In sync with Eduard’s recent release of their 1:48 scale Mustang Mk. IV kit (which we recently reviewed HERE ), a SPACE detail set for this kit has also been released – consisting of 3D-printed and photoetched metal detail parts.  This set (Mustang Mk. IV, #3DL48018; MSRP: $12.95) contains thirty 3D printed parts on a section of decal sheet and twenty-five additional photoetched metal parts on a single fret. 

The 3D printed parts include all the elements for the pilot’s instrument panel, side consoles, throttle quadrant, left and right sidewalls, data placards, and radio stack details.  The quality of the of 3D printing is excellent.  Buttons and switches are represented as finely raised features, and various instrument dial faces feature very finely printed details. Each glass dial face is treated with Eduard’s “glass effect” to produce a perfectly smooth and high-gloss surface mimicking the reflectivity of glass.  The photoetched metal fret contains the pre-painted shoulder harnesses and lap belts.  The pre-painting of the shoulder harnesses and lap belts reproduces the finest of stitching details.  Other PE details include the gun sight aiming reticle, the throttle handles, and the tail-mounted ADF antennas. 

Notes on working with 3D parts: these are polymerized vinyl parts that are printed directly onto a piece of traditional decal paper.  First, and just as with using photoetched parts, one must often remove kit cockpit details and sand panels and consoles smooth.  Second, dip these parts in water as a traditional water-slide decal.  They will soon slide off the decal paper and be ready to place in position.  Since these are thick “decals” made out of vinyl, they are best affixed to the kit parts using a PVC-type glue, a little Future/Pledge floor wax, Tamiya X-22, Microscale’s Metal Foil adhesive, or superglue applied with a thin micro-loop.  The smaller 3-D decal parts are more amenable to being affixed using just a little superglue.  DO NOT use standard decal setting or solvent solutions, as they will dissolve the part and ruin your day.

For the value to detail ratio and what it brings to the 1:48 scale Eduard Mustang Mk. IV kit, this SPACE set it is also very well priced.  At the end of the day, these parts provide a meaningful upgrade to the kit cockpit.  My only observation is that some flat coat could be useful for these parts (with the exception of the dial faces, of course) as they can possess a slight sheen in some lighting conditions.

We extend our 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