Aichi D3A1 Val Upgrade Sets (for Hasegawa) 1:48

[Mike]

Aichi D3A1 Val Upgrade Sets (for Hasegawa)

1:48 Eduard

 

 

The kit for which this series of sets is design has been around for many years, originating in the very late 90s, with several reissues and reboxes over the years, one of them being 09286.  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 (491281)

Two frets are included, one nickel-plated and pre-painted, the other in bare brass, plus a small sheet of clear acetate.  A complete set of new layered instrument panels involve removing the majority of the kit panel first; sidewall details with added levers and instruments; replacement rudder pedals and floor details; auxiliary instruments around the cockpit, and sights for the rear-facing machine gun plus its mount.  The deck between the two cockpits is thoroughly overhauled with new surrounds to the instrument box plus panel for it, and a raised sight with two pieces of film cut from the pre-printed acetate sheet.  Additional pull handles and other internal mechanisms are added to the inside of the cockpit, with a simple ring-and-bead sight on the cowling in front of the windscreen.

 

 

The Mitsubishi Kinsei engine is rigged with a wiring harness the end location of each wire shown on a scrap diagram; a replacement actuator for the flying surfaces; a crew step under the aft of the wing; a tail skid, and replacement fins for the large and small bombs, which also have spinners on the nose and rear, plus a band around the larger bombs, and square supports around the rear of the fins.

 

 

 

Zoom! Set (FE1281)

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.

 

 

Seatbelts STEEL (FE1282)

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 crew belts, one with over-the-shoulder three/four strap belts that always confuse me, the other with a pair of thick lap belts.

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

There are a number of other sets available from Eduard for this kit, and we’re hoping to have a look at those too in due course.

 

Review sample courtesy of