Aires

1/32 Bf109E-4/E-7 Cockpit Set For the Eduard kit

Stock Number: 2104

Reviewed By  Rod Lees, IPMS# 10821

MSRP: £13.25 (~$22.00 USD) Website: www.aires.cz The Eduard ME-109 series have captured the lead on all 1/32nd scale models, as you can see on the various websites. I happened to have one that I had purchased a while back, so I offered it up as a test item for this review. Aires sets are, for lack of better adjectives, exquisite. They have taken great pains to improve their products… as this kit will attest. It is a "drop fit" for the cockpit parts, just much more detailed. As you can tell by Aires’s web photo of their product, the detail and appearance of the parts is astounding. For example, two types of instrument panel backing parts are included; one with the canvas cover, the other with the instruments and associated wiring exposed. The seat has the shoulder harness adjustment cables and hardware molded on the back; and the whole assembly, when completed, slides down the perforated mounting rails. I spent a couple of nights, working on this set at a leisurely pace; the rudder pedals and mounting were a bit tight, but I finally wickered them into place. The control stick improves the kit item by a bit, as you can do more with molding in resin. The sidewalls are the star; everything is included. The stabilizer trim adjustment chains are extremely well done and add to the overall presentation. I chose during this build to use the Eduard color etch included in the kit for the instrument and switch panels, and seat harness assembly; However, as you can see in the original picture, a film and panel sandwich setup is provided by Aires for the panel, and the seat belts are the normal individual "build a belt" set for you to assemble if you choose to manufacture and paint your own. All in all a worthy set, competitively priced, and recommended as a full 10 on my scale. Thanks once again to Aires for providing IPMS this review item; given their prolific output, I wonder what is next…?