Well, this took longer than expected, but here are the two finished machines of this Eduard review. I must say that I enjoyed building both the "plain" kit and the enhanced version with the excellent PE and resin parts and I highly recommend both!
First machine is the P-400 that was touted as the last surviving P-400 from the Guadalcanal battle zone, shipped back to the U.S. for a Bond Drive at the end of its use. I've built it as it was during the time it flew combat. This one has no PE parts and is from the box except for some masking tape seatbelts. The only modification to the markings was to spray out the red centers on the national insignia as was done in the combat zone.
Guadalcanal P-39 Eduard 1/48
Guadalcanal P-39 Eduard 1/48
Guadalcanal P-39 Eduard 1/48
The second machine is a later P-39D and is again marked with the decals provided in the kit. This one has all the PE bits and Brassin wheelset:
Guadalcanal P-39 Eduard 1/48
Guadalcanal P-39 Eduard 1/48
Guadalcanal P-39 Eduard 1/48
Guadalcanal P-39 Eduard 1/48
And a nose-to-nose shot of the two airplanes together:
Guadalcanal P-39 Eduard 1/48
So, in review, this is an excellent offering from Eduard that I gladly endorse for anyone who wants to build an Airacobra. The PE, Brassin and masks are of top quality and add much to the basic kit and the plastic parts are also of top quality. I've built a number of the old Monogram P-39s and these Eduard kits offer so much more detail and are equally fun to build.
Many thanks to our friends at Eduard for providing this review kit!
