Eduard Resin and Photo Etch Detail Sets for Eduard/Hasegawa B-24 Liberator - 1:72 Eduard

[Paul A H]

Resin and Photo Etch Detail Sets for Eduard/Hasegawa B-24 Liberator

1:72 Eduard

 

 

Hasegawa's Liberator is easily the best kit of the type available in 1:72 scale. It is more modern and more precisely engineered than the ageing Minicraft/Academy kit and streets ahead of Airfix's venerable offering. It's selection by Eduard as the basis for their recent 'Riders in the Sky' limited edition Coastal Command release was very welcome indeed, particularly so given than Eduard's previous Liberator releases were based on the aforementioned Minicraft kit. Alongside the kit, Eduard have released a predictably comprehensive range of resin and photo etched goodies to further enhance the superlative kit.

 

 

B-24 Engines (672171)

 

 

This set includes four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp turbo-supercharged radial engines. Despite the imposingly large box, the engines themselves are very simple. Each unit comprises the 14 cylinder engine, plus a separately cast magneto, as well as photo etched details for the ignition wiring. The casting is up to the usual Eduard standard and the end result will be superior to anything that could be achieved with injection moulded plastic. 

 

 

 

 

B-24 Bomb Bay Rocket Projector (672177)

 

 

 

 

This impressive set provides the 3 inch rockets used with some Coastal Command Liberators, as well as the associated projector racks. The structural parts, as well as the rockets themselves, are cast from resin while photo etched brass provides a supporting role in the form of additional details for the rocket exhausts, ignition wiring, cross-braces etc. The set isn't as complex as it first seems, but the rockets are very fragile and particular care will need to be taken when removing them from their casting blocks.

 

 

 

B-24 Bomb Bay Doors (672183)

 

 

This simple set includes replacement bomb bay doors, as well as cogs for the door open/close mechanism. The parts are well cast and will offer a modest upgrade over the plastic parts provided with the kit. This set makes a good companion to the rocket set detailed above, but would clearly be of no interest if you intend to finish your model with the bomb bay doors closed!

 

 

 

British 250lb Depth Charges (672172)

 

 

Another simple set, this one provides six Mark VIII 250lb depth charges of the type used by Coastal Command on the Liberator. Each depth charge is a solid resin part, which must simply be painted Dark Green and have the included decals applied. Once complete, they will add a nice finishing touch to your Coastal Command Liberator.

 

 

 

B-24 Wheels (672170)

 

 

 

This set is intended as a like-for-like swap for the kit wheels. A choice of two different nose wheels are provided, as well as main wheels with optional resin and photo etched wheel hubs. As is the norm for a set of this type from Eduard, pre-cut masks are also provided to aid painting. These wheels, with their realistic tyre treads, offer a significant upgrade over the kit parts. 

 

 

 

B-24 Turbochargers (672178)

 

 

The Twin Wasp used in the Liberator employed a turbocharger to supply compressed air to a mechanical supercharger. These turbochargers are one-piece items that offer a simple enhancement to the kit parts. They are well cast and nicely detailed, but you will need to carve away the plastic equivalents, which in the case of the Hasegawa kit, are partly moulded into the middle section of the engine cowling. The end result should be worth it, however. 

 

 

 

Liberator GR Mk.V upgrade set(73627)

 

 

 

The only non-resin set on offer, this package includes pre-painted details for the crew compartment and fills in some of the details on the flight deck that were not covered by the etch provided with the kit. Details are provided for radio and other electronic equipment, as well as rudder pedals, ammunition hoppers and belts for the machine guns, as well as cooling sleeves for the gun barrels. 

 

 

Conclusion

 

Eduard can hardly be accused of shyness when it comes to providing aftermarket for one of their marquee releases of the past 12 months. While some might think the banquet of resin on offer to be rather over the top, one is not obliged to use the whole lot. Instead, one is free to pick and choose according to taste and the perceived value of each addition. Personally I would start with the excellent resin wheels and go from there. What cannot be denied is the quality of the items on offer, with each offering considerable enhancement over the plastic equivalents (where relevant). Recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of