Eduard Chipmunk T.10 Detail Upgrades (for Airfix) 1:48

[Mike]

Chipmunk T.10 Detail Upgrades (for Airfix)

1:48 Eduard

 

 

We 1:48 modellers have all been happy happy joy joy about the reasonably recent Airfix De Havilland Chipmunk in our favourite scale, and now have some the aftermarket to add to it.  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), Brassin resin 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.

 

 

SPACE Cockpit Set (3DL48048)

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.

 

The 3D decal sheet contains a pair of instrument panels for the pilots with a small number of additional shaped panels to be fitted around the cockpit, plus placards and the occasional dial.  The PE sheet has the four-point seatbelts for both pilots, and a semi-recessed adjustment wheel on the port side of each seat.  The final parts are some pull-handles for the starboard canopy openers, which are probably best painted then glued in place with some clear varnish.

 

 

 

 

Chipmunk T.10 Upgrade Set (491225)

Two frets are included, one nickel plated and pre-painted, the other in bare brass.  A complete set of new layered instrument panels and auxiliary controls are the primary parts on the painted set, with a frame around each seat and adjustment wheel set into the frame; small details within the cockpit such as throttle box; a shroud for the port side of the engine; new dual-layer cowlings for the engine bay that should be curved to shape using the kit parts as a template to be propped open by some 0.6mm rod from your stores; strengthening straps around the fuselage at the rear of the wing root and along the tail fin fillet, plus a few appliqué panels.  The final parts are some pull-handles for the starboard canopy openers, which are probably best painted then glued in place with some clear varnish, and a perforated brace that is slipped into the rear of the canopy that can be glued similarly.

 

 

 

 

Seatbelts STEEL (FE1226)

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.  The small fret contains the four-point belts for both pilots, requiring the removal of a little styrene where the belts pass through the sides of the seat.

 

 

 

 

Masks (EX809)

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, with the blown canopy side panels handled by X-shaped cuts that you’ll need to fill in the gaps once it is burnished down.  In addition, you get a set of hub/tyre masks for the wheels, allowing you to cut the demarcation perfectly with little effort.

 

 

 

Tface Masks (EX810)

Supplied on a sheet of yellow kabuki tape, these pre-cut masks supply you with a full set of masks for the canopy both inside and out, with curved handled as above.  As previously, you also get a set of hub/tyre masks for the wheels, allowing you to cut the demarcation perfectly with little effort.

 

 

 

 

Highly recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of

[Paul Bradley]

Please excuse my ignorance of all things Chippie, but did the harnesses change from grey to blue at some point in British military service?  

[john224]

11 hours ago, Paul Bradley said:

Please excuse my ignorance of all things Chippie, but did the harnesses change from grey to blue at some point in British military service?  

I definitely remember the harnesses being a dark lavender blue when I was a cadet in the early to mid 70's.

 

[MikeC]

12 hours ago, Paul Bradley said:

Please excuse my ignorance of all things Chippie, but did the harnesses change from grey to blue at some point in British military service?  

 

37 minutes ago, john224 said:

I definitely remember the harnesses being a dark lavender blue when I was a cadet in the early to mid 70's.

 

Indeed so.  I also recall some of the 4-point harnesses were black when I was closely acquainted with the Chippy.  The new 5-point harness (fitted in the mid-70s) was certainly black.

 

And check out this photo of a Chipmunk at Cambridge (22RFS or CUAS) dated 1950: the harness dangling over the side is certainly not a light grey of buff colour.  The moral is, as ever, use specific photo reference for your particular subject if you have it available.

 

 

Edited November 10, 2021 by MikeC

[theplasticsurgeon]

4 hours ago, MikeC said:

 

Indeed so.  I also recall some of the 4-point harnesses were black when I was closely acquainted with the Chippy.  The new 5-point harness (fitted in the mid-70s) was certainly black.

 

And check out this photo of a Chipmunk at Cambridge (22RFS or CUAS) dated 1950: the harness dangling over the side is certainly not a light grey of buff colour.  The moral is, as ever, use specific photo reference for your particular subject if you have it available.

 

 

Someone had already posted, that the harness was change to a 5 point, ar same time as being repainted to RedWhiteGrey scheme. So if your Chippie precedes that - 4 point harness. Repainted, and later - 5 point harness.

I only ever saw RWG Chippies when I was in the ATC, so all 5 point. One was repainted again, and is currently with the BBMF.  I think another was repainted grey and served at Gatow for a time.

[Paul Bradley]

OK, thanks all for the responses - I'll have to go elsewhere for my late-service FAA harnesses then! 

[Rod Blievers]

A great review thanks. I'm a great admirer of Eduard products and this will be a welcome addition to modellers building the Airfix kit. I wonder though just which Chipmunk did Eduard base their depiction of the instrument panel?

 

I've never seen a Chipmunk with the large Turn and Slip indicator that Eduard depict; the normal fitting is the conventional "bat & ball" indicator, similarly sized to the VSI above. The overly large and far too bright yellow rectangular device is a Tiger Moth style oil pressure indicator which only appeared on a mere handful of early production aircraft; the vast majority had a conventional round dial.

 

These photos should help:

 

WG478, front panel. Ignore the GPS (the reflective rectangular screen showing the blue shoulder harness buckles on the RHS), the modern radios and the combination of both a floor-mounted P.11 compass and a coaming mounted "Airpath" compass (it should be one or the other), otherwise this is a bog-standard T.10 panel.

 

 

WK507, rear panel. Apart from the prominent red button on the LHS, this again is bog-standard.

 

 

A few further thoughts - it really is black and colourless in there! The two red knobs are the mixture control (LH side) and the fuel cock. Note the prominent wiring looms at the top of the sidewalls, secured by straps and brass buckles (quaint) - the looming is on both sides of the front cockpit but only on the LHS in the front.

 

Edited November 11, 2021 by Rod Blievers
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[MikeC]

Rod, those pics brought back so may memories. Thank you.