F-4B Phantom II Updates

SPACE, Photo-Etch, ZOOM,
Seat Belts and Masks

for Tamiya's 1/48 scale kit

1/48 scale kit

Reviewed by Brett Green

Here are five new Eduard releases for the gorgeous Tamiya 1/48 scale F-4B Phantom II kit.

As nice as the kit is, the cockpit is all-plastic affair so a combination of the following updates will be helpful.

Eduard offers a selection of cockpit solutions here depending on whether you prefer 3D printed parts or photo-etch, and how deep you wish to detail.

The choice is yours!

3DL48040 - F-4B SPACE. USD$29.95

This SPACE set comprises 3D printed decals for the instrument panel, side consoles, sidewalls, overhead ejection pull rings and smaller switch panels and placards for both front and rear cockpits.

There really is a large amount of 3D printed detail on this sheet.

The 3D parts have well defined raised switches, bezels and other details as well as crisp printing.

The photo-etched offers half-tone harness straps, rudder pedals, seat side pull handles plus other small details. 

Detailed instructions are included.

I have used a SPACE sets a couple of times recently and I have been very pleased with the results. 

I found that the 3D decals barely needed to be wet at all before they would slide - or sometimes fall - off the backing sheet. I used Gator’s Grip acrylic glue to secure the 3D printed decals to the plastic kit parts.

Detailed instructions are included. 

Item No. 491212 - F-4B Photo-Etch USD$24.95

This is the standard packaging of Eduard's photo-etched update sets, comprising one pre-coloured and one brass etched fret

These contain detail parts mainly for the cockpit.

The colour fret supplies instrument panel, side consoles, sidewalls, ejection pull handles, smaller switch panels and placards for both front and rear cockpits.

Although the parts are mainly destined for the cockpit, the brass etched fret also contains rings for the AIM-7E Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. Also included on the small brass fret are rudder pedals. mirrors and details for the cockpit coaming.

Full instructions are offered on a folded, double-sided A4 sheet.

Item No. FE1212 - F-4B ZOOM Photo-Etch USD$19.95

This is simply the colour photo-etched fret as described above supplied without the brass fret.

To be fair, most of the high-impact parts are present on this coloured fret. I really like the ZOOM concept.

Item No. FE1213 - STEEL Seat Belt USD$10.95

Eduard also offers a set of STEEL harness straps.

There are 38 parts in this comprehensive set. Colours look great and the straps feature half tones for realistic shadow areas.

Although the STEEL label makes these sound rigid, they are in fact very thin and flexible.

Harness straps and the otherwise tricky to painy black and yellow pull handles are provided for both seats.

Detailed instructions are included.

EX802 - F-4B Mask. USD$12.95

These are die-cut, self-adhesive imasks for the outside of the Tamiya 1/48 scale F-4B Phantom II windscreen and canopy.

Instructions are provided.

These represent a fast and accurate solution for a time consuming and often disliked modelling task.

Installing the SPACE set or either of the two photo-etched upgrades will result in a busy and highly detailed look in your Tamiya 1/48 scale F-14B Phantom II cockpit - the choice is yours!

The mask set will also take the pain away from an often unliked modelling task.

These sets will add an extra dimension of detail to your Tamiya Phantom cockpit.

Thanks to Eduard for the review samples

Text and Images Copyright © 2021 by Brett Green
Page Created 7 October, 2021
Last updated 7 October, 2021

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