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First Look Review
148
Fw 190A-8 LööK
Fw 190A-8 LööK - Instrument Panel & Seatbelts
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by: Rowan Baylis [ MERLIN ]

Eduard have released a LööK set to accompany their new Fw 190A-8 (reviewed HERE) The set combines a 2-part pre-painted instrument panel with a fret of colour-etched seat belts.

Arriving mounted on a cardboard backer sealed in plastic, I've got to say I think the parts are much too firmly glued in place. Removing the resin casting is no problem, but you really do risk damaging the photo-etched parts in prising it free.

Turning to the LööK items themselves, the instrument panel is very neatly cast in resin that is a good match for some of the common model paint interpretations of RLM 66. It doesn't match the colour that Eduard have used on the etched fret in the Fw 190A-8 kit itself, though, which is rather more blue. For me that's not a major problem, because German paint producers during the war all had slightly different mixes for the RLM colours which resulted in notable variations. So, with various assemblies coming together from sub-contractors in the finished airframe, there could quite possibly be a variety of hues. Plus, weathering the kit's cockpit will help tie the colours together anyway.

The painted detailing on the panel is very impressive to the naked eye. The photo here really doesn't do it any favours, because it brings out the slightly speckled appearance which really isn't visible without a magnifier. The same holds true for the etched seat harness.

Although the release has been timed with the ProfiPACK Fw 190A-8, I think the LööK set is probably a more logical accessory to use with the Weekend Edition kit which will undoubtedly follow soon. My reason for saying this is that the ProfiPACK kit already has a set pre-coloured seat harnesses, so there seems little point paying for another, whereas the straps will be just the ticket to dress up the "office" in a cut-down Weekend Edition kit. If you do install the LööK panel in the ProfiPACK kit, you'll probably want to add the etched levers included with the kit but not present on the LööK set's fret.

Where the LööK set undoubtedly wins is in its simplicity to use. Basically, once you've removed the parts from their casting block, the job's done. It's certainly a lot less fiddly than assembling an etched instrument panel, and it has the 3-D benefits of a moulded styrene panel without needing to add decal instrument faces. In theory, no painting is needed and the parts are ready to fit - although you may wish to add a little subtle weathering to highlight the edges and make the raised details "pop out".

The set is accompanied by a small double-sided sheet of instructions showing how to assemble the multi-part seat harness and install the panels. The latter are direct replacements for the kit's plastic parts, so no modification is required to fit them.

Conclusion
The LööK series is certainly innovative and I think Eduard are to be applauded for giving modellers choice in how to detail their kits. I'm just starting work on the Fw 190A-8, so I'll include the LööK panel alongside the kit's alternative versions and let readers judge for themselves which they feel is most effective and fits their style of working best.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.
SUMMARY
Highs: Nicely detailed but simple to use. Excellent pre-painting.
Lows: Parts are glued too firmly to the backing card. The seat harness duplicates that already included in the the ProfiPACK kit (but it will be handy for a future Weekend Edition kit).
Verdict: The LööK set is a useful alternative to a styrene + decal or photo-etched panel and will certainly be quick and easy to install.
  Scale: 1:48
  Mfg. ID: 644015
  Suggested Retail: 195 Kč / £6.79
  PUBLISHED: Jun 21, 2019
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 88.37%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 88.59%

Our Thanks to Eduard!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Rowan Baylis (Merlin)
FROM: NO REGIONAL SELECTED, UNITED KINGDOM

I've been modelling for about 40 years, on and off. While I'm happy to build anything, my interests lie primarily in 1/48 scale aircraft. I mostly concentrate on WW2 subjects, although I'm also interested in WW1, Golden Age aviation and the early Jet Age - and have even been known to build the occas...

Copyright ©2021 text by Rowan Baylis [ MERLIN ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



   
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