Fw 190 F-8 MG 131 Mount

Eduard, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

Eduard's 1/32 BRASSIN MG 131 Mount is available online from Squadron.com

Revell released its new-tool 1/32 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-8 kit last year to positive reviews.  Brett Green built a pre-release test shot and concluded that “shapes look very accurate…engineering is modeller-friendly, ordnance is plentiful and fit is excellent….I really like this kit”.

Brett also praised the kit for its level of detail, particularly in the engine.  However when it comes to finesse, injection-moulded plastic can’t compete with resin and photo-etch, and Eduard has released a number of Brassin sets designed specifically for this kit.  These include a replacement cockpit, propeller, engine, wheels as well as fuselage MG 131 mount, which is what I’m examining here.

I haven’t seen the Revell kit in person, but looking at Brett’s and other on-line builds it appears that the Brassin gun mount parts are more-or-less direct replacements for their equivalent kit parts.  Detail is built up in layers to successfully create a sense of complex machinery, although some of the individual parts – notably the gun deck – are masterpieces of detail in themselves.  The upper gun cover is also impressive, being very thin and finely detailed both inside and out.

The resin parts are beautifully and almost perfectly cast.  I say ‘almost’ because both MG 131 barrels are slightly out of true – a perennial hazard with resin gun barrels but one that should be easily fixed with some hot water and a good eye.  Engineering is also sound with casting stubs sensibly located and with rebated attachment points.  The only exception here is the gun deck that will require patience and a sharp razor saw to remove from its more substantial block.

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The 19-part photo-etched fret also makes an important contribution, including through individual cowl fasteners that will add a convincing touch beneath the exposed gun deck.

The instructions run to four pages – reasonably extensive for a Brassin set – and show you everything you need to know to assemble the parts and integrate them into the model.  The relevant parts in each step are highlighted to minimise mistakes, and colours are called out in RLM and Gunze-Sangyo paint numbers.

All of this quality does come at a price – at US $39.95 this is an expensive set, possibly costing more so than the kit it will be used on.  Would this stop me from buying it?  Not if I was keen to finish my Fw 190 with an open cowl and exposed gun mount; the Brassin detail is so obviously superior to that of the kit that I would definitely go with Eduard. However, this is a cost/benefit decision that each modeller will need to make for him or herself.

As you will expect, I am going to highly recommend this set.  Detail and engineering are superb, and I expect fit will also be good.  Yes it is expensive, but not outrageously so and the additional detail of the Brassin parts will add enormously to the appearance of the finished model.

Thanks to Eduard for the samples and images.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2016 by Brad Fallen
Page Created 2 December, 2016
Last updated 2 December, 2016

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