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Photoetch is not really my thing but I have seen some stunning details created by it so guess it is time I broke down and joined the 21st Century.
This set is designed specifically for the new Airfix kit which has pretty good detail to begin with so what is on the fret.
When Airfix released its new kit of the Spitfire Mk I the amount of detail in the cockpit was fantastic. When they brought out a new Mk IX everybody wondered, what happened to the interior?
This new set by Brengun will finally give you what you need to update the Airfix kit.
(From the Dragon web site) The Sturmgeschütz IV (also known as Sd.Kfz.167) was an assault gun produced in similar fashion to the more numerically common StuG.III. However, as its name suggests, it was based on the hull of the Panzer IV tank rather than the Panzer III. This came about because Alkett (a manufacturer of the StuG.III) was bombed in November 1943. Therefore, in an effort to increase assault gun production numbers, Krupp installed slightly modified StuG.III superstructures on the chassis of the Panzer IV. After production was approved on 6 December 1943, Krupp proceeded to build 1,108 StuG.IV vehicles between December 1943 and May 1945. While this number was far less than the StuG.III, Krupp did help ensure continuity of assault gun production. Crewed by four men, the StuG.IV proved an effective tank hunter. It weighed 23 tonnes and was armed with a capable 7.5cm StuK40 L/48 gun.
I must confess at the outset of this review that I am not, for the most part, a fan of vacuform diorama buildings. I will always prefer ceramic which is far easier for me to assemble and paint. That being said, I was quite curious to tackle this kind of project and found myself quite impressed with this kit.
My first impression of this kit came before I even opened the box. It was remarkably heavy - not what I’d expected of a kit that was largely vacuform parts. However, on opening the box I could see why – the nine vacuform sheets are quite stout, with remarkable detail on roughly 74 parts. The kit also comes with five sprues of injection molded details, making a total of well over 150 parts – far more than will be needed in this diorama. Everything you desire to create a large and detailed diorama is provided here, including the base. There is a LOT of plastic in this kit.
Got a Bf-109 that you want to add some detail to the radiator faces? How about some side skirts for your German vehicles in 1/48th? Maybe some cooling screens for your AFV. Well here is your solution.
Eduard provides you a 5 ½ x 2 ¾ sheet of steel mesh with a square pattern. Just measure your pattern and cut and shape this steel mesh. The possibilities of this scratch building item is limited to your imagination.
Highly recommended
Thanks to Eduard and IPMS/USA for the review copy. You can obtain your copy by contacting them directly at https://www.eduard.com/ Let them know you heard about it here. They are also available from your local hobby shop or online retailer.
