Eduard's new-tool Wildcat already has a wheel well that's in a totally different league compared to previous 1:48 scale kits of Grumman's iconic fighter. Straight from the box, the detail totally eclipses that in the Tamiya and Hobby Boss models, but Eduard have now taken things a stage further still by releasing a Brassin upgrade set with 3D-printed parts that offer a level of detail that would be virtually impossible to produce economically by other means.

The set is packaged in a neat little flip-top box, with the parts sealed in zip-lock bags. I was surprised not to find any foam padding inside, but the bags were held firmly in place by the instructions booklet, and everything arrived in perfect condition despite a couple of trips through the post.

The set comprises 13 x grey 3D-printed parts that are supported on delicate lattices above the print-bases. These should be quite straightforward to remove, but the delicacy of some of the parts means it's definitely not a job to rush. 

Close examination of the accessories section for the rear of the engine and the one-piece engine mount reveals a level of detail that almost defies belief. It would be impossible with injection moulding, and virtually so with conventional resin casting (I hate to think how much clean-up would be required with the latter...).

The 6 pages of instructions are clearly illustrated and break the construction down into no less than 18 stages. There's a little scratch building required to add piping to the rear of the engine, and soft lead wire will be perfect for this. Colour call-outs are provided for Gunze Sangyo paints. 

Conclusion

This is one of those sets where you begin to run out of superlatives to describe it. It should look phenomenal once completed, and it's designed to slot straight into Eduard's F4F-3 without any need for surgery. Despite this, I'd be wary of tackling it unless you have some experience of working with resin or 3D-printed upgrades - and the sheer delicacy of some of the parts makes it unsuitable for anyone with poor dexterity.

Item #648795 is available now from Eduard - Price: £13.82

Many thanks to Eduard for the review sample.

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