Brengun Ju.290 Update Set (BRL72187 for Revell) 1:72

[Mike]

Ju.290 Update Set (BRL72187 for Revell)

1:72 Brengun

 

 

The Ju.290 Seeadler was a huge maritime reconnaissance aircraft that could also be pressed into service as a transport.  It was chosen as a candidate for development into the proposed Amerika Bomber project that eventually fizzled out as the situation in Europe deteriorated.  Less than 70 were built and none survived long after the war.

 

Revell’s kit in 1:72 is as nice as it is large, and with its heritage beginning in 2003 it is a relatively modern tooling, but could do with some upgrading of the finer details to match modern standards and satisfy those interested in detail. This Photo-Etch (PE) set from Brengun is designed to improve on what Revell have given us by adding extra detail in all the right places.  It arrives in a compact flat pack with a red Brengun themed header card and a sheet of black paper showing off the PE within.  There are two frets of nickel-plated PE, plus a small slip of clear acetate with the instrument panel and gunsight on the mid-upper turret.

 

 

The instructions are found behind the black paper, and construction begins with the rear turret, with interior detail in the canopy as well as within the opening into the fuselage, including a new set of ring sights at the tip of the barrel.  Flipping to the front, the cockpit has a new set of instrument panels with the acetate rears depicting the dials, a new coaming, throttle quadrants, rudder pedals and other instruments on the sidewalls.  The seats also get belts and a stowage pocket behind the right seat.  The mid-upper is decked out with a brand new turret basket after removing the simplified tube that is provided in the kit, including instruments around the lip, ammo feed, and upgrades to the gun with the aforementioned gunsight.

 

Externally, the main gear wells are adorned with a new bay skin, plus a new set of laminated bay doors and brake hose parts, while the airframe is given a make-over by replacing most of the antennae dotted around, including the whisker antennae on the nose, which will improve their look immensely.  Lastly, the engines are fitted with a circular inner skin that gives the impression of depth and the cylinders behind the prop boss.

 

As an aside, the picture of the PE wasn't taken in black and white, but came out looking that way for reasons best known to my scanner and how it reacts to the light reflecting off the metal.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of