Of course the big news from Eduard this month is that their brand new Polikarpov I-16 is shipping.The first release is the I-16 Type 10 with Soviet VVS markings. A special Spanish edition will follow it as a Dual Combo, with decals for four Republican and four Fascist airctraft. And that will not be the last of the I-16 line, with the Type 24 being prepared for July, and the Type 17, 18, and 29, to follow after that.

As predicted, a Royal Class I-16 is also on the way, which will contain three kits, colour photo-etched details, with markings for the Type 10 in Russian, Chinese and Spanish (Republican and Fascist) service, plus the Type 17, Type 18 and Type 24. The special bonus will be, in this case, a Guard units badge replica and the complete edition of the Il-2 Stormovik PC game, including the Il-2 Stormovik, Forgotten Battles and Pacific Fighters.

Turning back to the present, the second May release is the limited edition Bristol Fighter “Brisfish, complete with extraordinary fish decals and a colour PE set. Compting the package is a set of six RFC WWI personnel.

The final May release is a new 1/48 scale model base. The wooden plank airfield surface will be particularly suitable for WWI and WW2 Eastern Front scenes.

Looking ahead to next month, there are two more 1/48 scale limited editions on the way. The Bell Airacobra Mk.I Dual Combo will come with three sets of marking for RAF aircraft, plus four more for Airacobras in Soviet service. The second release will be a Spitfire Mk.22/24. This is a rebox of the excellent Airfix kit, plus an Aires resin cockpit interior and Eduard colour photo-etched details. The Spitfire will include markings for four aircraft.

June will also see the return of Gavia after a long break, with a brand new WW I kit - a 1/48th scale Pfalz E.I.

Further off will be the new 1/48 scale Fw 190A and Eduard have released a sneak preview of test sprue shot. Look closely and you can see two styles of propeller along with WGr21 underwing rockets.

Future trends
Eduard's primary range will be the Orange style of kits, including a color photoetched fret, four marking options, and full color marking and painting schemes. One change will be that, after experimenting with full color computer-rendered instructions, Eduard have decided to revert back to standard line illustrations. Alongside their premium Orange range, Eduard have announced a new range of re-releases as simplified, no frills kits: i.e. no photo-etch, a single marking option, new instructions, with painting schemes printed on the box. First off in what Eduard are calling the "Weekend" range will be the Albatros D.III and Nieuport 17, with the Yak-3 and Hanriot HD.1 to follow.

Full List of May 2006 Releases.

Plastic Kit - EDUARD - Aircraft - 1/48
8148 I-16 type 10 1/48 $29.95
8809 Wooden Airfield Surface 1/48 $4.95

Plastic Kit - EDUARD - Aircraft - Limited Edition - 1/48
1118 F.2B Brisfish 1/48 $49.95

Big Ed - Aircraft - 1/32
BIG3238 F-18D HORNET 1/32 ACA $114.95
BIG3237 Me 262A-2 SCHWALBE 1/32 TRU $36.95
BIG3236 P-40B TOMAHAWK 1/32 TRU $44.95

Big Ed - Aircraft - 1/72
BIG7221 WYVERN S.4 1/72 TRU $26.95

Color photo etched set - Aircraft - 1/32
32559 MiG-29 Fulcrum K-36DM seat 1/32 TRU $9.95
32557 MiG-29M Fulcrum interior 1/32 TRU $19.95

Color photo etched set - Aircraft - 1/48
49353 F-18E Super Hornet interior 1/48 HAS $19.95
49345 Me 262B-1a Schwalbe Nachtjager 1/48 DRA $24.95
49354 P-47M Thunderbolt 1/48 TAM $24.95

Color photo etched set - Aircraft - 1/72
73279 B-26K Invader interior 1/72 ITA $24.95
73259 Lancaster B Mk.III Dambuster interior 1/72 HAS $24.95

Photo etched set - Aircraft - 1/48
48528 B-17G Flying Fortress landing flaps 1/48 REV/MON $29.95
48520 F-18E Super Hornet exterior 1/48 HAS $19.95

Photo etched set - Aircraft - 1/72
72456 Lancaster B Mk.III Dambuster exterior 1/72 HAS $19.95

Photo etched set - ZOOM - Aircraft - 1/32
33007 P-51D Mustang dashboard 1/32 HAS $9.95

Photo etched set - ZOOM - Aircraft - 1/35
33012 AH-64A Apache dashboard 1/35 KAN $9.95
33010 UH-60L Black Hawk dashboard 1/35 ACA $9.95

Photo etched set - ZOOM - Aircraft - 1/48
FE353 F-18E Super Hornet interior 1/48 HAS $7.95
FE345 Me 262B-1a Schwalbe Nachtjager 1/48 DRA $7.95
FE354 P-47M Thunderbolt 1/48 TAM $7.95

Photo etched set - ZOOM - Aircraft - 1/72
SS279 B-26K Invader interior 1/72 ITA $6.95
SS259 Lancaster B Mk.III Dambuster interior 1/72 HAS $6.95

Eduard mask - Aircraft - 1/35
JX055 CH-47A Chinook 1/35 TRU $9.95

Eduard mask - Aircraft - 1/72
CX148 C-130H/J Hercules 1/72 ITA $4.95
CX122 SB-2 1/72 ICM $6.95
CX151 TSR 2 1/72 AIR $4.95

All images here are copyright and used with kind permission of Eduard.