Etched brass is sometimes provided for inappropriate areas of models such as round section items and these are usually best replaced with plastic or metal rod. Etched brass certainly has its uses and it comes into its own when provided for thin section flat areas such as aircraft landing flaps. This is possibly the best medium for detailing this area of an aircraft and dropping the flaps always adds interest. Cammett have released these etched brass flaps for Trumpeters 1/24 Spitfires but, with modification, they will fit the Airfix kits.

The etched fret.

The actual etchings are of high quality, much like Eduard’s world renowned efforts, having nice rivet detail on the underside part of the flap. The inner faces of the flaps have nice raised areas with engraved lines, for the location of the ribs. The ribs themselves are neatly done and are clearly annotated, on the fret, as to whether they belong on the fixed or moving portion of the flap. Another nice touch is that the ribs are secured on the fret by very slim connections, which will make removing them and cleaning them up much easier. Port and Starboard elements are also clearly marked on the fret, this will help in ensuring that you get the right parts in the correct place. The fret includes the parts for the flap actuation levers and the small door on top of the wing to accommodate them, when the flaps are lowered. The door, which also acts as a visual indication to the pilot that the flaps are down, replaces the kit parts. If memory serves me right then the Airfix kit will require the area for the flap door to be cut out. The set includes the necessary stainless steel tube from Cammett’s superb range of this item.

The instructions.

The instructions come on two pages of A4, the first has a clear parts diagram, and with reference letters added which are called out in the written instructions. The second page has two clear photographs of the finished parts. The instructions are over 6 stages and, after the normal reading a couple of times, make good sense. Well I was able to understand them anyway, which means that you, the reader, shouldn’t have too many problems. The bonus is the inclusion of the, clear, photographs, as these help tremendously. All to often written instructions do not make any sense and you are left guessing at what the writer is wittering on about, but not with these instructions.

Recommendation.

If you want to add flaps to your 1/24 scale Spitfire then look no further this is another excellent product from Cammett. Looks like I’ll have to get myself one of those Trumpeter Spitfires.