Eduard Photoetched Metal Detail Sets for the Airfix F6F-5 Hellcat — 1:24 Scale

Airfix released their 1:24 scale F6F-5 Hellcat kit in 2019, and it surely impressed a lot of folks.  In the Modeler’s Section of our recent book on the Hellcat (which you can find HERE) this very large-scale kit was deemed to be the best and most accurate F6F Hellcat ever produced.  Eduard has released some photoetched metal detail sets to add even more detail and enhance various elements of the kit. 

Eduard 23032 F6F-5 Interior (# EDU 23032; MSRP $36.95):  the kit cockpit is indeed quite nice, but PE parts certainly further enhance the big Hellcat’s interior.  This set features one pre-painted color fret (containing 57 parts) and an unpainted fret (containing 21 parts).  The pre-painted parts include the pilot instrument panel, pilot’s seat, sidewall details, and (auxiliary) side consoles.  There’s a high level of detail here, and it appears to be quite accurate.  These include precision-painted instrument dial faces to the arrays of switches, knobs, and other details including a wealth of pre-painted cockpit placards.  The throttle and mixture controls, gear handle, rudder pedals, circuit breaker panel, and many other details are all there.

Eduard 23033 F6F-5 Engine (# EDU 23033; MSRP $36.95):  the Airfix kit has a lot of excellent features and construction options, including a rather breathtaking complete R2800 Double Wasp powerplant.  This set contains 74 unpainted parts that add extensive detail to the inside of the cowl, engine frame, intercooler/oil cooler intake screen, and associated features.  If your Hellcat model is to have the engine displayed open, this set really enhances the level of detail surrounding the engine.   

Eduard 23035 F6F-5 Wheel Bays (# EDU 23035; MSRP $32.95):  one of the lower-detailed areas of the big Airfix Hellcat, arguably, involves the main gear wells.  This set features 66 unpainted PE parts on one fret.  The gear well ceilings, spars, ribs, and other structural details of both the left and right main gear wells build up from these parts (33 on each side).

Overall, the high level of level detail, fidelity and accuracy is equal among all three of these sets.  The pre-painted details are also excellent.  Any one of these photoetched metal detail sets will add some great features and depth of detail to your 1:24 scale Airfix F6F-5 Hellcat kit.  In addition, note that there’s also an F6F-5 seatbelt set and two different masking sets produced by Eduard for the 1:24 scale Airfix Hellcat.  We did not get a samples of those to review here, but they surely have a lot to recommend to them.  In combination, all these sets will really elevate your build in very important and noticeable ways.  When I build this kit, all of these sets will be incorporated into the project.

We extend our sincere thanks to Eduard for the review sample. You can visit them on the web at http://www.eduard.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EduardCompany/

 

Haagen Klaus
Scale Modeling News & Reviews Editor
Detail & Scale