Eduard 1/32 Photoetch Sets By Chris Banyai-Riepl

Eduard continues to set the bar for aftermarket photoetch, and their 1/32 sets really show just how far they have come. The latest batch covers two aircraft, the P-47D Thunderbolt and the Ki-61 Hein, both for Hasegawa kits.

First up is the P-47. There are two sets for this plane, an interior set and an exterior set. The interior set, 32-603, provides both regular photoetch and the new self-adhesive photoetch. Additionally, many of the parts are pre-painted as well, making this a really nice set. To start with, the instrument panel has over 15 pieces to it, most of which are pre-painted and self adhesive. There are also new rudder pedals, a detailed throttle quadrant, and extensive sidewall details. The seat is replaced as well, using just the back frame from the kit. Adding to this are the usual seat belts, pre-painted and nicely detailed. Finally, the set reworks the gunsight, adds a rear-view mirror, and details the canopy railing. While there is a fair bit of folding here, the work will be well worth the effort.

For the exterior set, 32-174, here you will find lots of small details that will greatly enhance the final appearance of your P-47. This includes scoop interiors and doors, wheel well details and piping, an engine wiring harness, and cooling flap actuators. The landing gear also get an extensive work-over, including brake lines, new oleo scissors, and gear door details. Finally, the bombs get new fins and impellers. Most of these are small changes, but will have great impact.

Moving on to the Ki-61 Hein, there are three sets for this aircraft: an interior set, an exterior set, and a set for dropped flaps. The interior set, 32-591, is like the P-47 set in that it is pre-painted and self-adhesive. The instrument panel is somewhat simpler, though, with only eight pieces. It is by no means less detailed, though, and it will be a great improvement over the kit piece. Also included are all manners of sidewall and floor details, including straps, latches, control wheels, and throttle details. A new seat pan is included, along with the usual seat belts, and the gunsight is also nicely done. The rear brace behind the seat is replaced as well with a much more realistic example. The end result will be a beautiful cockpit area for minimal effort.

Moving to the exterior, this set, 32-175, is quite simple, with most of the details constrained to the undersurface of the kit. Aside from replacement rudder and aileron trim tabs, the set focuses on the radiator scoop and landing gear. The details here will really improve the kit, though, and include vent covers and various brackets for the radiator scoop, all new landing gear doors, new oleo scissors, and brake lines. These small changes will greatly improve the look of the undercarriage.

While still on the subject of the underside, the final set, 32-176, provides a detailed set of flaps for the Ki-61. This includes an entire wing flap box, complete with all the requisite wing ribs, that fits into the wing assembly. The flap itself is similarly well detailed, and the instructions are very clear on just how it all should go together. Be ready for quite a bit of folding, though, as there are many ribs, both on the flap and in the wing. The end result, though, will be striking.

My thanks to Eduard for these review samples.