Eduard 1/32 F4F-3 Wildcat Exterior 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 exterior of the Trumpeter 1/32 F4F-3 Wildcat kit (early or late versions). Considering the size and complexity of the Trumpeter kit, you might expect that there'd be more details provided in this set, but in actuality, this set covers the details NOT covered in four other detail sets designed for this kit. More on this later.

This set starts off with the engine and in a change of tactics, this set provides the dual ignition wires for each cylinder connecting the kit's ignition ring to the individual spark plugs. Previously, this would have been represented with a complete ignition ring and harness part, which would be a bit cumbersome considering the size this would be in 1/32 scale. As an added bonus, this set provides the cylinder head heat shields to safely route the rear ignition wires up and over the cylinder heads to reach the aft spark plugs. Rounding out the details under the cowling, the dual cowl flaps are dressed up with actuator rods and hinges.

Moving to the tail, this set provides actuator rods for the elevator trim tabs and mounting plates for the rear fuselage dorsal and ventral radio masts.

This set is rounded out with radiator screens for the two underwing radiators and even a gas cap for the external fuel tank.

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.

As I said earlier, this set represents the remaining details not covered in the other sets. The complete line-up of enhancements for this kit are:

• 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!