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
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