Eduard 1/48 B-26 Marauder Interior 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 four frets of photo-etched details to dress up the classic Revell-Monogram 1/48 scale B-26 Marauder kit. In fact, this is one of several sets released for the Revell-Monogram kit, including this interior detail set with color-printed cockpit details, an exterior detail set, and a bomb bay detailing set.

This set starts off (naturally) in the cockpit and what a transformation this will be. The color photo-etch set really do a number on the instrument panel, throttle quadrant, and control pedestal. If you can see through the transparencies, I think you'll be able to read the aircraft clock!

Moving on into the cockpit interior, this set completely replaces the crew seats with far more detailed replicas of the pilot and copilot seats. Even the seat tracks are replicated to adjust the seat forward or aft. There is also a new bulkhead provided to separate the flight deck from the nose compartment. The nose compartment also receives a nice treatment of details including the bomb sight and even ammo feeds for the flex-mount nose gun.

Where this set really takes off (pun intended) is in the waist gunners' stations. In the stock kit, aside from the guns, mounts and side windows, the interior is bare. Not any more! This set provides the interior slide tracks to open the waist windows, crew seats, ammo cans and storage racks, and ammo belts to the guns.

All of the 50 caliber guns receive photo-etched air cooling jackets, a distinctive detail on these weapons.

This set is rounded out with a new overhead console inside the cockpit transparency as well as a compass and grab handles.

While this set will really set off the details in the Marauder 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!