DH-2 Stripdown

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Phil Parsons

Eduard's 1/48 scale DH-2 Stripdown is available online from Squadron.com

Initially released in November 2012 for Bunny Fighter Club members only, this lovely kit is now available to all. With 2014 being the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War, this kit is part of Eduard’s commemoration to the anniversary. You still get all the same plastic from the previous Eduard DH-2 releases, with the addition of PE frets to replicate the main wings, tailplane, and elevator.

Before you begin construction, you need to cut a small notch in the cockpit pod as this will take the lower wing plastic spar. Construction then begins as per other kits with the cockpit, which consists of plastic and colour PE as per normal assembly. You do need to do a little cutting to remove the lower plastic wings from the cockpit floor, a relatively simple task.

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Now the fun begins as construction moves to the PE and the assembly of the wings. Each step has exploded views to assist you with what to fold. Take your time here. To assist with setting the correct dihedral there are new plastic spars that the photo etch wing skeletons slide onto.

To set the struts to the upper and lower wings there may be two options; the first (as per the instructions) would be to use the upper and lower PE wings in the one assembly process when attaching the struts.

Another option that I might try is with the lower PE wing in place use the upper plastic wing to set the struts in place on the lower wing, once set, the upper PE wing should drop into place.

We then move back into construction that is more traditional with the engine, and wheels. PE completes the rudder and elevators. With the tail boom in place the final plastic and PE parts finish off the construction of plastic and PE assembly. The final few steps consist of the rigging, while there are multiple views, references will be invaluable in these steps.

Painting steps are covered throughout the assembly process. With all the original plastic provided, this kit certainly opens up many options for those who love to display their aircraft in dioramas. The Stripdown series lend itself to an aircraft being displayed undergoing repairs.

I have previously purchased Eduards’ 1/72 Stripdown Fokker Dr1 and it is nice to see other re-releases in the Stripdown range. How you finish the kits is up to you, even in the raw state, as displayed on the box, the Stripdown DH-2 is very impressive or you may wish to replicate the wood, metal, and canvas original. I certainly like these kits as they offer something different from the mainstream. Highly recommended for the experienced biplane and photo etch modeller.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2014 by Phil Parsons
Page Created 10 March, 2014
Last updated 10 March, 2014

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