Hot on the heels of Airfix's recent Mustang, Eduard have released a Brassin spinner and propeller to replace the kit parts. I've got to say I don't have any major problem with Airfix's original items (apart from questioning the dimples on the propeller tips which I didn't spot on the real thing when I shot a Walkaround at Hendon some years ago), but the Brassin set obviously takes things to the next level in terms of finesse and detail.

Sealed in a clear bubble pack, with the resin parts protected by a piece of foam to cushion them in transit, the sample set arrived safely despite two trips in the post.

The new set contains:
7 x grey resin components
1 x etched brass part (plus spares)
A resin assembly jig

The casting on the sample set is, essentially, perfect and the detail is beautifully crisp. The cuffed blades are lovely and thin and will be easy to separate safely from their casting plinth - likewise the propeller hub, which is really nicely detailed.

The spinner is a different kettle of fish, though, and its here that inexperienced modellers might come unstuck. The detail is again excellent, with the inside of both the spinner front and back-plate boasting some great touches that will really shine if you're building a vignette or diorama of a Mustang being serviced with its spinner front removed. The way the parts interlock with a wafer-thin lip on the spinner front is pretty amazing. But the price for this kind of detail is that it will be very tricky removing them from their casting blocks; with the back-plate, there's a major saw cut to get straight in order for the unit to sit right, while the spinner front will need some very careful cutting and sanding if you're not going to end up with blemishes which will be hard to conceal in such a prominent spot.

Finishing everything off is a tiny brass disk for the tip of the spinner, and it's a really nice touch that Eduard have included a couple of spares in case of accidents.

Included with the set is a neat sheet of instructions that show how to use the assembly jig to ensure the blades are correctly angled. The jig will also be an ideal holder for the boss while you drill a locating hole in it to accept the pin if you want the propeller to spin. As usual with Eduard products, colour matches for Gunze Sangyo paints are provided.

Conclusion

Eduard's new spinner and propeller are beautifully detailed and deceptively simple at first sight, but the set's probably not suitable for inexperienced modellers on account of the critical preparation you'll need to do on the spinner. Basically, get that wrong and you'll render the set almost useless (or at the very least have some difficult repair work on your hands). Get it all right, though, and it will look a real gem.

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