EDDIE AND THE RIVETS

Also enjoying its premiere through April

shows is an all-new product line. It’s called

EDDIE THE RIVETER, and as the name suggests, it is all about rivets and allows modeller to create realistic raised rivets and

other surface details on the model. The product utilizes 3D printing technology used

in the Space line. The rivets are printed on

a clear carrier film. It’s important to know

that you must resist any temptation to remove the carrier film after the application of

the rivets onto the model, as is the case with

our decals. But you need not worry, as the

correct application procedure yields invisible

carrier film. These rivet decals are applied

over primed plastic that is reapplied after the

decals are on the model as well. The surfacer

needs to be airbrushed on with care. Don’t

use a spray can product, as it provides less

control, and the result could damage the delicate details of the decal. The first Eddie the

Riveter is designed for the Zvezda 1:48 scale

Mi-24V. The price of the product is somewhat

high, dictated by the scope of the set and the

intricacies of applying the technology used in

production. On the other hand, it is a beautifully executed piece of work and based on

research of the actual thing. A rivet counter’s

dream come true. We will follow up with the

Mi-24D in this line. Although this will stem

from the Mi-24V set, simplifying development, it will still take a bit of time. Other candidates are the Zvezda Su-25 and 1:72 scale

Hurricane from Arma Hobby.

BRASSIN and PHOTOETCHED

Within the scope of the smaller 3D printed

Brassin sets are two landing flap sets in 1:48

scale: the Spitfire Mk.IX and the Fw 190D.

Their variations will also show up in June re-

May 2022

leases, giving ample opportunity to examine

these items and determine their use in your

projects. Among 3D printed Brassin sets, we

also have two ship items in 1:350, and there is

also a ship set in the Space line. Ship sets will

continue to be released the following month

as well. Besides 3D prints, we will be offering

two sets of watertight doors in the Space

line. Space and photoetched items will also

be found for the 1:32 scale Hawk 81-A2, which

was an export version of the P-40. Great Wall

Hobby launched their P-40/Tomahawk line

with this kit, and we will be following their

release schedule. One of the Hawk 81 sets

is a steel set for the seatbelts (32298 Hawk

81-A2 Seatbelts STEEL 1:32), and is in direct

competition with Space 3DL32006, which

includes these belts as well. This is standard

for Space sets that have cockpits as their

subject matter. Reviews and other mentions

of the Space sets seldom point out the fact

that these are combination sets made up

of 3D decals and colored steel photoetched

components. This is the cream of the crop of

what photoetching offers and are included in

the Space sets in order to optimize the use

of equipment consistent with what they are

used to produce. Every technology brings to

the table advantages and disadvantages. 3D

printing is very good for the production of

side panels and other surface details, and is

even good for instrument panels, although I

must admit that in my opinion, the best instrument panel is still provided by colored

photoetching. For details positioned inside

spaces with relief protruding out from them,

such as various levers, mirrors or those

seatbelts, this technology is not optimal be

cause the requirements for them fall out of

the envelope of the capabilities demanded by

such features. Photoetched steel then sim-

ply becomes the best course of action. If you

have doubts, take a look at a windshield wiper, or compare seatbelts. If you still prefer

the 3D print, then fine. It’s a personal choice.

But we will not do anything that we consider

an avoidable limit on what we offer our customers.

AND SOMETHING TO READ…

In today’s newsletter, you will find three new

articles. Miro Barič continues to map out the

air war over Ukraine with a daily account of

the second month of the war. The other two

are historical articles that have a connection

to our modeling. That includes the first part

of an article by Jan Bobek about Saburō Sakai, that, among other things, sets straight a

few inaccuracies in the cult classic biography

“Samurai”. These inaccuracies were inserted

into the book thanks to the meddling of

translators and editors of the original texts.

They managed to turn this book into an odd

mix of reality and fiction, not unlike another

famous biography, The Big Show, about Pierre Clostermann. However, he himself was

partially responsible for this, while Saburō

Sakai was innocent of the inaccuracies and

later objected to them. Saburō Sakai can no

longer fight the mistakes, so Jan Bobek has

taken up the fight to set the records straight,

and I believe that he will find success. Reality

is no less interesting than fiction. Also, there is an article by Yoav Efrati describing the

service of the Avia S-199 in Israel.

I hope you find this issue of the newsletter

a good read. Happy Modelling!

Vladimír Šulc

INFO Eduard

5