Contact Resine | CK24001: 1/24 Fw 190D-9 Cockpit
Reviewed by Mark Proulx
Contact Resine has just released a new 1/24th scale cockpit set for the Trumpeter Dora. This is a detailed look at this mixed media set with comparisons made to photos published in Aero Detail 2 about the Fw 190D.
The set consist of six resin parts, a photo etch fret, decals, single piece of clear acetate (not shown in photo) and instructions. The contents are shipped in a very sturdy cardboard box with all items bagged or wrapped in plastic bubble wrap.
The instructions are printed in color on a single page. They are logical and well laid out making extensive use of color photos. Painting instructions are included.
The first step the modeler has to perform is to remove some details from each fuselage half. This includes such items as alignment points for the kit cockpit and the upper rear decking. This should be a simple task for anyone with prior experience.
The resin parts comprise the rear cockpit decking, cockpit tub, control column, seat and two-piece instrument panel. The tub is a marked improvement to that in the kit. It is very detailed and effective dry brushing should really bring out many of the details. Smaller items are included as photo etch add-ons. Unfortunately, there are subtle differences to the sidewalls when compared to references. In addition, on the actual aircraft there is no bulkhead aft of the seat as cast by Contact Resine.
The seat appears to match the actual item quite closely. It is cast without belts and fits perfectly into the tub. The upper decking and control column are nicely detailed. The instructions specifying that some details in wire (not provided) should be added to the control column.
The instrument panel is made up of a number of multi media components. The method of sandwiching photo etch, acetate film, resin and decal should provide very accurate depth to each instrument. While similar to the actual Dora panel, it is not perfect. The lower panel suffers from an incorrect number of instruments while the upper panel has the instruments laid out slightly different. However, most people will not even notice these accuracy issues.
The photo etch fret comprises twenty parts for the instrument panel, levers, harness and rudder pedals. However, the instructions make no reference to the correct location of PE12. The harness and buckles are etched together with some raised relief details clearly evident. Unfortunately, this won’t please modelers wishing to make their own harnesses from other material.
In my opinion, this cockpit detail set is a marked improvement to the standard set supplied by Trumpeter. While some minor issues about detailing do become apparent on closer scrutiny, only the most ardent experts on the Fw 190 D-9 would ever notice. The resin parts are nicely cast and they do really “busy” up the Trumpeter cockpit. In 1/24th scale, this set should really stand out and help to bring your kit to a higher level of detail.
I would like to thank Design & Marketing Int’l, the North American distributor for Contact Resine for this review sample.
© Mark Proulx 2005
This product is available from the following LSP sponsors
This review was published on Saturday, July 02 2011; Last modified on Wednesday, May 18 2016