Bottom Line

Very esoteric 1/700 scale warship photoetch set with limited utility. For experienced super-detailers. NOTE: this is not typical deck railings!

Eduard from the Czech Republic has been producing superior photoetch sets for years. They have ventured into 1/700 and 1/350 scale ship railings now with eleven new sets released in 2011. Four are in 1/700 scale and all are angled railings, something unique. You have a choice of long or short spaces between stanchions (vertical supports), and 2-bar or 3-bar railings, but all are 45-degrees, meaning the vertical stanchions are angled at 45 degrees to the horizontal chains.

What You Get

For a retail price of $27 you get a large fret of stainless steel, rather thick railings. There are two versions of railings in this set – #1 has a longer interval (5 mm) between stanchions than #2 (3 mm). There are nine rows of #1 and eight rows of #2 railings of 132 mm length each. That works out to 300 1/700 scale feet per row, for 2700 feet of #1 and 2400 feet of #2 (5100 scale feet). That is a LOT of railing – about 5 to 6 battleships’ worth per set (if it is used as deck railing). There are no instructions or text on how to use these railings.

What To Do With This Set

You are probably asking yourself why would anyone want to use angled railings? I certainly did and curiosity got the better of me. Eduard’s website offers no explanation. One obvious use is for decks that are angled at 45 degrees. I cannot think of any ships like this. This angle is too steep even for the bows of ships with a rakish sheer line (angle). I had to do this review so I had to think of something fast. I improvised. Well, most ladders between decks on ships are inclined close to 45 degrees, so maybe they would make good railings for inclined ladders – especially kits with the dreaded “Aztec steps” molded-in pyramidal ladders. Or even scratch-built ladders for do-it-your-selfers. Then Serendipity hit. I was building 1/700 biplanes for a review and wanted to add wing/float struts and a light bulb went off – Aha! I could use these railings for struts – with a little modification. It worked. So there you have it: uses for 45-degree railings.

1. Ships with decks angled 45 degrees (not likely to find any).
2. Adding hand rails to inclined ladders.
3. Struts for floatplanes and biplane wings.

The Builds

I was building the new Aoshima IJN Katori training cruiser kit and it just so happened this kit had Aztec step inclined ladders and a missing ladder which I could scratchbuild. And a biplane needing wing and float struts. I used the #1 style for biplane struts and #2 style for inclined ladders. The railings are tougher to cut than most other PE sets, and care needs to be taken to avoid bending or curling when cutting the railings. Only single sections were needed for inclined ladders – be sure to include vertical stanchions at each end. They look fine on Aztec steps and an inclined ladder made from plastic strip.
The floatplane for the Katori was the Nakajima E7K2 Type 94 reconnaissance seaplane (code-named Alf), and it could use float braces and wing struts. For floatplane struts, only one end needs vertical stanchions. I cut off the lower horizontal chain and used that for float bracing, leaving a double, inclined section that looks fine for wing struts after a little trimming of the open end. One set can detail a lot of 1/700 floatplanes.

Pros

1. Sturdy but easy to fold or bend.
2. For when you really need a 45-degree angled railing.
3. Makes adding struts to floatplanes and biplanes much easier than brass rod or stretched sprue.

Cons

1. $27 is pricey for a seldom-used PE set.
2. Metal is thick and difficult to cut easily.
3. Not too many uses.

Summary

Because these railings cannot be used on deck, and have few uses with a relatively high price tag for railings, I find this is a PE set for advanced ship modelers in 1/700 scale. Perhaps train enthusiasts or modelers making buildings with inclined ladders could use these, but ship modelers looking for deck railings cannot use this set. However, the set came in very handy for detailing 1/700 aircraft, especially floatplanes and biplanes. That alone is worth the cost. Thanks to Eduard for supplying the photoetch set and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review it.

References

• Cea E. Japanese Military Aircraft. The Air Force of the Japanese Imperial navy. Carrier-based Aircraft, 1922-1945 (II). Air Collection No. 3. Alcaniz Fresno’s Editores, Valoldalid, Spain, 2008, page 107. ISBN 978-84-96935-05-1
• Model Art No. 41 Autumn 2011. Katori class, Hatsuharu class (see IPMS-USA for review and further information).

Pictures

• Picture 1: Eduard 99028 Railings, 45-degree, 2-bar, long 1/700 photoetch set.
• Picture 2: Eduard 99028 Railings, 45-degree, 2-bar, long 1/700 photoetch fret.
• Picture 3: Unfinished Aoshima 45411 IJN Katori showing Eduard railings used for inclined ladders. View before painting shows detail better.
• Picture 4: Close-up of scratchbuilt inclined ladder with Eduard 45-degree railing for handrails.
• Picture 5: Close-up of a Kawanishi E7K2 (Alf) floatplane using Eduard 45-degree railings cut for float braces and wing struts.