Eduard SR-71 Blackbird Update Sets (For Revell) 1:48

[Mike]

SR-71 Blackbird Update Sets (For Revell)

1:48 Eduard

 

 

Revell made a lot of people happy when they released their new tool of the sleek SR-71 Blackbird in 1:48 scale, consigning most of the old Testors kits to eBay or deep stash, mine included.  It’s a big improvement in terms of constructional rigidity and detail, but there’s always room to improve on injection moulded plastic.  Eduard's new range of sets are here to improve on the kit detail in their 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.

 

 

 

Interior (491251)

Two frets are included, both nickel-plated and pre-painted.  A complete set of new layered instrument panels and side consoles with added levers for both of the cockpits in full colour with small areas of acetate sheet used in the process; floor and sidewall skins for them both; a big upgrade to the ejection seat rails on the back of the seats and in the rear of the cockpits, plus control details; side-pockets for the cockpits; plus canopy internal details and rear-view mirrors.

 

 

 

 

Zoom! Set (FE1251)

This set contains a reduced subset of the interior, namely the pre-painted parts that are used to improve on the main visible 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 3D Printed Cockpit Decals (3DL48059)

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 printed sheet includes a full set of instrument panels and side consoles in glorious colour and with relief engineered in, while the PE sheet has a full set of four-point seatbelts and pull-handles for both seats; additional levers for the throttle quadrants; rudder pedal boots; additional equipment in the rear cockpit that is removed earlier; side-pockets; rear-view mirrors and a flip-up tray with a foil/styrene(?) surface that you should prepare from your own stocks.  The gloss on the screens in the instrument panels is so realistic, which is one of the reasons I’m such a big fan of the range - the photos don't do them justice.

 

 

 

 

Seatbelts STEEL (FE1252)

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 two sets of crew belts, you also get a set of the pull-handles between the pilot's knees that gets him out of there in case of an emergency.

 

 

 

 

Masks (EX836)

Supplied on a sheet of yellow kabuki tape, these pre-cut masks supply you with a full set of masks for the exterior of the canopy.  In addition, you get a set of hub/tyre masks for all the wheels, allowing you to cut the demarcation perfectly with little effort.

 

 

 

 

Masks Tface (EX837)

Supplied on a larger sheet 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 an appropriate colour and give your model that extra bit of realism. 

 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[LorenSharp]

Cool! Now to see if this will work with the Testors version as well. If so, it over comes the  loss of the True Detail set. If so, I can see several sets  being acquired in the future.