Eduard

1/48 F6F-3 Cockpit Details (Color Zoom) For the Eduard Weekend F6F-3

Stock Number: FE447

Reviewed By  Rob Benson , IPMS# 44038

MSRP: $14.95 Website: www.eduard.com Item: FE 447 Thank you very much to the Eduard Company and IPMS/USA for providing this PE set for review! This color PE set is designed to complement an excellent Eduard F6F-3 Weekend kit previously reviewed by Perry Downen. Please see Perry’s review for a great build of the "host" kit for this PE set. The single fret included in the set is about 2.6 by 1.4 inches, with 30 parts (see fret photo.) Most parts are appropriately colored and all parts are very crisply etched. Nice design features included are small etched grooves for the cut line on the edge of the part. These grooves are easy to feel with a razor or cutting tool blade. The color adhesion on the larger parts was very durable, but the color coat on some of the smaller parts tended to flake off when the part was folded as per instructions. The bare metal was easily touch up with a 10/0 brush. The instruction sheet included with the fret was in black and white, but a better color version is available on Eduard’s website. The PE parts are largely confined to subassemblies in the cockpit, specifically the instrument panel and the seat bucket. Several other small detail parts are also included, such as a Pratt & Whitney logo for the engine, several small placards for the engine and the canopy rails, and a screen for the cowling air scoop. Curiously, sway braces and spinners are provided for ordnance included in the kit, but not actually used as per the kit instructions. This suggests that Eduard intended the PE set to work with other kit versions as well. Photos of both subassemblies are included with this review and it is important to note that no washes or enhancements were done to any of the PE material shown. The completed instrument panel subassembly compares very favorably to photos in Kinzey (1996.) The instrument panel subassembly went together very well. Kit part G45 is an extra panel included in the kit and has no molded in details, leaving a flat surface for the PE panels and details to be attached to. A second panel with molded gauge detail was included in the kit and is not needed with this PE set. The main panel and the two side panels each have two components, a bottom layer with gauge detail and a top layer with raised gauge outlines and holes for the underlying gauge details to show through. I glued the top and bottom layer together first with a very sparse application of CA, and then glued the assembly to the instrument panel. I did this to improve my chances of getting the top and bottom properly lined up. Something I thought of after the panels were glued is that a good coat of Future over the gauge details on the bottom layer might really bring out the gauge markings. Doing this prior to attaching the top layer might result in a nice clean gauge glass simulation. The remainder of the instrument panel details is an assortment of small knobs, pulls and levers, and a section of trim wheel. VERY fortunately, Eduard knows their customers well, and included lots of extras in this area. I suffered about a 50% parts loss trying to get the little ones in place. The lap and shoulder belt assemblies for the seat bucket were quite straight forward. Following the assembly order shown in the directions I quickly discovered that bending the lap belts tightly around the seat caused all of the glued-on buckles and pads to pop off. I found it more effective to bend the belts into the correct position on the seat bucket, and then bend and glue the details to fit. To summarize the whole experience with the set, I can say that I am delighted! One should consider that the Zoom line of PE is a more intermediate range of PE, not designed for a complete makeover in any way. Eduard describes the Zoom line on their website as "…a basic set for aircraft consisting of approximately 20 of the most useful parts like seatbelts and antennas." While the color peeling problem described earlier might seem important, I do not believe that any prepainted part would not flake given the extremes of the folding done. The parts were easily touched up. The really fantastic part of this set is the panel coloring. The gauge detail is superb, and the colored sections on the center console are very sharp. This PE set takes a great base kit and makes it an outstanding one. Thank you again to the Eduard Company and IPMS/USA for providing a sample set to review. It was fun as always and I hope the review helps. Kinzey, B., 1996, F6F Hellcat in detail and scale, D & S Vol. 46, revised edition, Squadron Signal Publications, ISBN 1-888974-00-1, 72 p.