Part 1: First Look

MSRP: $39.95 Website: www.eduard.cz       Direct product link Note: the remainder of this review is in the IPMS/USA Journal, Vol 22 No 4, July/August 2010. The Eduard "Dora" arrives in a sturdy box and includes five plastic sprues, one clear sprue, one masking set and 1 colored PE fret for a total of 150 pieces plus a large decal sheet covering 6 different markings options (two of them for the same aircraft at different times). Sprues are interlocked in separated bags, with no more than two sprues per bag. There are a few pieces that are marked as "not for use". Two sprues are dedicated to the wings and the fuselage, while a third one is mainly devoted to the engine. The last sprue has the cockpit tub, control surfaces, landing gear and a few other miscellaneous parts. Ordnance includes a drop tank and a bomb. The sprue with clear parts -which have 4 canopies, flat and bulged styles both for closed and open positions- is the only sprue in common with the previous Fw 190A series. All the other sprues are newly tooled ones. Moldings are free of flash and no ejector pins are located in visible parts. Engraved panel lines and rivet detail is delicate and subtle. Surface detail is just beautiful.

The engine plug parts are fine and delicate. Some careful handling will be needed during assembly. It looks like the engine plug and the MG 131 machine gun shelf is the most intricate subassembly of the whole kit, without being daunting. Once the engine plug is assembled, the rest of the assembly should be a very straight forward affair.

Assembly options relates mainly to the weaponry hatches, cowl flaps and canopy position. Based on which version is being built, the machine gun panel cover will need a panel line to be scribed or different fairings to be removed.

The pre-painted PE fret provides details for the cockpit and a few external details like antennas and such. Even when instrument panel is provided in the PE fret, an injected plastic one is available for those that prefer to paint it or use a decal.

Wing control surfaces and rudder are separated parts, but designed for a neutral position. Small surgery can fix that. Wing flaps are molded shut, but designed to be cut loose and repositioned. Probably a future detail fret will be released for that.

A very nice engineering detail: the part that goes on top of the instrument panel is molded as an independent piece, avoiding the annoying seam in very high focal point, ie, behind the canopy windscreen.

On the detailing department: the PE fret would make detailing a breeze and canopy mask would reduce the build time, freeing up more time for painting and finishing. The decals are printed by Carthograph, with good color density and in register. I expect no issues with them.

Eduard provides an excellent value in this kit, including a pre-painted photo-etch fret, a set of masks, excellent decals for 6 markings, plus a correct wheel well and an engine plug. All of above are "in-the-box" and for $40. Very highly recommended. I would like to thanks Eduard for the review sample. A follow-up review, covering the construction and detailing will be posted within a couple of months. Note: Only detail pictures are included in this preview. For full sprue pictures refer to the direct product link above.