I was extremely impressed with ICM's new-tool 1:48 Ju-88A-5 when I reviewed it late last year. Considering its overall quality and detail, it's phenomenal value for money at around £25 in the UK. But, good as it is, the kit still leaves room for improvement in a few areas, one of which is the mainwheels.

Compared with the nicely depicted landing gear legs, the wheels themselves are surprisingly bland, so Eduard's Brassin replacements is very welcome.

The set arrives in a sturdy bubble pack, protected by a soft foam insert, and combines resin and etched parts, along with painting masks and decals. The casting is perfect in the sample set, and the resin parts are attached to substantial blocks (the hubs in particular), so be prepared for a little careful preparation with a razor saw to remove them.

The resin wheels are moulded "weighted", which is a big plus in itself over the kit parts in conveying the bulk of the Ju 88, and feature delicately reproduced manufacturers logos and text. The hubs are simply in a different league to their styrene counterparts, with beautifully crisp detail and integral brake lines. Eduard include a fret of optional etched rings to cover fluted rims - so check your references where possible to determine the correct style for your build.

The icing on the proverbial cake is a set of kabuki painting masks for the hubs (although, seeing as they are separate parts, you may well paint them before attaching them anyway) and a sheet of servicing stencil decals.

Eduard's instructions are simple and easy to follow, so this should be a very straightforward set to use, and suitable for modellers new to working with multi-media upgrades.

Conclusion

Eduard's replacement wheels will really make a difference to what is already a very fine kit. ICM's Ju 88 is such good value, it's an ideal platform for which to splash out on a few upgrades - and at around 7 Euros, these beautifully produced wheels certainly won't break the bank. Highly recommended.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.