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Photo-Etched Rigging for Roden Gladiator

AIMS, 1/48

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number:

AIMS Item No. 48PE007 - Photo-Etched Rigging for Roden Gladiator
Scale: 1/48
Contents and Media: One nickel plated photo-etched fret.
Price:

GBP£14.40 plus shipping from AIMS website
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: A comprehensive set of rigging wires and accompanying mounting hardware. Replacement panels improve the molded pieces which have similar, but soft surface detail. Additional access panels provided that were missed entirely by the kit’s manufacturer. Full size drawings (1/48th scale) provided for location and layout of surface parts.
Disadvantages: The instructions could really benefit from a few additional illustrations, specifically focusing on the attachment points of the different pieces of rigging. Removing the existing inspection panel detail to install the replacement parts poses significant risk of destroying the ribbed fabric surface detail of the wings.
Conclusion: This is one of those simple upgrades that anyone can initiate, that will immediately enhance the appearance of your stick and string (and corrugated metal!) aircraft..

Reviewed by Matt Odom


  Special Hobby's 1/48 scale Model 339-23 Buffalo will be available online from Squadron 

FirstLook

 

AIMS has also released a photo etch rigging set for the Roden/Eduard kit. Although it’s billed as a sheet of rigging, there is actually much more to it. The single sheet includes replacements for some of the surface detail on the wings and fuselage. At first I was skeptical as to whether or not this was superfluous as the detail on the model itself is relatively detailed – if a bit soft. I quickly changed my mind after applying the first few pieces of the AIMS set. Installing the AIMS hatches requires the modeller to remove the existing surface detail, a difficult feat to accomplish without destroying the fabric texture of the airframe.

 

 

The diagram provided for the rigging makes the overall layout clear, although it would benefit from an illustration explaining how exactly the rigging is to be attached at each point. There are 45 parts provided for the rigging alone – that doesn’t include the detail included for the anchor points.

With care and patience, the photoetch set adds an astounding amount of detail.

 

 

C o n c l u s i o n

 

AIMS' photoetch rigging set offers more than enough detail to justify the inevitable the tediousness of installation. The cost of the P/E set is due to the fact that Stainless Steel is needed for the rigging to be strong - stainless is much more expensive than the normal 0.2mm brass.

Ultimately the decision whether or not to purchase this set will likely come down to the modellers preferred method of rigging.

Thanks to AIMS for the sample

Review and Images Copyright © 2019 by Matt Odom
Page Created 18 January, 2019
Last updated 21 January, 2019

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