Eduard have released a LööK set to accompany their new Fw 190A-8 (reviewed HERE) The set combines a 2-part pre-painted instrument panel with a fret of colour-etched seat belts.

Arriving mounted on a cardboard backer sealed in plastic, I've got to say I think the parts are much too firmly glued in place. Removing the resin casting is no problem, but you really do risk damaging the photo-etched parts in prising it free.

Turning to the LööK items themselves, the instrument panel is very neatly cast in resin that is a good match for some of the common model paint interpretations of RLM 66. It doesn't match the colour that Eduard have used on the etched fret in the Fw 190A-8 kit itself, though, which is rather more blue. For me that's not a major problem, because German paint producers during the war all had slightly different mixes for the RLM colours which resulted in notable variations. So, with various assemblies coming together from sub-contractors in the finished airframe, there could quite possibly be a variety of hues. Plus, weathering the kit's cockpit will help tie the colours together anyway.

The painted detailing on the panel is very impressive to the naked eye. The photo here really doesn't do it any favours, because it brings out the slightly speckled appearance which really isn't visible without a magnifier. The same holds true for the etched seat harness.

Although the release has been timed with the ProfiPACK Fw 190A-8, I think the LööK set is probably a more logical accessory to use with the Weekend Edition kit which will undoubtedly follow soon. My reason for saying this is that the ProfiPACK kit already has a set pre-coloured seat harnesses, so there seems little point paying for another, whereas the straps will be just the ticket to dress up the "office" in a cut-down Weekend Edition kit. If you do install the LööK panel in the ProfiPACK kit, you'll probably want to add the etched levers included with the kit but not present on the LööK set's fret.

Where the LööK set undoubtedly wins is in its simplicity to use. Basically, once you've removed the parts from their casting block, the job's done. It's certainly a lot less fiddly than assembling an etched instrument panel, and it has the 3-D benefits of a moulded styrene panel without needing to add decal instrument faces. In theory, no painting is needed and the parts are ready to fit - although you may wish to add a little subtle weathering to highlight the edges and make the raised details "pop out".

The set is accompanied by a small double-sided sheet of instructions showing how to assemble the multi-part seat harness and install the panels. The latter are direct replacements for the kit's plastic parts, so no modification is required to fit them.

Conclusion

The LööK series is certainly innovative and I think Eduard are to be applauded for giving modellers choice in how to detail their kits. I'm just starting work on the Fw 190A-8, so I'll include the LööK panel alongside the kit's alternative versions and let readers judge for themselves which they feel is most effective and fits their style of working best.

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