Sapmail May 2001 Kit Reviews

• Henschel Hs 129s
• Spitfire 22/Seafire 47 Cockpit Kit
• Seafire FR 47 Upgrade Kit

Henschel Hs 129s
EagleCals Decals
EC#17   1/72
Reviewed by Mark Powley

Remember the Revell BV 194 review I did a couple of months ago? If you do, then you'll recall I was rather unimpressed by the kit decals. This sheet by EagleCals is the solution. It provides full sets of markings for  four  options for the Henschel Hs129. The decals are beautifully printed by Microscale for EagleCals. Everything is in register and they look to be just the right thickness. The instruction sheet is equally impressive with colour side profiles and an individual explanation of each option.  Option 1 is Blue A from Libya in Sand Yellow with Olive-Green spots and Blue undersurface. Option 2 is Red J from Russia in RLM 70/71/65. Option 3 is Red L from Russia also in RLM 70/71/65. Option 4 is Purple X from Tunisia in RLM 70/71/65 but with a patchy overspray of Sand Yellow. A nice touch is that the engine cowling instrument dials and canopy attack angle indicator lines are also included. Overall I give this sheet top marks. Recommended. 

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Spitfire 22/Seafire 47 Cockpit Kit
Cooper Details
CD4816  Recommended for Airfix kits
Scale: 1/48
Reviewed by Mark Powley 

Designed for the Airfix Spitfire 22/24 and Seafire FR 46/47 released a couple of years back this is a detail set that oozes quality. It includes a small etched fret, film negative dials and enough resin parts to replace the entire cockpit interior. All the parts in my set are perfectly cast and are an enormous improvement over the kit items.

The instruction leaflet is a useful mix of written instructions and well drawn diagrams plus it includes a couple of light-hearted instructions as well. For example the final instruction step reads, "Enjoy results. Buy more sets, build more Spitfires. Repeat as necessary!" Now you can hardly argue with that , can you?

Recommended 

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Seafire FR 47 Upgrade Kit
Cooper Details
CD4816  Recommended for Airfix kit
Scale: 1/48
Reviewed by Mark Powley

This is the partner set for the cockpit detail set. This particular set has no pe parts just resin ones but is comprehensive anyway. So whats in it? There is a set of replacement prop blades, new rudder that includes the split rudder trim tab, replacement chin intake, sting hook details, correct tyres, corrected wheel doors, RATO packs, exhausts, cannon barrels and radiator cores. Phew! Again the parts are all perfectly cast . The instructions are again a mix of written and diagrams with those little bits of humour included. They also mention the Aeromaster decals to replace the rather dodgy Airfix ones and the two vacform canopies and the differences between them. Both of these sets are really impressive. The casting is top notch and more importantly they replace parts that need replacing and not just for the hell of it. Again, Recommended. 

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