Eduard 1/48 Fw 190A-5 Detail Set First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

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 set consists of two frets of photo-etched details to supplement the kit details in the Eduard 1/48 Fw 190A-5 kit (reviewed here). If you wondered how this nicely detailed kit could be further enhanced with photo-etch, keep reading.

This set picks up where the color photo-etch set that is included with the kit leaves off. Where the color photo-etch set is primarily focused on the cockpit, this set adds additional detail to the rest of the airframe.

The detailing starts with the gun tray mounted above the engine just ahead of the windscreen. The basic tray is enhanced with details and even the gun breech is replaced. Details are also added to the ammo chutes.

The next stop is the engine where this detail set provides ignition harnesses, interior cowling ring, exhaust stack details, cylinder head and rocker arm covers, and quite a bit more. If you install all of these parts, you just have to leave off part (if not all) of the cowling!

The wheel wells get additional dressing up. These were pretty nice out of the box, but the photo-etch set adds even more details for the eye, right down to the brake lines on the main gear struts.

The wing root gun bays are next with wall frame detailing, and wiring for the guns.

Additional details round out the set for the mounting ring on the external fuel tank, details on the centerline rack, photo-etched fins for the bomb, and the armor plate strut for the inside of the canopy.

While this set will really set off the detail in the Fw 190A05 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't difficult, or else these sets wouldn't be so popular.

You should be able to find this detail set at your local hobby retailer or one of the many online hobby shops. Trust me, this is worth looking for!

My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!