Eduard 1/48 B-17F/G Engines Set First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | June 2015 | Manufacturer | Eduard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | B-17F/G Engines Set | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | 648191 | Media | Resin, Photo-Etch |
| Pros | Beautifully detailed Cyclone engines | Cons | Nothing noted |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (USD) | $75.00 |
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. Many AMS modelers will collect the relevant Eduard photo-etch sets for a given project, but they'll also go out and gather specific resin enhancements as well. Eduard has stepped up with a new product line to complement their photo-etched detail series - Brassin, which is a play on words with Brass and Resin.
With all of the aftermarket attention given the HK Models B-17G kit over the last few months, it is nice to see much of that research scaled down for the 1/48 scale market as well. Here is a significant makeover for the Revell B-17F or Monogram (now Revell) B-17G kits. This set replaces the kit's engines with beautifully cast resin engines, gearboxes, prop governors, pushrod tubes, cowlings, and open cowl flaps. This set also includes ignition harnesses, cowling and cowl flap frames in photo-etched brass. Stencils are included in the decal set.
Not many folks realize that despite Revell and Monogram being different companies when their respective B-17 kits were developed, the parts are almost interchangeable and even the panel lines match up. The big difference between the two beside being B-17F and B-17G is that the Monogram B-17G is very nicely detailed inside the fuselage and elsewhere while the Revell B-17F is Spartan. A good modeler can bash the two together to create a detailed B-17F, and this set provides additional details which would make an F or G model look outstanding. On the other hand, if you're using the Koster Aero conversion to backdate the Revell or Monogram kits to a C/D, these engines would still be ideal for rendering that super-detailed Flying Fortress.
If you want another distinctive detail option for your next 1/48 B-17 project, this latest release from Eduard will help you create your quarter-scale masterpiece.
My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!