Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
November 12, 2020
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.95

Eduard has initiated a new line of masks that are rather unique in that they provide masking for the outside and inside of the canopy. While this is not a new solution it is the first time that pre-cut masks have been available. If you are like me you mask the outside and paint the inside color so that it shines through and call it a day. The drawback of this method is that while the correct color it is shiny.

In the past canopies have been rather thick and as such caused distortion so that if you masked from the inside it might not be perfectly aligned with the outside and vise versa. Modern kit canopies are significantly thinner than previous kits. So that opens up the possibilities of masking the inside.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 22, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.95

The Tamiya Bf-109G-6 has produced quite a nice model that is beautifully engineered. Because it is plastic there are things that are overscaled. Enter Eduard with their sets designed for their competitors 109.

This set is in the standard Eduard photo etch packaging with a resealable package and protected by thin card stock. The set contains two sets of photo etch, a single pre-painted fret made out of nickel plated brass and a larger brass fret.

The smaller one is pre-printed and is from the ZOOM set. The primary colored part is the instrument panel. The instrument panel now features simulated glass on the gauges. They look great. The only thing that would change would be to flat the outer face before you assemble the instrument panel together.

Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
August 22, 2018
Company
Platz
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$38.81

Most of you should be at the least generally familiar with F-15 Eagle in its role as a twin engine all-weather tactical fighter. The F-15 was introduced into service in the United States in 1976 and just two short years later in Japan. The Japanese government made its initial purchase of F-15J “Peace Eagles” built by McDonnell Douglass in the late 1970’s before continuing to build additional J models and Pratt-Whitney engines under license. The F-15J is based on the US F-15C/D model for those of you familiar with the Eagle.

Review Author
Michael Reeves
Published on
August 22, 2018
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.00

Kurt Tank’s design team late in the war was striving to design aircraft to rival rumored Allied jet fighters, like the Gloster Meteor. Unfortunately for the Reich, fuel shortages and the end of the war prevented most of the fighters designed after the Me-262 from ever seeing combat. One of these was the TA 183 “Huckebein”. The Americans captured data and plans for the fighter from the Messerschmitt plants- and these evolved into designs of the swept-wing FJ-2/3/4 Fury and the Air Force version- the F-86 Sabre. The Soviet spoils of design plans led to their MiG-15.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 22, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.95

Tamiya‘s beautiful Bf-109G-6 is just a fun build. What it does lack is the seatbelts. Tamiya provides you with a decal to replicate the seatbelts and shoulder harnesses. This is a major letdown for me as the belts are quite prominent in the small cockpit.

Packaged in a self-resealing package that is typical for Eduard smaller photo etch is one fret of pre-painted photo etch. The fret includes the seatbelts and shoulder harnesses. They are painted properly with some shading around the buckles. It is very convincing and looks great.

I noticed that this set is slightly different from the one designed for the Eduard kit so it is definitely designed for the Tamiya kit. You can tell by the mount for the shoulder harness which will key into the kit attachment point. The set designed for the Eduard kit has the attachment point as well.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 22, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

Eduard has designed photo etch and resin sets for the Tamiya Bf-109G-6. One thing that I would have changed on my Tamiya Bf-109G-6 is the instrument panel. I would have liked to have a pre-painted one instead of the decal over the kit instrument panel. Well Eduard must have thought so too because they’ve designed a set just for it.

The Zoom set is typical of the series, packaged in a resealable package and protected by thin card stock. The set contains a single pre-painted fret. The primary colored part is the instrument panel. But the set doesn’t stop there. There are also rudder pedals, ignition harnesses and exhaust deflectors. Some other things included such items like the chain and lifting lugs for the engine. There is also stuff to dress up the side wall detail, some of which requires sanding off the detail, like the instrument panel.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 22, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

The Tamiya Bf-109G-6 kit comes with masks inside the kit. I used them on my build but discovered a few things. The first thing that I noticed was that I needed to cut them out of the sheet. This was a pain. I would rather have my masks pre-cut. I did cut mine correctly, but it took some time.

The other thing that I noticed was that the Tamiya masks while nice just didn’t have the amount of stickiness that would allow them to hold onto the curves. They just wanted to straighten out and this allowed paint to creep under the masks.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 22, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$4.95

The Tamiya Bf-109G-6 is a phenomenal kit. That said it could use a little upgrading here and there. One of those things is with the guns on the closed cowling option. The kit guns are okay but they lack some detail. The kit ones lack detail due to the limitations of injection plastic.

Eduard has made some beautifully flawless light grey resin replacement ones. Packaged in the normal blister pack packaging are two gun barrels. The instruction sheet is a small double sided sheet that explains what has to be done. Simple and easy. These two resin pieces have the appropriate cooling vents over the barrel and the proper shape to the muzzle and flash suppressor. They are small.

These are near drop in replacements for the kit parts. You will need to cut off the mold plug at the end and drill the flash suppressor out slightly.

I haven’t checked these out in my Eduard kits but I suspect that they will fit the Eduard kits as well.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 22, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$9.95

Ever want to add some detail to your scratchbuilding or diorama? Eduard offers you just this opportunity with these ammo belts. While 1/32nd it could also be used in 1/35th scale. Inside the usual Brassin blister pack are four 12.5 inch ammo belts. Molded perfectly in grey resin these parts include some exquisite detail of the ammo and the links. Carefully removing them from the sprue is really the hardest part. They are stiff when attached to the pour block, but once removed they are flexible. You can improve the flexibility by a little bit of heat to help bend it. Key word is a little bit.

Just in case you were wondering, 12.5mm equals a .50 Cal bullet.

You can use this set for a variety of things. I can see it on a figure wrapped around the neck or hanging off of a derelict airplane. They can be put into gun troughs for wing mounted guns or on an armored vehicle or two. Because you can cut them to length then this set will go a long way.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 22, 2018
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.00

The Mk-103 was used on a variety of aircraft including the Do-335, Hs-129, FW-190 and Me-410. The barrel and flame dampener are very unique looking. Master from Poland has captured this look perfectly.

The only thing you have to do is to drill a .5mm hole in the cannon housing and replace the plastic parts with the assembled barrels. Each part is separately packaged and then packaged inside of a Ziploc baggie with the instructions behind. The parts are protected with a heavy card stock backing. Inside the package are four turned metal parts, two barrels and two adapters. Also included are two distinct muzzle ends in dark grey resin. It is just simple matter of placing the ends and the adapter on the barrels. Then prime and paint. Perfectly formed barrels with no flat spots or mold lines. The detail is impressive.

This set is impressive and will add tremendously to the look of your model, regardless of which aircraft you use it on. A great set from Master.