"The Rise of the Bubbletops"

Spitfire Mk.XVI & Fw 190 D-9
Limited Edition Dual Combo

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/48 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 is available online from Squadron.com
 

Eduard's "EduArt" series combines two models with attractive box art by Koike Shigeo, plus a frameable print of the artwork in the box.

One of the latest in the series is "Rise of the Bubbletops". This pairs Eduard's 1/48 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 with the recent Spitfire Mk.XVI.

The Spitfire Mk.XVI is the absolute latest state-of-the-art standard. Surface detail is top class, detail excellent, and it is a straightforward build with excellent fit. It's accurate too - a very impressive package.

By comparsion, considering it was originally released in 2010 and represents an earlier generation, the Eduard Dora does not lose much in terms of quality of fine surface textures and level of detail, but you'll need a bit more focus when it comes to assembly.

Let's take a more detailed look at both models.

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9

Eduard's 1/48 scale Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 comprises 136 grey coloured injection moulded plastic parts; 11 clear parts and one coloured photo etched fret.

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It's funny, and I know it makes no difference to the building experience, but I think that the model looks so much better in this medium grey shade than the original olive colour.

Unlike Eduard's Fw 190 A and F series, this model does not include a full engine, making the parts breakdown and construction a much more straightforward proposition.

The airframe is finished in finely recessed panel lines and selected rows of rivets The fabric ribs on the control surfaces are also very convincing.

Detail is very good. The cockpit is supplemented with the usual compliment of colour photo-etched parts including a layered instrument panel, switch panel and harness straps. For those who prefer to paint their cockpit, an alternative (and very nicely detailed) injection moulded instrument panel is also supplied, along with instrument decals.

The wheel well features the correct see-through effect, with a rear portion of the engine and the supercharger supplied. This will be visible through the open centre section of the wheel well. Two styles of main wheels are provided. Check your references for your selected marking option.

The cowl and wing gun bays are also fitted out, although alternative parts are provided for modellers who would prefer to keep theirs closed. Some minor surgery will be required for the wings in this case.

Four gun cowl configurations are shown in the instructions, although you'll only have one option for this boxing. The different configurations are achieved by filling, cutting and/or scribing the single gun cowl supplied in the kit

Different parts are offered for open or closed cowl flaps.

The exhausts are supplied in one-piece each. The narrow ends are not hollowed out, but we will likely see after-market updates before long.

A three-piece tail wheel assembly with a separate wheel makes an appearance here, but the earlier one-piece assembly is also provided.

Ailerons and the rudder are separate parts.

A drop tank and a bomb are offered as centreline ordnance options.

The canopy parts are crystal clear and thin.

Separate parts are supplied to permit the sliding canopy to be displayed open or closed. Parts are provided for the blown and flat hoods.

Spitfire Mk.XVI

Eduard's 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.XVI comprises 215 grey plastic parts (48 unused); 11 clear plastic parts (2 unused); one fret of pre-painted photo-etched brass.

This aircraft represents the low-back the low back bubbletop version with the "E" wing.

The fuselage sprue includes two rear bulkheads - one with head armour and one without.

The sprue also includes a set of three-spoke wheels.

As usual, the wing and fuselage are provided without inserts - no unnatural joins to fill with these models! The outboard narrow gun bulges and the new wheel well bumps are moulded direct to the top wing halves, with the appropriate shell ejector ports are similarly moulded in place on the bottom of the wings.

The wheel wells feature a counterpart bump with rivet outlines on the inside as well.

A photo-etched fret for the Mk.XVI is included too.

Options applicable to this package are bombs and either clipped or full-length wing tips.

The kit is otherwise similar to the Spitfire Mk.IXc Late Version. For a detailed review of this kit and images of all the parts, just follow this link.

Markings

One marking scheme for each aircraft is included on the large decal sheet.

The main decal sheet, printed by Cartograf, look great on the sheet.

Each model has a dedicated stencil decal sheet printed by Eduard. Eduard's decals have always been trouble free in their application for me.

As usual, Eduard has supplied self-adhesive die-cut masks for the canopy and wheels of both models.

This is a pleasing package. Eduard's unique take on the "dogfight doubles" concept that now includes two great kits plus attractive artwork from Koike Shigeo.

In terms of accuracy, detail and surface textures, I think that the Eduard Fw 190 D-9 remains the best 1/48 scale Dora available today; while the Spitfire Mk.XVI, along with the rest of the Eduard Spitfire family, stands head and shoulders above the others in this scale. It's nice to see them together in the one box.

It's nice to see them together in the one box.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2016 by Brett Green
Page Created 21 September, 2016
Last updated 22 September, 2016

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