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Eduard 1/144 Spitfire Mk.IX Photoetch

By Matt Bittner

It's interesting when a kit is designed from the start to use aftermarket. In this case, the Eduard 1/144 Spitfire Mk.IX has a section of its interior "indented" to easily accept the fold-up cockpit that's part of this photoetch set (#144 006). Because the kit is small, there is no problem not using the photoetch to finish the kit. Just paint the interior black and you won't be able to see much inside, if at all. However, if you want more detail, then you'll want to use this photoetch set.

As I mentioned, the main cockpit is a fold-up affair. Fold the bulkheads up, then the sides to meet those bulkheads, and after folding down the rudder pedals, you have almost an entirely finished cockpit. Since the parts are pre-painted, you won't have to worry about painting the parts yourself. Once the cockpit is folded up, then you'll add the armor plating to the rear bulkhead, the headrest to the same, and after folding the seat and adding the pre-painted seat belts, then you glue that to the folded up cockpit. There is also the separate instrument panel and control stick, and now your cockpit is complete and ready to glue to the indentations in the fuselage sides. Almost too easy. Be careful with the folding, and you won't have to worry about any touch-ups.

There are other parts to this set as well. There are replacement landing gear covers, a rear-view mirror for the canopy, a pitot tube for under the port wing, separate flaps (although the instructions don't show cutting any kit parts away) and a piece to add to the front of the scoop under the nose.

This is an excellent set to help upgrade the already excellent Eduard 1/144 Spitfire Mk.IX. The only thing you might want to consider is replacing the kit's canopy with either your own "squash-cast" replacement, or purchase the vacuformed canopy from Brengun. With this amount of detail the interior really needs to be seen.

Many thanks to Eduard for sending this photoetch to be used with their kit.