P-51D-5 Cockpit
for Eduard kit

Eduard BRASSIN, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/48 BRASSIN Bf 109 F Cockpit is available online from Squadron.com

Eduard's new 1/48 scale P-51D family has been a smash hit so far. They have now released a range of accessories and upgrades for the kits.

One of these is a complete replacement cockpit.

Imside the new-look box, Eduard's BRASSIN 1/48 scale P-51D-5 cockpit comprises 27 parts in grey resin, two photo-etched frets (one coloured, one clear), one clear acetate sheet plus instructions.

Although the set is labelled as a P-51D-5 cockpit, it should be suitable for other later variants too.

The standard plastic cockpit included with the kit is very good, with colour photo-etched parts supplied for the instrument panel and harness straps. However, Eduard's BRASSIN cockpit really kicks it up a notch.

Casting quality is perfect on my sample. Cleanup is fairly straightforward as most parts are cast onto a resin strip, so a sharp knife and a swipe with a sanding stick is all that is required.

It is nice to see the two typical styles of seat included in this set. One of the seats has a very comfortable-looking quilted back rest. Alternative switch panels are supplied for the instrument panel too.

Interestingly, the instrument panel is in resin and there is no photo-etched option. Of course, the PE panel is included in the ProfiPACK kit, and a LooK pre-painted resin panel is available separately too.

Decals are supplied for the instrument dials.

Colour photo-etched parts are supplied for the the harness straps and details.

With the parts removed from their strips and blocks, assembly is very straightforward.

I particularly like the one-piece rudder pedals and the subtle detail on the seats.

Only minimal surgery will be needed. The sidewalls fit straight onto the insdies of the fuselage without the need to thin down resin or plastic. Some trimming of the side of the fuel tank is indicated, and the front of the kit's plastic cockpit floor needs to be cut off. Easy!

Eduard's Weekend Edition and Overtrees versions are particularly suited as donor kits for BRASSIN upgrades, as you won't be using most of the photo-etched parts of the ProfiPACK versions anyway and it will substantially reduce the cost of your project.  The Overtrees version of Eduard's 1/48 scale P-51D-5 (plastic sprues only - no decals or instructions) is only USD$22.95!

The fillet tail version is available in an Overtrees box for the same price.

You may download a PDF version of the kit instructions from the Eduard website, BTW.

I look forward to installing BRASSIN's cockpit in one of my new Eduard Mustang kits. The detail really is superb, and it is almost a drop-fit replacement foe the plastic kit parts.

It will be suitable variants apart from the P-51D-5 too.

Thanks to Eduard for the samples and images.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2020 by Brett Green
Page Created 14 January, 2020
Last updated 14 January, 2020

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