1/48 - Messerschmitt Bf.109F/G/K "Friedrich"/"Gustav"/"Kurfürst" & Avia S-99/C-10 family by Eduard - F/G/K & S-99/S199 released

[Patrik]

Nobody has mentioned it here yet, so either no one noticed, or no one is interested😁, though I think this quite a novel approach is worth mentioning. Avia S-199 will serve to Eduard as a “proof of concept” for their new line, Brassin Hybrid. Major parts will be still in plastic, but e.g. complete interior, wheel wells, undercarriage and many small parts will be 3D printed. In case of S-199 the number of plastic parts dropped from 126 in the original design (excluding transparencies) to 53 in the final release (again excluding transparencies). Below plastic in green, 3D prints in grey,

 

 

 

 

Eduard will use the new line to produce less-mainstreamish variants of their 1/48 kit lines. They will use exclusively this approach in their new 1/32 releases. They said the approach seemed to be less well suited for 1/72, but they will try anyway.

You can read more about it in the September Info Editorial.

Edited September 7 by Patrik

[Eol97]

In my opinion, with 500+ Eduard kits in stash, very, very bad decision, 3D print is resin, resin is toxic, and both myself and many others do not prefer resin anything. Using DentaFORM to print landing gear is thumbs up but only for Brassin option. 

Prepainted PE enabled modellers with very little knowledge and with a bit of patience to achieve formidable results in the cockpit, but one can see that ever since Quinta appeared Eduard is not able or willing to catch up to the formers quality, both in Space and PE ranges.

Both ranges where they should have made new strides.

 

I view it as nothing else but cost cutting measure, due to drop in sales, as their very loyal buyer cannot see it as positive move.

 

Plastic in any form, before resin.

 

 

Edited September 7 by Eol97

[Tbolt]

 

2 hours ago, Eol97 said:

In my opinion, with 500+ Eduard kits in stash, very, very bad decision, 3D print is resin, resin is toxic, and both myself and many others do not prefer resin anything. Using DentaFORM to print landing gear is thumbs up but only for Brassin option. 

Prepainted PE enabled modellers with very little knowledge and with a bit of patience to achieve formidable results in the cockpit, but one can see that ever since Quinta appeared Eduard is not able or willing to catch up to the formers quality, both in Space and PE ranges.

Both ranges where they should have made new strides.

 

I view it as nothing else but cost cutting measure, due to drop in sales, as their very loyal buyer cannot see it as positive move.

 

Plastic in any form, before resin.

 

 

 

While I agree it is a cost cutting measure, and I would prefer it all in plastic, if they didn't do it we might not get these less popular types at all. So the question is do you want it like this or not at all?

 

A drop in sales could be improved upon by using better quality printed decals....

[Eol97]

Just now, Tbolt said:

 

 

While I agree it is a cost cutting measure, and I would prefer it all in plastic, if they didn't do it we might not get these less popular types at all. So the question is do you want it like this or not at all?

 

A drop in sales could be improved upon by using better quality printed decals....

We all buy PLASTIC model kits for a reason, I do not want to buy resin kits nor resin accessories, nor any " hybrid".

I want to buy Avia with beautiful plastic cockpit as Eduard did numerous time before, especially in P-51B and P-40E/N with small PE fret for smallish details and instrument panel.

I hope they reverse their decision.

[Bozothenutter]

Airscale are doing the same for their Tiffie.

With lots of us forking out for aftermarket anyway......🤷🏾‍♂️

Maybe it'll  be like an overtree kit, but without unnecessary plastic parts.

Though I am wondering if the kit will be available as a full plastic model as well.

I wouldn't expect so, as it negates the cost savings (?) Of using less plastic.

 

[Tbolt]

36 minutes ago, Eol97 said:

We all buy PLASTIC model kits for a reason, I do not want to buy resin kits nor resin accessories, nor any " hybrid".

I want to buy Avia with beautiful plastic cockpit as Eduard did numerous time before, especially in P-51B and P-40E/N with small PE fret for smallish details and instrument panel.

I hope they reverse their decision.

 

And so do I, but I would rather have this 199, than no 199. 

 

Using printed parts though is probably going to increase the cost of the kit noticeable.

 

I don't see them reversing their decision, but how well, or not, this does might effect how much they do it in the future.

[hopkp]

Personally I'm OK with it, especially if the choice is between this kind of Eduard 1/48 Avia S. 199 or no Eduard 1/48 S.199 at all; it's also highly likely - if not an outright certainty - that I'd have bought a Brassin cockpit for it anyway. I've no problem using resin detail parts and I don't think they're any more toxic than a lot of the other products used in the hobby, just wear a face mask and sand it wet. The only other ball game in town if you want a 1/48 S-199 is the ancient Hobbycraft kit, which at the very least needs an aftermarket cockpit anyway. 

[RHWinter]

3D printing, PE, Resin, „Bastelspaß“: Great for many Modeling-enthusiasts I know and surely good for kit producing companies. All not for me. But as I was/am waiting for Eduard to bring (me 😁) a S-199 since ages, I‘d surely get at least two (in 1/48). And then I will spend the rest of my days hoping (in vain, I know) for a CS-199. „In vain“ because Eduard don‘t even seem daring to make a 109 G-12 trainer, as these non-fighting planes don‘t appeal to us still 14-year old boys, who imagine bold dog-fights … (I'd love to know, whether the trainer version of the Spitfire by Airfix dors sell…)

[hopkp]

17 minutes ago, RHWinter said:

 I'd love to know whether the trainer version of the Spitfire by Airfix does sell

I can only assume that it does, because I haven't been able to find it 'in stock' at any EU retailer.....

 

As for the CS-199, I would buy it in a heartbeat if Eduard ever does it in 1/48, resin cockpit or no resin cockpit!

[Ali62]

For me I think it is a brilliant idea, will be interesting to see the pricing, I am certainly waiting for the S-199, so wca not wait for this release.

 

[Piotr Mikolajski]

56 minutes ago, Ali62 said:

will be interesting to see the pricing

 

During the IPMS USA presentation, information regarding the price was mentioned – depending on how this technology and production prove themselves in practice, the kit may cost around 52 USD in the USA, while ProfiPack costs 40 USD. It is difficult to say what the prices will be in Europe.

[Mattlow]

Just a passing observation (and I may be totally wrong).

Aren't the new tool parts going to be fuselage, supercharger intake, and maybe (lower) wing? Wouldn't the existing sprue for the K-4 cover most of the smaller parts (I can't recall the parts layout on K-4? That would assume S-199 specific small parts are moulded on the fuselage sprue (this happens with other later 109 kits). I know Eduard offer 'small parts' sprues for some other 109s.. So a 'weekend' type offering would dispense with PE, masks, printed stuff and give you the small parts from the K-4 - no extra tooling required..

 

I suppose it boils down to whether that is seen as an economic option.

Matt

[Eol97]

Its totally new kit, and rightly so given its importance and popularity both inside Czech R. and Slovakia but also due to Israeli link, they will sell in larger numbers easily, that is why, aside from not liking resin personally,  I cannot understand the whole " hybrid" idea, aside from possibility that Eduard was not able to finish small parts before E-day( 4.10).

 

[k7rkx]

17 hours ago, Tbolt said:

A drop in sales could be improved upon by using better quality printed decals....

This for me, 100%

[Piotr Mikolajski]

1 hour ago, Eol97 said:

they will sell in larger numbers easily

 

On the contrary. Kit in 1/72 was noticeably more expensive than Bf 109s, due to expected lower sales. Limited edition box is still available in many shops and was available in Eduard shop for two years after release while it should be gone in 3-6 months.

 

1 hour ago, Eol97 said:

I cannot understand the whole " hybrid" idea

 

Eduard tests new solutions on niche projects, most often on models of Czech aircraft. The reason for creating this hybrid is very simple – it is easier, faster and cheaper to print a number of components than to make moulds for them.

 

IBG Models has used a similar solution in its new Black Box edition Spitfire – the cockpit can be built traditionally, from plastic parts, but there are also printed cockpits available. You may see completed one here:

 

[Eol97]

5 minutes ago, Piotr Mikolajski said:

 

On the contrary. Kit in 1/72 was noticeably more expensive than Bf 109s, due to expected lower sales. Limited edition box is still available in many shops and was available in Eduard shop for two years after release while it should be gone in 3-6 months.

 

 

Eduard tests new solutions on niche projects, most often on models of Czech aircraft. The reason for creating this hybrid is very simple – it is easier, faster and cheaper to print a number of components than to make moulds for them.

 

IBG Models has used a similar solution in its new Black Box edition Spitfire – the cockpit can be built traditionally, from plastic parts, but there are also printed cockpits available. You may see completed one here:

 

You are right Piotr, but the reason behind poor or slow sale of " Mezek" was due to fact that Eduard was behind KP with its release, and it was proven, however strange it may sound that KP's kit is more accurate(shape wise)

 

If it came to this, where Eduard with its in house tooling production ( probably lowest prod.costs compared to competitors) cannot afford, or does not want  to spend to tool cockpit parts in plastic-it does not seem to be a good outlook for the brand.

[Piotr Mikolajski]

23 minutes ago, Eol97 said:

You are right Piotr, but the reason behind poor or slow sale of " Mezek" was due to fact that Eduard was behind KP with its release

 

Once again: low sales were anticipated from the start, the AZ/KP model is irrelevant. Contrary to what modellers might think, Eduard has a much better understanding of how something will sell. And none of this is a big secret; they regularly write about their release policy, sales, plans and so on.

 

23 minutes ago, Eol97 said:

If it came to this, where Eduard with its in house tooling production ( probably lowest prod.costs compared to competitors) cannot afford, or does not want  to spend to tool cockpit parts in plastic-it does not seem to be a good outlook for the brand.

 

Sure, they will bankrupt next week.

[Zagor]

I don't see a problem with "hybrid" kits if quality and detail of resin/3D parts are same or better then in plastic.

A lot of modellers buy aftermarket details anyway for their plastic kits.
This is nothing new. Special Hobby is one of my favorite companies and they always included resin engine/cockpit/wheels instead of those parts in plastic.

[Patrik]

1 hour ago, Piotr Mikolajski said:

 

Once again: low sales were anticipated from the start, the AZ/KP model is irrelevant. Contrary to what modellers might think, Eduard has a much better understanding of how something will sell. And none of this is a big secret; they regularly write about their release policy, sales, plans and so on.

 

 

Sure, they will bankrupt next week.

Forget it, Piotr😁. Read the discussion on Modelforum, all arguments said from both sides of the barricade, no conclusion. I guess only time will tell.

[SprueMan]

This is a novel approach for a major manufacturer and I wholly support them trying new things.

If you keep doing the same things, sooner or later you will reach the technological limit to which it is no longer possible to improve.

At the same time, the competition also is making inroads by also innovating in their own way.

So you need to come up with something new.

 

Yes, some modellers may not like it straightaway, some might and some might change their opinion having tried it once or twice.

 

having built a few 3D printed models along with other multimedia kits, I can see the advantages of this approach.

Granted, I love the assembly part of modeling the most (not the painting as many do..) so I like parts to put together, but there are also limits to how small parts can be if you want the very most detail, so the compromise of fewer parts but with greater details is understandable.

[Piotr Mikolajski]

7 hours ago, Patrik said:

Read the discussion on Modelforum, all arguments said from both sides of the barricade, no conclusion. I guess only time will tell.

 

I don't need to read threads on MF. The Eduard talk about their plans quite openly, as they do about many other things. It is enough to gather this information and analyse it.

 

The bottleneck for any company that has its own workshop is time needed to cut metal moulds. Regardless of how many designers they have and how well they can design, machines cannot work any faster. The solution is to buy another one, but this is a large investment, very expensive and not the most efficient.

 

Eduard found another solution to the problem – a change in approach to design. They invested in a fleet of new professional 3D printers that have a dual purpose – can print aftermarket stuff, but can also print components for kits from various types of resins, including more durable ones. This reduces the workload for the workshop, which no longer needs to cut moulds for small components, so it can start cutting new moulds with large elements (like wings and fuselages) for the next project. Thanks to this change in approach to design, they want to release at least three new kits yearly and ultimately even six new models per year.

 

Avia is their test field in 1/48, most likely all models in 1/32 will also be produced in this way. Some modellers will not like it, others will be delighted that they can build models faster without losing detail quality. Considering the very positive reception of the Spitfire cockpits from IBG Models, I assume that there will be more satisfied customers, even if the Brassin Hybrid line will be a bit more expensive. But will other companies follow in this direction and also start building their own 3D printer farms? Probably only a few will, as for most it will be too complicated logistically.

[Patrik]

You misunderstood my post completely, I was not clear enough, for which I apologize.

Should have said "Drop the fight, Piotr", because all those arguments were put on Modelforum last week, most of them by Vladimír Šulc himself, and still the answers depended mostly on the attitude of the writer. Some were excited, for some it was interesting novel idea and "let's definitely try it", and for some others it was various versions of " how dare you forcing the use of 3D printed resin on me/I like PE much more/complex parts are hard to paint".😉

As all the opinions are legitimate and right in their own way, only time will tell. Or Eduard sales numbers.😁

[Bronzemeister]

On 9/7/2025 at 8:36 AM, Eol97 said:

3D print is resin, resin is toxic, and both myself and many others do not prefer resin anything.

Let's go over that.

1) 3D print is resin.  Yes, yes it is.  No question there.

2) Resin is toxic.  You sure?  Yes, many are, but not ALL are, and there are companies that make 3D print type resins that are legitimately non-toxic.  Not all resins are the same by a long shot.  Some people are VERY sensitive to the common "toxic" types (skin rashes, breathing difficulties, genuine medical issue type stuff), but again, not all resins are the same.

3) Many more prefer to have the subject, regardless of the medium.  Sometimes the new medium becomes the preferred material, which is why we don't sand pre-cut blocks of wood to shape anymore to make most of our models.

 

Just observations.  Not trying to  be a git.

[-Ian-]

On 9/7/2025 at 6:47 PM, Tbolt said:

A drop in sales could be improved upon by using better quality printed decals....

Absolutely, especially when they previously used Cartograf, which for me is always a selling point in any kit which includes them.

I had the opportunity to do a literal side by side comparison a few years ago. I was building a 1/48 Eduard MiG-21 SMT, I went for a loadout of 8 bomb rack mounted FAB 100s. For reasons best known to themselves, Eduard didn't include enough stencils for 2 racks + 8 bombs, not a problem though as I could just raid the ones from the MF in my stash. The difference between the Cartograf stencils in the SMT kit and Eduard's own in the later MF box were like night and day, with the Cartograf having both better legibility and a thinner less conspicuous carrier film.

[Homebee]

Expected in November 2025 - ref. 848011 - Avia S-199 - ERLA canopy

Source: https://www.eduard.com/out/media/distributors/leaflet/leaflet2025-11en.pdf

 

 

 

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V.P.