Heinkel He 111 Cockpit

Master Details, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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Master Details is an American after-market manufacturer that offers accessories and figures for 1/32 aircraft across all eras from WWI to modern. 

One of their most ambitious releases to date is a full replacement cockpit for Revell's 1/32 scale Heinkel He 111 kits. This will be suitable for either the original He 111 P release or the very recent (and I think potentially more interesting) He 111 H.

Master Details' 1/32 scale He 111 Cockpit Interior is a complete replacement, including the floor, sidewalls and rear bulkhead. Detail is remarkable, with 97 parts making up this very complete front office. I like the use of white metal parts for the control column and many of the smaller details. I think that the three-dimensional handles and throttles for the quadrants are much more appropriate than photo-etch in this large scale, and this robust material will not break during cleanup and assembly. The resin and metal parts will be indistinguishable under a coat of primer too.

You'll need to source your own harness straps, control rods and instrument dials, and in this scale you really should add wiring from the back of the instrument panels too, but there is no doubt that Master Details' parts represent a noticeable improvement over the kit cockpit.

The resin and metal parts are all very well cast, but there is a fair amount of waste and feather-fine flash to clean up. An hour or so with a sharp knife and sanding stick will see this off though. The instructions claim that the resin waste is there to protect the parts, but I think that job would have been more effectively acheived by a stout cardboard box!

In fact, the parts are packed tightly into a flat plastic bag. As a result, my pilot's seat is in the probably unofficial "steep reclined" position. It won't take much work to fix this, but I think that a premium product such as this really deserves to be packed in a cardboard box to properly protect the delicate contents.

Instructions are printed on one side of three sheets, with construction adequately laid out over three illustrated steps plus technical drawings of the seat, its mount, the control column and rudder pedals.

Master Details' 1/32 scale Heinkel He 111 Cockpit is a luxurious upgrade for a worthy kit. The timing of this re-release is perfect for the new Revell Heinkel He 111 H too.

You'll really be able to appreciate the extra detail behind the Heinkel's big glasshouse canopy.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Master Details for the review sample.

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