank you to the kind chap that sent the transfer sheet, Mr P, I hope the lady and baby are well and cheers again Rob

Kit manufacture: Airfix Scale: 1/48 Type: Seafire F.XVII Extras used: Quickboost exhausts, Eduard photoetched cockpit set Paints and colours used: Tamiya Sky XF-21, Xtracrylix Extra Dark Sea Grey, MM Metalizers, Citadel metals, Tamiya acrylics, Flory Dark Dirt and Grime washes, Xtracylix satin varnish Other info: Full build is here : ****link here**** So, at last she's all done. I hear these beautiful aircraft were extremely well maintained. I wanted to give her a bit of weathering, but my approach of adding a little chipping didn't really work out. The one thing these aircraft certainly wouldn't have is exposed metal, I have been reliably informed, any signs would have been immediately dealt with. Therefore, I spot-painted her to give her a touched-in look. Although I'm happy enough with the effect, it's way over weathered. But it was fun! Other things to note: the prop is on the wrong way round. Yeah, that's basically my fault... Can't really think of an excuse for that one...! The kit is absolutely excellent. It's almost faultless. Fit is perfect, no filler required. Decals are excellent. I hear there is a few accuracy issues, particularly around the wheels and wing blisters. The panel lines are maybe a bit deep, but to be honest, I think they're fine when finished. The only problem I had is with clean up due to large sprue gates and I snapped some of the smaller parts trying to remove them due to the soft plastic. The pics: The lights were painted with clear Tamiya paints, and backed with silver foil to (hopefully) give a realistic look: And here she is with my 1/48 collection: Thanks for looking everyone, and for help/encouragement in the thread. Val Edit: Fix build thread link

F6F-5N Nightfighter (84133) 1:48 Eduard Weekend Edition With the success of the F6F-3 already in service, the F6F-5 was the natural evolution based on combat experience. Key improvements in the F6F-5 were a more powerful engine utilising a water injection system, revised windscreen that had a single armoured windscreen and spring loaded aileron tabs. The night fighter version came into service in the fall of 1944 was designated the F6F-5N and this was easily identified by the wing mounted AN/APS-6 Radar protruding forwards from the starboard leading edge, and the 20mm canon in the wing. While all F6F-5 aircraft could carry a 20mm Cannon in each wing along with a pair of .50 Cal machine guns, only the night fighter version used this operationally. The British designated the Night fighter version as the Hellcat NF II. My respect goes out to these pilots. Flying a single engined aircraft over the sea at night must be quite an intimidating experience, let alone with the prospect of combat mixed in. The Kit The Eduard kit has now been with us since 2008 and has been regularly re-issued in multiple boxings. The moulds still look good today though. This boxing has the basic plastic plus the edition of resin parts for the guns and radar carried by this version. Construction starts in the cockpit. The seat, rear bulkhead and control column are attached to the cockpit floor. Next the side consoles and instrument panel are added (a decal can be used for the panel if you dont want to paint it), Once the cockpit is complete it can be added into the fuselage halves along with the tail wheel. Dont forget to open the hole for the centre line tank if you want to use it. Next up the engine is made up. This has two banks of cylinders to which the gear box is added at the front, along with the shaft for the prop. Once complete this can be added to the front of the fuselage and the cowling built up and added over it. Construction then moves to the rear of the fuselage with the addition of the tail surfaces and rudder. The main wings are next on the build schedule. They are conventional upper/lower, left & right. The wheel wells need adding as does the appropriate wing armament before the two sides are glued together. Separate control surfaces are supplied for both wings. Once the wings are on construction moves back to the main fuselage with lights being added to the underside. Next step is the construction of the main wheel bays with some additional details. Following this the main wheels are built up and attached to their legs. The gear doors can then be added. Is using it the main fuel tank can be built up and added. Lastly the canopy, prop, and night fighter radar unit can be added. Decal options are provided for two aircraft as seems to be the norm for weekend editions now. F6F-5N, VF(N)-90, USS Enterprise 1945 F6F-5N, Bu.No. 78704 Capt R Baird, VMF(N)-533, Le Shima, Okinawa, June 1945. Each option is illustrated with a four-view profile. The decals, which are printed by in house, they look crisp, thin and glossy and the colours used are nice and bold. Conclusion This is a great kit from Eduard, good to see it in this configuration. Recommended. Masks If needed masks are also available for this kit. Review samples courtesy of

So good friends bought me this for Christmas last year, and I have been saving it for a good period of leave. I have never made an Eduard kit before. I wont say it was easy, some of the parts were pretty fiddly, but it was very satisfying. The kit comes with huge range of markings (31 in all). I settled on a bare metal scheme, as I have always wanted to do a Spitfire this way. I chose A58-379 flown by F/L David Glaser, 549 Squadron RAF based at Strauss Airstrip south of Darwin in September 1944. The main scheme came from a Tamiya rattle can (TS17 Gloss Aluminium), with all other detail painting being done with brush painted Tamiya Acrylics. I made her a little dirt with some watercolours (but hopefully not too dirty), sealed that in with Humbrol Mattcote and then wiped on a thin coat of floor polish to give slight sheen (it seems F/L Glaser's ground crew kept his aircraft polished, I thought a full gloss finish though would be too much). Many thanks for looking. And here are a few pictures taken during the build:

Done! Here are some pics from my buddy Jason: Eduard boxing of Zvezda plastic AKAN paints Thank you!

Ventura Mk.II Update Sets (for Revell) 1:48 Eduard Designed for the reboxing of Revell's (fairly) recent PV-1 Ventura, which was re-released with different parts to depict the British Mk.II, these sets share much in common with the original PV-1 sets, but if you have this boxing, then Eduard have tailored them to 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 (49799) Containing two frets of PE, one that is nickel-plated and painted, the other bare brass for constructional elements, this set contains almost everything you need to upgrade the interior of the fuselage, save for the bomb bay and seatbelts. As well as a full set of instrument panels, there are also a number of ancillary panels that are also treated to the same process, plus upgrades to the navigator's table; plotting aids; a small floor panel; ammunition boxes and their racks in the nose; ammo cans attached to the breeches of the machine guns or lengths of link where appropriate. More instrument panels in the nose are supplied; details for the pilot and co-pilot's chairs; centre console details and throttle quadrant; rudder pedals; floor panels in the cockpit; sundry boxes and panels inside the dorsal turret, and an ammo can with link for the ventral station. Seatbelts STEEL (49798) This super-thin steel fret is painted with detail that implies further depth around the buckles and overlaps, which flexes better than normal PE, conforming better to the seat it is intended for. A full set of belts are included for the cockpit and other crew seats, one of which requires the removal of the moulded-in belts, the others do not. Exterior (48900) A single large sheet of PE contains new perforated cooling jackets for all the guns; a set of recognition lights; wiring harnesses for the two engines, plus some sundry details on the bell housing; various external inspection panels on the wings and engine nacelles; grilles for the intake and detail parts for the props; a highly detailed laminated crew access door on the side of the fuselage, plus a number of additional access panels and strengthening strips on the fuselage. Undercarriage (48901) Consisting of two sheets of PE brass, this contains skins for the bay interiors, including elements of the wheel well; small constructional elements; a replacement set of oleo-scissor links, hub and leg details, and a set of hoses for the legs. The cowlings around the bay are also detailed up with new ribs, which replace the over-thick and simplified parts moulded onto the nacelle sides, while the gear bay doors are overhauled with new inner faces, hinge details, and even the tail wheel bay gets a detailed floor, interior, and oleo-link. Bomb Bay (48902) A single sheet of brass contains substantial improvements to the bay, starting with bulkhead skins that require removal of the moulded-in detail, which is also the case with the bay roof when the ribwork and skin are added there. Various bay door pulleys are added to the bulkheads; constructional details throughout; bomb carriers with sway-braces; a set of new detailed fins for the kit bombs plus spinners for the nose and tail of the body. Masks (EX538) 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/tyre masks for the wheels, allowing you to cut the demarcation perfectly with little effort. Review sample courtesy of