Introduction

Airfix's 1/24th Hawker Typhoon in my opinion was the kit of 2014, and Eduard have released several sets to embellish the already incredible detail in the kit.
In the first part of two reviews, with the second part being the Photo Etch sets, we shall look at the two Brassin sets released.

Typhoon wheels

Item No - 624 001
Price - £8.40 (Hannants)
Packed in a blister pack, the two main wheels, tail wheel, four main wheel hubs and a small set of masks are well protected with a foam insert, so damage to the parts should be non existent.
Casting is superb, and each part is attached to a casting block, so some clean up will be required.
The main wheels are weighted, as is the kits parts, and have the sidewall tread pattern that the Airfix kit lacks. Also the main wheels are one piece unlike the kits offerings which are split into two halves, so no seam cleanup will be required attaching the Eduard wheels.
The two types of hubs are connected to the casting block on the glueing face, so razor saw will be needed as well as some sanding to clean up the rear of the hubs before placing into the respective wheel. The five spoke hubs are beautifully cast with bolt heads and the center bolt all present. The spoke holes are a lot more refined and sharper than the kits parts. The brake hub compared to the kits part is in a different class, with bolt heads and raised detail cast onto the hub, where as the kits part is rather plain and has little detail.
The tail wheel is a lot more realistic than the kits, with the ridged edges and concave appearance of the tyre faithfully reproduced.
A small set of instructions are supplied for the build sequence, what there is of it, and paint colours are given for Aqueous and Mr Color range of paints.
A set of Kabuki tape masks for the tyres, hubs and tail wheel are supplied with this set. Whether you decide to use them or not, for the main wheels is debatable as all the parts can be painted before inserting the hubs.
Conclusion
This set for me is a must have if you are serious about getting the best from the already very good Airfix kit.
95%

Typhoon guns

Item No - 624 002
Price - £11.30 (Hannants)
Packed in the same type of packaging as the previous set, the resin parts of which there are 16 parts are well cast and all have a small casting block attached.
The four Hispano Mk. II cannons are made up of a one piece barrel, a breach, and an ejector chute. A couple of 20mm ammo belts to go into the kits ammo trough to replace the kits simplistic moulding are also supplied.
Detail is exquisite with the one piece barrel having the muzzle pre-drilled, and the recoil sleeve moulded.
The breech block is just as good as the barrel with the detail a lot more refined than the kits part. The ammo case is moulded onto the breech as one piece, whereas the kits part is in two parts creating a slight seam mark. The case is also far more detailed, featuring rivet heads and raised detail not found on the kits part. The ejector chutes are far more refined than Airfix's offerings, with the semi recessed hole more crisply cast.
The ammo belts look more like shells, unlike the kits belts which really are not very good and just look like strips of plastic glued together.
A two page set of instructions are supplied, which has a 6 part build sequence. Eduard tell you via symbols and part numbers what parts are replaced, and what parts, such as the ammo belt casings, have resin parts attached. The build sequence is easy to follow.
If you are going to build your Airfix Typhoon with the gun hatches open, then you can't go far wrong with this set, as it does really add detail.
90%

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