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"Zoom" Photo-Etched Sets

Bf 109G-10 for Revell Kit 
P-47D-25 Thunderbolt for Academy Kit 
P-51D Mustang for Tamiya Kit

Eduard

 

"Zoom" Photo-Etched Sets

 

 

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number: 
FE104 - Bf 109G-10 for Revell Kit
FE105 - P-47D-25 Thunderbolt for Academy Kit
FE109 - P-51D Mustang for Tamiya Kit
Scale: 1/48
Contents and Media: Each set - 1 x photo-etched fret; 1 x small sheet of instruments printed on clear acetate 
Price: Each A$7.90 (around US$5.00)
Review Type: FirstLook (In-Bag)
Advantages: Good medium for instruments, grilles and harnesses; supplied parts will be easy to apply and make a noticeable impact on the finished model; nameplate included; inexpensive. 
Disadvantages: A little extra work required for three-dimensional parts (eg handles etc) 
Recommendation: Highly Recommended 

 

Reviewed by Brett Green


FirstLook

 

I like photo-etched metal parts for certain details including instrument panels, harnesses and grilles. Other details with a more three-dimensional appearance are often better dealt with using resin parts, brass/plastic rod or scrap plastic.

However, it seems that recently, after-market detail companies have gone out of their way to include every conceivable detail in flat metal. This has been partly responsible for the dramatic increase in cost of photo-etched metal detail sets. It also means that a large percentage of tiny and complex parts never leave the fret.

Eduard have returned to their roots with the introduction of the "Zoom" series of photo-etched detail sets.

Each set contains a single fret of photo-etched nickel parts, plus instruments printed on a sheet of clear acetate. The metal fret is 70mm x 50mm - about half the size of a regular Eduard fret.

Size isn't everything though - the details provided are very usable. The three sets I bought all contain the following:

  • Instrument panel, 

  • Cockpit details (rudder pedals, switches, panels etc)

  • Harnesses 

  • Oleo Scissors

  • Antennae

  • A metal name plate with the aircraft name etched in relief and a folding stand (nice touch!)

The Bf 109G-10 and the Thunderbolt sets also contain cooler intake grilles.

Eduard have sensibly targeted these detail sets at less expensive kits. For example, the Revell 1/48 scale Bf 109G-10 is available for under A$10 here in Australia and remains a very nice kit. Combined with Eduard's "Zoom" fret, this represents a very inexpensive and well-detailed project.

I am delighted to see the return of simple etched detail sets. I will use virtually all of the detail supplied in these sets and, as such, they represent great value at less than A$8.00.

Highly recommended

 

Review and Images Copyright © 1999 by Brett Green
Page Created 16 December, 1999
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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