Spitfire Mk.VIII Photoetch

Published: December 9, 2015
Company: Eduard

If you bought the Overtree or the Weekend Edition of the Spitfire Mk.VIII and want to add a little extra detail but not break the bank Eduard offers you this little set.

This single fret of pre-painted parts is just what you’ll need. This fret offers some new radiator faces and radiator doors. The tail wheel doors are provided as well, which will give you a more accurate and scale door. There are some items for the cockpit as well.

This set is a nice little upgrade for your Spitfire Mk.VIII. If you got the Brassin Cockpit set the interior parts will not be useable, however the doors and the radiators are nice additions. If you have never worked with photo etch before this is a nice way to get your feet wet. The only difficult part is the spanner/doubler on the bulkhead… more

Spitfire Mk.VIII Surface Panels

Published: December 9, 2015
Company: Eduard

There seems to be a different philosophy between Europe and the US. In Europe, the modeling community seems to want to have every little detail and everything opened up. In the US we tend to add detail but not in every single little access panel.

This set is designed to allow you to open EVERY single access panel on the Spitfire. The instructions show you how. It is up to the modeler to decide which ones to open. There is no panel that is left undone.

There are templates to help remove the plastic panels on the kit. There is a new cockpit access hatch and a radio access panel. Some, but not all, access panels have detail on the inside so when the panel is posed open whatever is inside can be seen.

Eduard also provides teardrop templates so you can use heated… more

Spitfire Mk.IXe/XVIe Early version (Conical Fairings) & Late version (Rounded Fairings)

Published: December 8, 2015
Company: Master Model

This is a combined review of Master Model’s two optional turned brass barrels (20mm Hispano), and Browning tips and fairings for the Eduard Spitfire Mk.IXe and Mk.XVIe:

• AM-48-102 - Spitfire Mk.IXe/XVIe early version (conical fairings).
• AM-48-103 - Spitfire Mk.IXe/XVIe late version (rounded fairings).

I love, love, love the Eduard Spitfire series of kits. The kit has impressive detail to say the least. Sure there are some things that could be improved with aftermarket. One of those things is the armament.

Master has been producing some of the best turned metal barrels and pitot tubes in the world. These sets are in keeping with that reputation.

The sets are packaged in small Ziploc baggies on cardboard backing. Inside there is… more

Spitfire Camo Scheme B

Published: November 7, 2015
Company: Eduard

British aircraft have a hard-edged camouflage. Getting those hard edges in the proper position is difficult. How do you make that hard edge? If you are like me you’ll be using the Eduard masks. They are made of highly flexible Kabuki tape. This set includes two large masking sheets. One for the fuselage and tail surfaces, and the other for the wings.

How do you know if you need Scheme A or B? The only real way to know is to look at photos of the real aircraft. It has been postulated that even serial numbered aircraft had scheme A and odd serial numbered aircraft had scheme B. This is not always correct. It seems to me more of a guideline than a rule.

The key to this set is follow the instructions. First paint the lower surface color then mask that off with the provided… more

Spitfire Mk.VIII Gun Bays

Published: November 14, 2020
Company: Eduard

The incorporation of opened gun bays is a nice way to set your Spitfire apart from the crowd and adds to any diorama.

This set allows the modelers build the left and right wing gun bays opened. It allows you to build the Mk.VIII gun bays and the associated armament. There are 20 pieces of resin and a fret of photo etch in the set. Working the set is easy enough. The instructions are quite easy to understand and are illustrated enough for the modeler to reproduce two beautiful gun bays.

I removed the gun covers by chain drilling the panels and sanding back to the panel lines. Adding the photo etch and resin parts was relatively easy. Just remove the parts from the pour blocks, paint and install. It really is that simple. Just follow the instructions. After opening the… more

Spitfire Mk.VIII Profipack

Published: November 6, 2015
Company: Eduard

Eduard’s Spitfire Mk.IX kits set a new standard for Spitfire kits. The fit was perfect throughout and the shape was spot on. With the addition of the Brassin range of parts, the modeler finally had the ultimate late version Spitfire models in 1/48th scale. The Mk.VIII version had never been done in kit form. Based off their Mk.IX kit, it would have been easy for Eduard to just have the modeler cut and rescribe panel lines, but this is Eduard we are talking about. Eduard completely retooled the wings and fuselage to show all the salient features of the Mk.VIII. The wings have the shorter ailerons, fuel tanks in the leading edge and the small bulges for the guns. The fuselage has the retractable tail wheel already molded open. In this release you also get the longer wingtips, the first… more

Spitfire Mk.VIII Cockpit

Published: November 6, 2015
Company: Eduard

The Eduard Spitfires have set a new standard in 1/48th scale Spitfires. Eduard’s approach is threefold. One is aimed at the ‘basic’ modeler with their Weekend Edition kits. Then there is the step up with their Profipack kits, a personal favorite. And finally they have all the Brassin items to upgrade along with some separate photoetch pieces.

This set is carefully boxed in a sturdy cardboard box with Styrofoam packing material and parts in a couple of ziplock type baggies so there is no breakage. This set comes with 30 resin parts in light grey resin. All the parts are precisely cast and perfectly formed. There is a fret of photo etch with most of the parts pre-painted. Then there is a small clear acetate or film included of the gunsight reflector. The instructions are included… more

UH-1Y Canopy Mask

Published: November 14, 2020
Company: Eduard

The new Kitty Hawk UH-1Y Venom is an awesome model, but it has lots of clear parts. Lots of clear parts. Masking them is a pain. I should know I did it four times and it took a long time to get it just right.

The masks are provided on a sheet of Kabuki tape that is the best masking material out there, in my opinion. The masks are explained on the instruction sheet. You will have to use liquid mask for the chin bubbles.

Lucky for me this set arrived right when I needed to paint a door that I made a mistake on. I used the set to prevent overspray on the freshly polished clear parts while I repainted the door. All the masks fit their appropriate spots perfectly. And when the masks were pulled off the resulting paint was perfect.

If you are going to build this model… more

AH-1Z

Published: August 15, 2015
Company: Eduard

The Kitty Hawk AH-1Z is a welcome addition for helicopter fans. It is a highly detailed model that comes with its own photo etch parts. So can Eduard add to that? Let’s see.

Packaged in a resealing package, the photo etch parts are brass, and this set is designed for the exterior of the model. The instructions are typical Eduard instructions. They are very easy to understand and read. Now what about the photo etch itself?

Interestingly, Eduard produces the same parts as the kit offers. The Eduard vents and intakes are slightly finer than the kit offerings. It will be up to the modeler if they want to use the kit or the Eduard parts. There is a lot more to offer than the vents and intakes. The primary things that are included are a new avionics bay for the left ammo bay… more

MiG-23MLD Canopy Mask

Published: August 15, 2015
Company: Eduard

I hate masking canopies, but nothing detracts from a good looking model like a poorly painted canopy. The easiest way to do it right is with canopy masks specifically designed for the kit.

The latest offering from Eduard is for the Trumpeter MiG-23MLD. This set provides masks for not only the canopy but the wheels. The canopy masks provide both the outline for the rear portion of the canopy and whole masks for the front of the canopy sections.

All the wheels are provided with masks. There Heads Up Display has two masks for it as well.

This set is very complete and for the price I can save myself lots of headaches and time. These are a great accessory for your kit. If you haven’t tried them you really owe it to yourself to give it a go.

Highly recommended… more