This is part 4 of our long review of Eduard PE parts for the HK B-17 kit. The usual thanks to Eduard for providing us these sets…

The radio compartment on the B-17 had a large clear panel over it. On earlier aircraft, including some “G”s, the cover would drop down and slide forward, providing an emergency exit in case of ditching or belly landing, and was also provided with provision for a .50 caliber hand-serviced weapon. On later “G”,s such as the HK kit, this window could be removed, but was fixed in place, along with a standard “through the plexiglas” gun mount for the gun. Made for a much-less windy situation for the crew at -60 degrees below farenheit wind chill…

As the definition of the compartment states, the “radio room” is filled with radios, and Eduard provide new faces, handles, and panels for all of them. They also provide covers for the electrical junction boxes. All are extremely well done, and only require removal of the kit faces, and replacement with Eduard’s panels, which in this case have pressure-sensitive cement pre-applied.

It is in this compartment the remainder of the seat harnesses are utilized; I only installed two of the three seats, as it seems to me these seats were frequently removed as a weight and space saving feature, but I wasn’t’ around back then and don’t remember where I heard this. Again, two types of harness are provided, standard for the gunner seats, and one “wraparound” type for the Radio operator seat.

The .50 Cal gun is provided with a crosshair gunsight, and a flexible ammo chute, which I folded and loaded with an RB productions .50 cal ammunition belt. This was flexible and afforded me the ability to place it without breaking. A cartridge storage box is included, and requires folding skills.

As in the nose compartment, many side radio, oxygen, and switch control panels are also provided. There are seat covers provided for the high-backed seats, in bright yellow with “U.S. Air Corps” on them. Like the seats in the pilot compartment, I opted not to use these, as the correct U.S. Army Air Corps is not stenciled on them, and I believe the yellow covers were only used before the war began. I will be pleased to redact this if others can prove otherwise with wartime photos…

As noted in the other reviews, more high marks for Eduard for this series of PE upgrades; 10 of 10. Thanks again for the review items!