Eduard Hawker Hunter F.4/F.5 Upgrade Sets (for Airfix) 1:48

[Mike]

Hawker Hunter F.4/F.5 Upgrade Sets (for Airfix)

1:48 Eduard

 

 

Airfix’s new Hunter family has been a welcome addition to their range, and has consigned a lot of old Academy kits to deep stash or eBay, which is often the way of things in our hobby.  Eduard's new range of sets are here to improve on the kit detail 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.

 

 

Hunter F.4 Detail Set (491082)

This set is provided on two sheets of brass, one of which has been nickel-plated and printed with highly detailed instruments, panel details etc., plus a small slip of clear acetate with HUD glass shapes printed as a guide for cutting out.  A complete set of new layered instrument panels and side consoles are the primary parts on the painted set, with new rudder pedals; ejection seat details; coaming instrumentation also supplied.  On the outside are a new set of stator blades for the engine’s front face, oleo scissor-links, a set of new bay doors and internal detail inserts, some substantial raised detail for the air-brake, two hoops for the windscreen (with rear-view mirror) and canopy edge frames, tiny vortex generators in the intakes, and links for the aft nose bay door.

 

 

 

 

 

Zoom! Set (FE1082)

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.

 

 

 

 

Hunter F.4/F.5 Seatbelts STEEL (FE1084)

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 twin sets of crew belts in blue and tan, you also get a set of headbox and between-the-knees pull-handles that gets the pilot out of his office in case of an emergency.

 

 

 

 

 

Tface Masks (EX697)

Supplied on a sheet of yellow kabuki tape, these pre-cut masks supply you with everything needed to mask the exterior glazing and wheels, but also give you another set of canopy masks tailored to fit the interior of the glazing so that you can paint the canopy interior and give your model that extra bit of realism. 

 

 

TFace (EX697)

 

 

Exterior Only (EX696)

 

 

Conclusion

More detail is good, especially in the cockpit.  Pick what you need and make your Hunter stand out from the crowd.  There are also a group of sets specifically for the F.5, which are very similar to the F.4 but subtly different in terms of components.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of