Alien franchise. The decals are the centerpiece of this project. From a graphic development standpoint, this is a very complex

item, and its development was accompanied by constant doubt within our design

team. But, after successfully completing

the rivet sets for the Mi-24 and Mi-35, it

was concluded that the completion of this

decal set was well within our capabilities

as well. In the past, we have designed and

produced many large decal sheets, but in

the case of Alien, it’s a collection of decals

that end up covering the entire model. The

project is unique, and a first. It will be produced in very limited quantities, no more

than 1,000 units, and will also likely become a real collector’s item.

We don’t live off of unique items alone, and

so there are ProfiPACK and Weekend kits

planned for the second quarter, as well

as for the following ones. Amongst 1:48th

scale ProfiPACK kits, this will include the

initial release of the naval Camel 2F.1, the

Z-326 Trener Master, and there will be another Wildcat. It may be a late F4F-4, or we

may opt for the FM-2. This year, we’ll put

out both, but the order of their release has

not yet been set. Putting out a Dual Combo

FM-2 boxing as a Limited Edition release is

also on the table. The second quarter will

also see a Bf 109E-1. Re-edition efforts will

centre around a quarter scale Bf 109G-6,

MiG-21PFM, another Bf 110, and in 1:72nd,

an Fw 190F-8, MiG-21MF (Fighter Bomber),

and a MiG-15UTI. For the Weekend line, we

are planning a Tempest Mk.II and a Series

2 Tempest Mk.V, an Fw 190A-4 and A6M2

Zero Model 21. Not long ago, someone

wrote in a modelling forum that after the

release of Academy’s Model 21 Zero, this

will be the final option for a release of this

type from Eduard. Rest assured that this is

definitely not the case. As always, we will

give you plenty of reasons to consider the

Eduard kit as your FIRST choice!

options. Of course, we’ll complement it all

with accessory items, down to 3D prints,

so you have something to really look forward to!

The third quarter also sees plans for

a Limited Edition Z-526 Trener, the final

sub variant of the line. There will also be

Wilde Sau Episode Three, the Final Countdown, dedicated to Wilde Sau units equipped with various versions of the Fw 190A.

In the ProfiPACK line, we should see the

48th scale Rufe, another Wildcat, another

Camel, and the aforementioned Bf 109F-2.

The Weekend line will expand by the addition of the A6M3 Zero Model 32, another

quarter scale Bf 110, Spitfire Mk.16 and an

I-16 Type 10.

Fourth Quarter

Economists would call this venturing into

speculation. At this point in the New Year,

the fourth quarter is still very far off and

plans change. At the moment, what Limited Edition kits based around outside

sourced plastic will be developed is up in

the air. Whatever it will be, this item is normally the hit of E-day in the fall. Finalizing

agreements for the supply of the outsourced plastic won’t occur until next month at

Nuremburg, and there are currently several items in the running. Where this will go

is uncertain also because the Nuremburg

Toy Fair, at least as far as our industry is

concerned, will not be exactly a beehive

of activity due to kit producer attendance.

And really, the same can be said of retailer attendance, so this will be the most

unusual Toy Fair over the past fifty years.

I do hold out some hope that it won’t be so

bad, and that it might end up like this past

E-day, or the soccer World Cup in Qatar.

These were also events that had a lot of

negative predictions associated with them,

but came through surpassing all expectations. Regardless of this year’s outcome,

I believe that the Toy Fair will rebound over

the coming years, recovering from the covid restrictions, and return to its former

prosperity. How the fair goes, I will report

on in the March newsletter.

Be that as it may, the main focus for the fall

will be the 1:48th scale Avia S-199. It will

have its premiere at E-day, and same as

the Bf 109K-4, it will come from a completely new set of molds. We are also planning

a Limited Edition kit for the end of the year,

‘Malta’, featuring the Spitfire Mk. V, and the

aforementioned 1:72nd scale Gustav, the

Bf 109G-6, which will apparently also

include a Bf 109G-5.

We also have another new release planned

for the very end of the year, and on the

table are several possibilities. Whether

it will be the MiG-21F-13, the P-51B Mustang, the A6M5 Model 52 Zero or something in 1:72nd will be finalized in the coming months. Take it as an early Christmas

surprise, to be revealed at E-day, because

within our system of releasing information, it just has to be that way.

Accessory Items for 2023

Out of the planned accessory items, I will

point out those that jump out at me from

the long list of things to come. The first of

these would be the Brassin wingfold set

for the F4F-4 Wildcat . I consider this a true

masterpiece, able to turn a normal model

into the pearl of a collection and able to

attract the eye of any onlooker like a pole

dancer. This printed set contains a set of

plastic wings, because its integration naturally requires the cutting up of these

items, which is much easier to do with two

sets of wings rather than with just the one

set from the kit. The Brassin line will also

include 3D printed parts for the Fw 190A-8

in 1:48th scale. The first of these will be

the cockpit, replacing the older cast resin

item, and among other things, illustrates

Third Quarter

Here, we begin to skate on some thin ice.

Not that there are no plans, but as a rule,

that has so far not been broken, plans

tend to be subject to some dynamic changes after the second quarter. In any case,

the main project for the third quarter is

the 1:48th scale Bf 109K-4, which we would

dearly like to release in time for the IPMS

Nationals in San Marcos. This model is

in a similar boat as the 72nd scale Bf 109

line – this kit also comes out of the earlier

Bf 109F and G releases that came before it,

but the design of the Bf 109K-4 introduced

some technological and conceptual changes and innovations. The same can be said

for the S-199 and CS-199, being prepared

for the end of the year. In both cases, we

have achieved technological and conceptual maturity, and I dare say we’ve fine tuned these things just right. When we get to

the realization of the Kurfurst Limited Edition kit, we’ll do the same for the marking

January 2023

INFO Eduard

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