Photo Etched Diorama Accessories

[Mike]

Photo Etched Diorama Accessories

1:35 Eduard

Finding the little things that make your diorama look that much more realistic is often hard, and Eduard are on a mission to help you with this, witnessed by their recent releases of various grasses and plants. This month the range is further expanded by the following:

Fauna – Small Animals (36198)

This set comprises a small 7cm x 5cm fret of pre-painted (on both sides) Photo-Etch (PE) animals of various types. I’m no botanist, but the list is as follows:

• Spider web
  
• Rats/mice
  
• Chameleons
  
• Snakes
  
• Butterflies
  
• Lizard/geckos
  
• Spiders
  
• Scorpions
  

Some of these items are truly tiny, so care will be needed in removing them, but the larger items are made up from several layers, giving them a more three dimensional feel, which could possibly be enhanced by a blob of PVA here and there to “flesh” them out further.

Detail and painting is excellent, and well beyond the skills of mere mortals, and the spider web should look good in a 1:35 or larger scale diorama, coupled with the large brown spider.

Fauna – Water Animals/fish (36197)

More of the same on the same sized fret, but with different subjects:

• Water snakes
  
• Frogs
  
• Lizards
  
• Dragonflies
  
• Fish (various types)
  
• Crabs
  
• Turtles
  

Again – detail is good, laminated parts are provided for larger beasts, and a little PVA would improve the 3D look further. The fish will come into their own in a water based diorama if they are suspended in the water effects by a small piece of wire or clear rod embedded in the river bed, which if carefully done will add a lot to the finished article.

Rushes I & II (36167 & 36169)

Continuing the riverside theme, these pre-painted PE rushes will look great amongst the long grass often found at the water margin. The fret is a large 14cm x 8cm for each type, and set one includes 6 large bull-rushes, and 6 fluffy headed rushes. Set two contains 8 foldable “fluffy” rushes of shorter stature, which fold in half, providing more in the way of leaves. Painting is excellent, and the bull-rush heads fold in to give thickness to the heads, which can again be improved with some PVA glue.

Kitchen Accessories (36185)

This set is another large fret of PE at 14cm x 8cm approx., and includes a plethora of plates (60) of differing sizes and designs, cutting boards, serving dishes, knives and baking trays. Cutlery is also includes, as well as some large circular parts that I’m not familiar with – I’m no cook either! A big cuckoo clock and a selection of baking trays rounds out what is a very comprehensive set. They are double-sided, so can be placed in any orientation without concern, and would look great either in a nice tidy kitchen, a military cook-out, or strewn amongst the rubble of a destroyed building. The cuckoo clock is a particularly quirky touch that appeals to me.

Conclusion

Dioramas have never had it so good with these sets. The breadth of the range is expanding monthly, which can only be a good thing, helping the novice and expert alike.

Review sample courtesy of

[Paul A H]

He he, I saw these on the Eduard list and wondered if you'd be reviewing them. I think these are just about the best thing I've seen in ages!

[robw_uk]

I want the chameleon...... madagascan diorama......