Eduard A-10C Upgrade Sets (for Great Wall Hobby) 1:48

[Mike]

A-10C Upgrade Sets (for Great Wall Hobby)

1:48 Eduard

 

 

Great Wall Hobby (GWH) sprung a new 1:48 scale A-10C Thunderbolt II on us late last year, and although we’ve not seen one here at Britmodeller yet, the potential given their history of well-detailed models is generating much excitement and anticipation as the first examples filter through.  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.  We only have three sets so far, but they’re quick and easy upgrades to the cockpit via 3D printed parts, and kabuki masks.  Doubtless more sets will follow as time goes by.

 

 

SPACE 3D Printed Cockpit Decals (3DL48186)

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 A-10’s cockpit is high on the nose, and has a wide range of visibility, so any details will be on view providing you don’t mess the canopy up, and for assistance with avoiding this, see below!  The first step is to remove the moulded-in instrument panel and side console details, leaving a smooth surface for the replacement 3D printed decals, consisting of two for the panel, and two more plus a hose for the starboard console.  The seat also has the moulded-in belts removed, plus some of the details on the seat sides that are replaced by folded PE parts, replacing the belts with pre-painted parts that will give a more realistic representation to the viewer.  More decals are supplied for a small gaggle of instruments around the windscreen frame, a lens for the HUD, and another for a small raised box on the consoles.  The last PE parts are the rudder pedals set deep under the newly revitalised instrument panel.

 

 

 

Masks (EX1049)

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 mask for the extensive lens of the AN-AAQ-33 SNIPER advanced targeting pod, allowing you to cut the demarcation perfectly with little effort.

 

 

 

 

Masks Tface (EX1050)

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 inside of the glazing so that you can paint the model’s interior and give your kit that extra bit of realism.  Having used these sets on my own models now, I can confirm that they are extremely accurate, and it's good practice to place the outer masks first to act as a guide for alignment of the inner masks.

 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of