Eduard PBR 31 Mk.II Pibber (53010)
by Frank De Sisto
1/35-scale photo-etched brass for the Tamiya kit. Price: $22.95 USD.
I have long wondered why this particular kit has never received the Eduard
treatment. In fact, as far as I know, it has been completely ignored by
every after-market manufacturer in existence. Now that Eduard has released
this set, I can finally sleep at night (insert smiley-face here).
The set begins with access panels for the inside and outside of the transom
and continues with an instrument panel and film dial faces, as well as
fire extinguisher details and mounting bracket for the cockpit.
The various antenna mounts get plate details as well, while the radar
dome gets details for its base and mount. The forward mount for the twin
.50 cal. M2 machine guns gets a new cradle, shields, ammo chutes, ring
sight, barrel cooling jacket and muzzle flash suppressors.
The rear .50 cal. also gets a cooling jacket, sights, grips, cradle,
ammo box and tray. The 40mm grenade launcher receives a new ammo box (which
the instructions show being mounted on the M60 machine gun).
The M60 itself gets a new top for the C-ration can that was sometimes
attached to the weapon to ease the feeding of the belted ammo. Other small
details are given such as slings for M16 rifles and M79 grenade launcher
(as well as a sight for the latter), helmet chin straps, ammo box end
details, cassette tapes and binocular straps.
While this is not an “end-all” set for this interesting Riverine
craft, it is certainly a large step in the right direction.
Recommended.
Images provided by Eduard whose products are available at retail and
mail order shops, or direct from the manufacturer at: www.eduard.cz.
|