It always seems a little ironic to sell a cut-down version of a standard Eduard kit as a Weekend Edition (great for modellers looking for a simpler, low cost build) and then release etched details for it separately.

That said, set #FE448 does offer some worthwhile additions to the Weekend Edition SPAD XIII (item #8424) , with a nicely prepainted multi-part seat harness, the minimal instruments of the full-sized machine, plus a very neat little map and case. There's a nice delicate throttle to attach to the cockpit side, a pair of gunsights, plus fine mesh louvres for the cowling to replace the solid plastic ones (although the latter do risk a see-through look with the empty interior).

The instructions are straightforward and easy to follow, so modellers of average ability should have no trouble and, with just 28 parts, this is an ideal introduction to adding etched details to a kit. As usual, a colour version of the instructions (shown here) is available from Eduard's website, but the B&W printed version more than suffices for this simple set.

Conclusion

Perhaps I'm missing something somewhere, but I can't help wondering quite who sets like this are aimed at. Presumably, most people buying a Weekend Edition kit will do so precisely because they want a simpler model that doesn't include extras like etched parts.

In the case of the SPAD. anyone wanting the additional details would be better off buying the standard kit (#8196) which offers better value for money, being only 5 cents dearer than the combined price of the Weekend Edition kit and the Etched Set, and of course including four decal options against the Weekend Editions's one. Nevertheless, this set is recommended for anyone wanting to augment the Weekend Edition.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.