Eduard MV-22 Osprey Updates (for Hobby Boss) 1:48

[Mike]

MV-22 Osprey Updates (for Hobby Boss)

1:48 Eduard

 

 

After the longest time waiting for a decent kit in 1:48 to replace the ageing Italeri kit, Hobby Boss have finally popped up with a worthy successor that has many of the lumps and bumps that have been added since it came into service.  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.

 

 

Detail Set (491176)

Two frets are included, one nickel plated and pre-painted, the other in bare brass.  After a round of moulded-in detail being summarily turned into sanding dust, a complete set of new layered instrument panels with MFDs, overhead panel, and side consoles are the primary parts on the painted set, with a replacement open crew door for the left side, which will require a hole being cut in the fuselage and some sheet styrene to act as extra thickness between the layers; the vestibule between crew and passenger compartments is skinned with new details with the new door stowed in the floor.  A set of steps are made up from a number of layers, with a pair of perforated treads and actuator mechanism, plus finely etched handrails; the main gear bays are skinned with new highly detailed panels that have captive cross-ribbing that you fold over, and finally piano-style hinges applied to the outer edge of the main bay doors.

 

 

 

 

Zoom! Set (FE1176)

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.

 

 

 

SPACE Cockpit Set (3DL48019)

The Eduard SPACE sets use new 3D printing techniques that lay down successive layers of different colour resin, creating highly realistic almost full complete panels that are supplied on a decal sheet.  They can depict metallic shades, plus glossy, satin and matt colours too, which really ups the detail on everything they print.  In addition, a small sheet of nickel-plated and pre-painted PE is included for the aspects of the set that lend themselves better to this medium, such as seatbelts and rudder pedals.

 

 

This set includes two PE five-point seatbelt sets, rudder pedals and wing mirrors on the PE sheet, with beautifully printed main instrument panels with additional sections for the edge of the coaming, and side consoles all of which require the removing of the moulded-in raised details, as well as a little alteration of the additional kit parts that insert into the styrene panels.  The short corridor between the front and rear of the cockpit is then fitted-out with a set of luxuriously quilted sheets that also have a few instruments printed onto them, another large panel in the crew compartment, and a roof panel in the corridor to finish off that area.  Finally, the overhead console in the cockpit is stripped of the simplified detail, and covered with a large and detailed instrument panel that really brings it to life.

 

 

 

Cargo Floor (481049)

The cargo floor included in the kit is there, but it’s nothing more than a couple of raised stripes and some recessed circles, which won’t cut it for a lot of us, especially if we want to put the load ramp down at the rear.  This set contains a big sheet of bare PE with skins that have much better detail for the long main bed, as well as the part of the rear door that drops down and acts as the load ramp.  As well as the floor skins, there are also separate circular tie-down points that fit within the holes in the new bed.  On the load ramp you get a rear side detail insert, and some additional brackets on the sides of the ramp near the attachment points for the retraction jacks.

 

 

 

 

Seatbelts STEEL (FE1177)

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.  There are two sets of four-point crew belts that are applied to the form-fitting modern seats which have ballistic protection built-in.

 

 

 

 

Masks (EX773)

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 the wheels , allowing you to cut the demarcation perfectly with little effort.

 

 

 

Masks Tface (EX774)

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

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

We've now got a complete set of detail for this large kit, and the detail is excellent.  Those SPACE sets are really starting to look the business!

 

Review sample courtesy of

 

 

[Mike]

Review updated with the Cargo Floor set and the awesome SPACE 3D printed cockpit set