Eduard Albacore Upgrade Sets (For Trumpeter 1:48)

[Mike]

Albacore Upgrade Sets (For Trumpeter)

1:48 Eduard

 

 

The new Trumpeter kit was awaited with baited breath (really must do something about that), but proved to be a curate's egg as a few brave builders have found out.  Eduard's new range of sets are here to improve on the kit detail if you've bought one despite the reviews 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.

 

 

Upgrade Set (49945)

Two frets are included, one nickel plated and pre-painted, the other in bare brass.  A complete set of new layered instrument panels and side consoles are the primary parts on the painted set, with new rudder pedals; side wall details; internal framework; replacement crew access door and a little canopy internal structure also supplied.

 

 

 

Zoom! Set (FE945)

This set contains a reduced subset of the interior, namely the pre-painted parts that are used to improve on the main aspects of the cockpit, as seen above.  Whatever your motivations for wanting this set, it provides a welcome boost to detail, without being concerned with the structural elements.

 

 

 

 

Seatbelts STEEL (FE946)

In case you don't already know, these belts are Photo-Etch (PE) steel, 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 perceived extra depth to the buckles and other furniture by shading, they are more realistic looking and will drape better than regular brass PE.  As well as the four belt set for the pilot, there are also two pairs of lap belts for the other crew and their curious-looking seats.

 

 

 

Masks (EX633)

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 all the wheels (including the out-riggers), allowing you to cut the demarcation perfectly with little effort.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of