This latest release
from Aires
features a complete
resin and photo etch cockpit for the Bf
109E-3 from Academy.
This detail set
includes;
-
Resin
cockpit tub and 1 seat
-
Multi-level
Instrument
panel in photo etch
-
Acetate
panels for the instrument panel
-
Photo Etch
panels for the instrument panel
-
Small resin
bits to detail the cockpit (oxygen hose, control stick etc)
-
Photo etch
detail parts including seatbelts, canopy corner braces, rudder pedals with
straps, trim wheel and
more
-
You get
photo etch seat belts to pose any way you please
-
The
gunsight is resin with 2 clear acetate center glass panels.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The quality of the resin casting is
flawless and bubble free. This is the Bf-109 E-3 so it includes the
rounder canopy and doesn't come with the armor plate behind the pilots
head. The sidewalls capture all the 3D detail you'd expect to see in a 109
including the instrument panels light. This was before lights were built
into the gauges and the instrument panel was lit by a "map light"
located at the top of each sidewall. There is also lovely detail on the
cockpit floor that matched the detail (screens etc) on the real cockpit.
You will need to remove all detail from the kit sidewalls and possible thin
them....a battery operated Dremel is an excellent tool for this or a full sized
Dremel with a speed controls to dial back the torque and avoid melting the
plastic. Thankfully these resin sidewalls are very thin making
installation easier.
The gauges on the acetate panels
line up perfectly with the gauge holes on the photo etch instrument panel.
Aires has put plenty of thought
into this cockpit set and the level of detail they added is impressive to say
the least.
You can purchase this and other
fine resin detail items directly from Aires
or from the many retailers that carry their products. A list of some of
those retailers can be found here.
Steve
I would like to
thank Aires for
providing me with this review sample.
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