Eduard have released a nicely detailed etched set for the Dragon 1:48
Focke-Wulf Ta 152C that came out this time last year. This is a Zoom set, set it's not overly complex and the single fret contains 45 x parts, the majority of which are pre-painted to Eduard's usual excellent standard.

Construction begins with the basic cockpit tub, and new fascias for the side consoles, rudder pedals to fold to shape, plus a document pocket. Next come inserts to fit under the cockpit sills. These must be curved gently to match the interior contours of the fuselage before attaching items such as the canopy opening handle.

Dragon include an etched seat harness in their kit, but Eduard's replacement parts are better detailed, plus of course they are pre-painted with a finesse that would be nigh on impossible to match in this scale. I've often heard concerns expressed about the colour flaking off when you bend the belts to shape, but I have to say I've never had any problems on this count.

Last - and definitely not least - is a beautifully detailed instrument panel, made up of two sections, each with a separate backing layer for the instrument faces. The pre-painting of the dials is quite superb, and with a drop of varnish in each bezel the effect will be very convincing. The panel is further embellished with several separate bezels and tiny switches and should look great installed in the cockpit.

As stated, the pre-painting is beautifully done, but it does illustrate both the strengths and weaknesses of the process; on the plus side, the detail is quite incredible, but against this you're faced with the problem of matching the background colour for the rest of the cockpit. In this case it's RLM 66, and I've yet to find a model paint that matches Eduard's version, which I feel is too blue when compared with most accepted references (note: this blueness does appear exaggerated in the accompanying scan of the fret).

The instructions are clearly drawn and should be simple to follow even if you're a newcomer to etched upgrades. They are printed in black and white, but a colour version is available on Eduard's website which really does make it absolutely clear where kit parts must be modified to fit the new items.

Conclusion

Eduard's Ta 152C set is a fine accompaniment for the Dragon kit, and will result in a very convincingly detailed "office". It's not massively complicated, so would make a good first etched upgrade for anyone new to using them. Recommended.

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