When Hasegawa released their state of the art kit of the Mitsubishi F1M2 Pete floatplane, it not surprisingly delighted fans of Japanese aircraft with a level of detail that totally eclipsed the old 1970s Tamiya version. Now, Eduard have taken things one step further still, with a comprehensive detail set that augments the kit inside and out.

Of course, Hasegawa already produced an etched set to accompany their kit, but it was somewhat limited in scope, oddly not even including seat belts. Perhaps to show just what can be achieved in metal, Eduard have really gone to town with a two-fret set that adds some 140 new items, some pre-painted and self adhesive. The photos included are of Eduard's brass prototype parts - the finished items are steel.

The cockpits are detailed throughout, with new instruments and seat harnesses as you'd expect, but also a mass of smaller items such as knobs and levers, replacement throttles, tiny brackets and handles, plus wiring runs and details for the radio sets. The rear gun and mounting require some surgery to fit delicate new components and the rudder pedals are replaced entirely.

The surgery continues on the exterior, with an open bay that is inset into the underside of the wing, plus new strut mounts and a number of applique panels and hatches. There's wiring included for the engine, new ring and bead gunsights, plus brackets and other details for the bomb-racks.

The instructions are clearly drawn and simple to follow. They are printed in B&W, shaded to show were kit parts must be modified, and colour versions are available online at Eduard's website which makes life easier still.

Conclusion

Eduard's etched upgrade adds a significant amount of detail to Hasegawa's already excellent Pete. It's obviously not suitable for beginners, but modellers used to working with metal and who aren't afraid to do a bit of surgery to the standard kit will be rewarded with a very impressive result. Highly recommended.

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