1:48 Beaufighter Mk. VI LööK

Eduard 1:48 Beaufighter Mk. VI LööK, a Cockpit Set

The extent of this set from the Czech firm Eduard is defined very precisely: the pilot's forward station, nothing more. It is not a full photo-etched set with parts for the outer surfaces, nor a landing gear set; what it holds is a three-dimensional resin instrument panel with the dials executed in color, and pre-painted steel seat belts to go with it. The modeler thus deals with the most conspicuous place in the interior in a single purchase and without painting tiny instruments.

The real subject

The Bristol Beaufighter is a British twin-engine heavy fighter with a roomy forward fuselage and the pilot set high above the leading edge of the wing. The Mk. VI version was powered by Bristol Hercules radial engines. On the Beaufighter the pilot's cockpit is covered by large glazing and lies ahead of the wing, so on a finished model more of it is in view than on single-engine fighters with a narrow canopy.

Building tips

Remove or sand away the plastic instrument panel from the kit, so that the resin part sits in the right place and at the right height. Wash the resin in warm water with detergent before gluing and cut the casting block off with a saw, not with nippers. Do not cover the colored surface of the panel with tape. Finish the interior before you close the fuselage and fit the glazing, because once it is shut you will not reach it.

Who the set is for

• Builders who want a three-dimensional instrument panel instead of a flat plastic one
• Modelers building a model with open or well-lit glazing
• Those looking for a cockpit solution without painting small parts
• Those interested in British twin-engine machines in 1:48 scale

This is an accessory, not a model. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package. Eduard carries several sets of different extent for the Beaufighter subject and for different versions as well; they are told apart by the exact designation of the particular series and version.