Internet Modeler : First Look : Aviation RSS News Feed

Eduard 1/48 The Rise of Bubbletops: Spitfire Mk XVI & Fw 190D-9

By Chris Banyai-Riepl

Overview

Eduard has always been an innovative company, pushing the envelope in scale modeling. From simple Weekend Edition kits to Dual Combo boxes that contain two kits, to their Royal Class boxes that contain multiple kits, lots of decal options, and unique collector pieces, Eduard has been experimenting with different ways of boxing their model kits. Their latest foray combines their kits with artwork, and their first release in the new EduArt series is The Rise of Bubbletops. This combines two kits with a nice piece of artwork done by Shigeo Koike.

The Kits

For this first EduArt release, they chose a pair of excellent kits, their Fw 190D-9 and their Spitfire XVI, both in 1/48. Both of these kits have been out before, so there is nothing new there. We reviewed the Fw 190D-9 in its Weekend Edition a while back, and while we haven't reviewed the Spitfire XVI kit, we did review their Spitfire VIII, which is very similar and shares the majority of parts. Both kits come with plastic parts and photoetch details, but no resin bits. For those that want to go the extra step, Eduard has extra resin details for both kits.

The Spitfire XVI

As this kit shares trees with the other Eduard Spitfire kits, there are quite a few parts that will end up in the spares box. The cockpit detailing is a great blend of plastic and photoetch, and the rest of the assembly is straightforward. There are some underwing bombs, should you wish to add a bit of variety to your build.

 

For the markings, there is a single option, a Spitfire XVI, TB886, flown by F/L Bill Harper of No 421 Squadron RCAF in late April/Early May 1945. This plane has the name "Dorothy II" on the left side and is coded AU-J. The decals include a full set of stenciling as well, further adding to the realism of the finished model.

The Fw 190D-9

Like the Spitfire, the Fw 190D-9 shares trees with other kits, but because of the way the Fw 190 was manufactured, there are far fewer discarded parts. Like the Spitfire, the cockpit gets both crisp plastic parts and sharp photoetch details. There are more options on this kit out of the box, such as open cannon bays and open cowl areas, but this plane looks so great clean I suspect many will choose to close these up.

Underside pieces include optional bomb or fuel tank for the centerline. For the marking option, like the Spitfire there is a single choice, a Fw 190D-9 from 7./JG 2 flown out of Rommelhausen/Stockheim, Germany in May 1945. This plane features the yellow/white/yellow rear fuselage bands and unpainted sections on the underside of the wing.

 

The Art

The big addition to this box is the artwork, though. While the kits are ones we've seen before, and are familiar with, the artwork is something different. The original painting is done by world renowned aviation artist Shigeo Koike, whose mastery of light and color set his artwork apart. It features an active scene containing the Fw 190D-9 diving past the Spitfire XVI, with both pilots keeping an eye on one another during the pass. The scene is a capture of a split second, but the detail presented is simply amazing, and the color and dynamism of the scene is stunning.

The print is 480 x 270 mm, roughly 19" x 11", and is printed on a piece of heavy card stock with ample borders to take it out to 420 x 594 mm, or 16.5" x 23.4". The stiff card will help keep the image flat when framing, and the ample borders will allow it to look fine in an A2-sized frame. The packaging of the artwork is very sturdy and combined with the nice printing, should keep everything well protected. This piece of artwork would look quite nice hanging on the wall, or perhaps for a more impressive display, under a piece of glass as a display base for the two finished models.

Conclusion

This is an interesting idea to entice people to buy their kits, and the limited edition status (only 999 of these will be produced) coupled with the high quality artwork makes this something well worth picking up. The EduArt is only available from the Eduard website, so head on over there if you want to get one of these before it's too late. My thanks to Eduard for the review copy.