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P-40E Brass Etched Set Eduard
Reviewed by Randy Lutz
Eduard has released a detail set for the Curtiss P-40E. Now this is a good investment! The P-40 ranks as one of the best efforts from Revell, and the addition of the Eduard set moves this model up to the "refined class", from a 1/32 perspective. Set number 32-017 contains 74 parts on two frets of brass, along with a sheet of photo-negative instruments. This set touches on all aspects of the P-40 including the cockpit, wheel wells drop tank, cowl flaps and even the seldom seen bomb racks. The instructions are typical Eduard style, no words, just pictures. I had no problems determining where pieces should go except for parts 15 and 17. These are the cockpit side walls designed to replace Revell part no's 59 and 60. I could not determine if they should be mounted flush with the cockpit sill or slightly lower in much the same position as the kit parts. I decided that they should be flush to the top, but this necessitated the removal of two bulges of plastic on the inside of the fuselage. With all this done, and the sidewalls installed, I realized they were too high. They were subsequently removed and repositioned. So let this be a lesson, and mount the pieces in the same location as the Revell parts. After this, everything else went smoothly. The seat is a jewel, with beautiful relief on the inner surfaces. There is even a set of seat belts to go with it. Eduard has provided a plethora of boxes for the side walls that must be bent to the proper shape. Unfortunately, as is commonplace with photo-etched, there are no backs to the boxes. This results in minimal surface area for the super glue. To remedy this, I suggest adding small scraps of styrene to the inside of the boxes until the plastic is the same depth as the edge of the boxes. This will give you a larger surface area for the glue. Speaking of these boxes, part numbers 22, 23 and 24 are shown as all fitting within one area on the instructions. From experience, I can state that they will not fit as indicated. They will require minor repositioning to get them all in. The wheel well inserts, parts 36 and 38, are nicely done with lots of relief. Once assembled, they have a shape akin to a letter box. I would recommend that you shave down the sides at each of the four corners. This will result in a better fit as it allows for the curvature of the wing. The inclusion of these two parts will eliminate that "see through" look which plagues so many Revell kits. If you do not use these parts you can always go for the canvas liner look using facial tissue. Inserts are provided for the landing gear doors. These parts have subtle detailing and will benefit from a wash and dry-brushing. The doors should be thinned a little before installing the metal parts. I found that sandpaper wrapped around an X-acto handle was the perfect size for this. As an aid in determining the colours to be applied I resorted to the Famous Airplanes of the World on the P-40 as well as photographs I had taken of a P-40 in the National Aviation Museum. Review Copyright © 1999 by Randy
Lutz
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