Eduard 1/32 F4F-3 Wildcat Gun Bay Detail Set

By Michael Benolkin

Review

Eduard from the Czech Republic is easily the most prolific producer of aftermarket details. Period. Their series of photo-etched detail sets have brought additional fidelity to otherwise bland subjects, and have taken even the best-produced models and kicked them up a notch or two with details that cannot be produced with injection-molded plastic.

This release tackles the gun bays of the Trumpeter 1/32 F4F-3 Wildcat kit (early or late versions). The F4F-3 had two .50 caliber machine guns in each wing with access panels located over each gun bay. This set replaces the molded-in bay walls with more realistic looking ribs and spars with lightening holes and channels in the right places.

The first step is to surgically remove all of the interior walls and details inside each gun bay in both wings.

Next, you'll fold the two large parts into the shapes of the gun bay interiors. Onto these parts fo additional ribs and spars to replicate the interior wing structure that the guns were installed into.

The set also includes the four ammo storage cans that lay outboard of the guns and feed .50 caliber ammo belts to their guns. Photo-etched amml is provided to be seen through the inspection slots atop the cans should you want to pose the can doors closed. You can choose to leave the doors open, but there aren't enough photo-etched ammo belts to represent the aircraft fully armed.

The set is completed with the wing access doors to the ammo cans, wing access panels for maintenance access to the guns,and the access doors to reach in and arm the guns.

While this set will really set off the detail in Trumpeter's F4F-3 kit, this detail set is not for the beginning modeler. You will need to be able to remove the photo-etch parts from their frets (simple once you know how) and then be able to apply these details using cyano adhesives without gluing yourself to the kit parts. It isn'tdifficult, or else these sets wouldn't be so popular.

This set is one of a five-part set of details to dress outthe early or late F4F-3 kits. These include:

• 32170 F4F-3 Wildcat Gun Bay Detail Set
• 32179 F4F-3 Wildcat Exterior Detail Set
• 32182 F4F-3 Wildcat Landing Flap Set
• 32183 F4F-3 Wildcat Undercarriange Detail Set
• 32598 F4F-3 Wildcat Interior Detail Set

You should be able to find any of these detail sets at your local hobby retailer or one of the many online hobby shops. Trust me, they are worth looking for!

Recommended for experienced modelers!

My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!