Part 1: First Look

MSRP: $185 Web Site: www.eduard.cz Eduard started issuing their "Royal Class" kits a while back: these are premium editions of their already excellent kits with several special things in them and a fully complete set of everything from decals to photoetch to masks and more. The latest Royal Class kit is the Bf110 set and the first thing that hits you when you have the box is how heavy it is (and big!). Once open, the reason for the weight becomes apparent - it is crammed full of goodies! Here's what you get: Two complete kits worth of sprues (twenty in all) for making BF110 C, D or E kits including a radar equipped night fighter and two different fuselages for the different versions. Decal options for a dozen different planes including stencils for two. NINE sheets of Eduard's excellent photoetch including four colored sheets and a full set of PE ladders; there are four sheets per plane plus the ladders. Two sets of Eduard's die cut kabuki tape masks- fabulous stuff and very needed for the bf110 canopies plus wheels. How did we live without these? Resin cast tropical air filters for one specific version. And for the extras/specials! -- A 1:1 scale size Iron Cross in a jewelry box. -- A 1/4 scale kit of the instrument panel for a Bf110 including dials and needles and four sprues of styrene - very cool! Here is the IPMS/USA review of the original release of the Bf-110E. The original kit is fantastic; great fit and detail with Eduard's photoetch. No flash and perfect panel lines. The Royal Class takes this to another dimension. First, there are two complete kits with all the necessary parts plus an extra fuselage for the longer fuselage version. There is a cast resin tropical filter for the tropical "E" version. There are four frets of PE per plane including details for the cockpit and canopy as well as wheel wells, gun bay, and armament. The instructions are specific and well done showing differences in rudder pedals, instrument panels and other details. Pre-colored details include seat belts and multiple layer panels.

The decals are excellent and include 12 choices from several all black planes to day fighters to a sand colored tropical version (which uses the resin tropical air filters). A full stenciling guide is also included. The hardest choice here will be selecting only two schemes!

One of the real "wow" factors when opening up the kit is the 1/4 scale instrument panel. What a great idea! It could be used as a backdrop for the kits on a base or displayed alone. This is really a separate kit by itself. There are four sprues of styrene. One nice touch is that the parts are molded close to color. The base to the instrument panel is close to RLM 66. The bezels are already molded in black. There glass parts are very clear styrene. There are two sets of PE parts for different parts including some instruments and needles for the gauges - that's right - separate needles for the gauges! Last is a set of preprinted stickers for the instrument faces - very crisp and clean.

I know some will look at this and fuss about the price - it is really a good deal. First, you get everything to do two of the Bf110 kits - which retail at $50 each. The extra PE for the ladder and detail sets total $60. That is $160 already and there is also the instrument panel and the Knights Cross. And the kit is great. I have also seen retail prices lower than $150 so it is even a better deal. I have included pictures of upgrades and bonus material in this kit. I'd like to thank Eduard for the sample kit. It is definitely recommended - stay tuned for the build. The instrument panel is first.

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